The Shakespeare Book

Somerset ends in them plucking

red and white roses to signify their

opposing loyalties. Richard’s uncle

Mortimer tells him how the king’s

grandfather, Henry IV, deposed the

rightful Richard II, and says that

Richard has a claim to the throne.

In Parliament, a fight breaks

out between the men of Gloucester

and Winchester. As King Henry

tries to calm them, he agrees to

make Richard Duke of York. In

France, Joan takes Rouen from the

English, but Talbot retakes it. Joan

persuades Henry’s uncle Burgundy

to switch sides. Talbot travels to

Paris where Henry is to be crowned.

There, Henry learns of Burgundy’s

treachery. He urges York and

Somerset to put aside their quarrel

but unwittingly insults York by

donning a red rose. To repair the

damage, Henry makes York Regent

of France and orders Somerset to

back him. Meanwhile, outside

Bordeaux, Talbot and his son are

fatally wounded in a battle; Talbot

dies with his son’s body in his arms.

Gloucester tells the king that

the French Earl of Armagnac

wishes to make peace. Henry

agrees, and is persuaded to marry

THE FREELANCE WRITER 45

1.1 2.1 3.1

1.7 2.4 4.1

As rivalries emerge at the
funeral of Henry V, news
comes of English
defeats in France.

Talbot captures

Orléans by stealth.

The Dauphin Charles

blames Joan for her

false prophecy.

Henry pleads with

his quarreling

uncles Winchester and

Gloucester to make

peace, as their rival

factions are causing

havoc in London.

In France,

Lord Talbot is

astonished to see

his troops being

defeated under

the leadership

of a woman,

Joan la Pucelle.

In the Temple garden, London,

Richard Plantagenet and Suffolk

pick roses of a different color to

mark their rivalry, and the feud

between the houses of

Lancaster and York begins.

At Henry’s coronation

in Paris, he learns of

his uncle Burgundy’s

defection, and

vicious quarreling

breaks out between

Lancastrians and

Yorkists.

5.6

The captured Joan pleads for

her life, saying she should be

spared because of her chastity, but

she is burned. France sends

peace overtures to the English.

Act 1 Act 2 Act 5

5.7

Suffolk conspires to

control Henry by telling

him that he should marry

Margaret for love.

Armagnac’s daughter to seal

the deal. The people of Paris

revolt and Charles and Joan

march on Paris. Joan conjures

spirits to help her cause, but

the English triumph and Joan is

captured. Suffolk is bewitched by

the beauty of Margaret of Anjou,

and promises to make her Henry’s

wife. York condemns Joan to

burn as a witch, and rails against

the “effeminate” peace Henry

is making with France. Suffolk

excites Henry with his account

of Margaret’s beauty and he

agrees to marry her. ❯❯

Act 3 Act 4