King Henry IV, Part 1

by William Shakespeare

"King Henry IV, Part 1" by William Shakespeare is a history play written no later than 1597. The play depicts King Henry IV's struggle against a dangerous rebellion led by the Percy family, while his son Prince Hal wastes time in taverns with the disreputable Sir John Falstaff. As nobles plot to overthrow the king, Hal must choose between his reckless lifestyle and his royal duty. The conflicts converge at the Battle of Shrewsbury, where loyalty, honor, and the kingdom's future hang in the balance.