Parts 2 and 3 of the Henry VI trilogy may be earlier than part 1 (and some think that Shakespeare didn’t write the latter at all). Marlowe’s Tamburlaine established a vogue for two-part plays with lots of battles and processions.
Part 2 starts in the political flux that arose on the death of Henry V, and ends in the early stages of civil war. The turbulence of the play presents Shakespeare with the challenge of making something coherent out of the chaos represented by an endless stream of battles in which fortunes see-saw between the two sides. He does so by creating a pattern of “an eye for an eye”.
The play has many exciting scenes, including not only the battles, but also the rather brilliant ones focused on the Cade Rebellion. It’s a better play than part 1. And it has wizards!
What’s Horner and Thump’s role? What about Simpcox’s? Iden’s? How is the mob portrayed? What’s York’s game? Why are the Cade scenes so prominent?