King Henry IV, Part 2

by William Shakespeare

"King Henry IV, Part 2" by William Shakespeare is a history play written between 1596 and 1599. Prince Hal moves closer to kingship while the aging Falstaff revels in London's underworld, expecting rewards when his companion becomes king. As King Henry IV lies dying, rebellion stirs again, and Hal must choose between his dissolute past and royal duty. The two storylines converge in a final reckoning that will determine both the prince's character and Falstaff's fate, testing loyalty and friendship against the demands of power.