Henry VI, part 1

Shakespeare’s blood-soaked battle-fest may be his first play. On the other hand, he may not have written it at all.

As well as drawing a portrait of a weak and unsuccessful king, it chronicles the efforts of the English to hang on to the territories that Henry V conquered in France.

Shakespeare was instrumental in creating the vogue for plays based on monarch’s reigns, which helped to create a memory of the national past. As many people could not read, such plays were important educational and propaganda vehicles. But much of the content is invented.

How does Henry compare to Richard II and Henry IV? What’s Talbot’s role? What about Joan’s? What’s Margaret like? Is this play any good???

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