Henry VI, Part II · Chapter
Scene II explained
Duke Humphrey of Gloucester is troubled by a dream in which his staff of office is broken and the heads of Somerset and Suffolk are placed upon it.
What happens
Duke Humphrey of Gloucester is troubled by a dream in which his staff of office is broken and the heads of Somerset and Suffolk are placed upon it. His wife Eleanor reveals her own ambitious dream of being crowned queen. Gloucester rebukes her ambition. A messenger summons them to a royal hunt at Saint Albans. Eleanor, left alone, resolves to pursue her ambitions and conspires with Hume, who secretly plots with Cardinal Beaufort and Suffolk to entrap her.
Themes in this chapter
Political Ambition and Usurpation
Eleanor's dream of being crowned queen and her willingness to use witchcraft to advance her position highlight the theme of unchecked ambition.
Betrayal and Duplicity
Hume's secret allegiance to Cardinal Beaufort and Suffolk, while pretending to serve Eleanor, exemplifies betrayal and double-dealing.
Gender and Power
Eleanor laments that as a woman she cannot act openly, but resolves to play her part in Fortune's pageant, reflecting the constraints and strategies of female ambition.
Characters to notice
- Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester
Appears troubled by a prophetic dream and rebukes his wife Eleanor for her ambitious thoughts.
- Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester
Reveals her own dream of being crowned queen and conspires with Hume to consult witches and conjurers.
- John Hume
Accepts Eleanor's gold but reveals he is secretly working for Cardinal Beaufort and Suffolk to entrap her.
- Cardinal Beaufort
Mentioned as one of the conspirators who hired Hume to undermine the Duchess.
- William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk
Mentioned as a co-conspirator with Cardinal Beaufort in plotting against Eleanor.
- King Henry VI
Mentioned as the king who will go hawking at Saint Albans.
- Queen Margaret
Mentioned as accompanying the king to Saint Albans.
Key passages
“Why droops my lord, like over-ripen’d corn, Hanging the head at Ceres’ plenteous load?”
Why are you so downcast, my lord, like an overripe stalk of grain bowing under its own weight?
Eleanor asks Gloucester why he looks so dejected.
“O Nell, sweet Nell, if thou dost love thy lord, Banish the canker of ambitious thoughts.”
If you love me, Eleanor, get rid of your ambitious ideas.
Gloucester warns Eleanor against ambition.
“Methought this staff, mine office-badge in court, Was broke in twain; by whom I have forgot, But, as I think, it was by the cardinal; And on the pieces of the broken wand Were placed the heads of Edmund Duke of Somerset, And William de la Pole, first duke of Suffolk.”
I dreamed that my staff of office was broken in two, I think by the cardinal, and on the pieces were placed the heads of Somerset and Suffolk.
Gloucester recounts his ominous dream.
“Methought I sat in seat of majesty In the cathedral church of Westminster, And in that chair where kings and queens are crown’d; Where Henry and dame Margaret kneel’d to me And on my head did set the diadem.”
I dreamed I sat on the throne at Westminster, and Henry and Margaret knelt to me and placed the crown on my head.
Eleanor reveals her own ambitious dream of being crowned queen.
“Were I a man, a duke, and next of blood, I would remove these tedious stumbling-blocks And smooth my way upon their headless necks; And, being a woman, I will not be slack To play my part in Fortune’s pageant.”
If I were a man and next in line to the throne, I would remove all obstacles by beheading them; but as a woman, I will still do my part in the game of fortune.
Eleanor expresses her frustration at being a woman but resolves to act ambitiously.
“They, knowing Dame Eleanor’s aspiring humour, Have hired me to undermine the duchess And buzz these conjurations in her brain.”
They know Eleanor's ambitious nature and have hired me to secretly encourage her interest in witchcraft.
Hume reveals his true role as a spy for Cardinal Beaufort and Suffolk.
