Category Archives: Henry VI Part Three

After finishing this trilogy of plays, I’m left feeling differently than I expected I would about Shakespeare. Firstly, I am quite pleasantly surprised to find that I’m enjoying the experience immensely. These plays are likely not the best on offer from the bard, yet even so are a lot of fun to read. I doContinue reading “A milestone, of sorts”

Act V of Henry VI Part Three was a wild ride. We begin with a battle and end with the death of the king, long live the king. Edward marches on Warwick, who is in a bit of a bad spot and ultimately dies at the hands of the Yorks. Margaret arrives from France withContinue reading “The return of the king”

There is not a single battle in Act III, but I got the impression this was only because we’re being set up for another battle in Act IV. Instead of fighting, we got a little sexual harassment and some political waffling that is like to make one’s head spin. We begin with Henry on theContinue reading “Edward’s very short reign”

Act II of Henry VI Part Three really seemed to me to be about the dissolution of a marriage. We’ve seen that Henry and Margaret don’t have a great relationship. In fact, Margaret was unfaithful with Suffolk right from the beginning of her marriage. Henry has rarely stuck up for himself with anyone, certainly notContinue reading “So now I’m not even allowed to fight?”

With the relatively slow exposition of the last two plays, I was not expecting Part Three to start off with such a bang. The action begins pretty much where Part Two left off, with York & Co. pursuing Henry to Parliament, where they make a really bad deal with one another. They agree to layContinue reading “Alas, poor York…”