William Shakespeare

Henry VI Part 1 William Shakespeare

This drama is one of the great history themed plays by William Shakespeare. The plot story starts with the death of King Henry V and his young son takes the throne as King Henry VI. Gloucester serves as Lord Protector to guide and advise the young King through his early years. In France Joan of Arc leads France in the fight against the English. A quarrel breaks out between Richard Plantagenet, of the House of York, and the Earl of Somerset, of the House of Lancaster. The young King intervenes and restores order pledging his inheritance to the House of York. The king goes to Paris to be crowned in order to motivate the English and demoralise the French. The English capture Joan of Arc and Margaret of Anjou. Joan is burnt at the stake as witch and a heretic. King Henry, urged by the Earl of Suffolk, marries Margaret of Anjou. The play ends with a gloating Suffolk believing that Margaret of Anjou will rule the monarch. Suffolk believes will rule both of them giving power to the House of Lancaster