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Prince Harry (later King Henry V)
Known as “Hal” to Falstaff and his friends, the prince is also called Harry, Harry Monmouth, the Prince of Wales, and, after his father’s death, King Henry V. He is the play’s main protagonist. His transformation from a youthful hell-raiser into the dignified King Henry V is one of the major psychological developments of the play.
Read an in-depth analysis of Prince Harry.
King Henry IV
The ruling king of England at the beginning of the play. His health declines throughout the play, in part due to his anxiety about civil insurrection and the fate of his seemingly irresponsible son, Prince Harry. He dies before the end of the play, never having fulfilled his dream of leading a company of soldiers to fight in the Crusades in Jerusalem.
Read an in-depth analysis of King Henry IV.
Prince John, Duke of Lancaster
Son of King Henry IV and younger brother of Prince Harry. Prince John uses cunning (which some would call deception) to put down the rebellion.
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester; and Thomas, Duke of Clarence
Sons of King Henry IV and younger brothers of Prince Harry.
The Lord Chief Justice
The most powerful official of the law in England. Level-headed, calm, perceptive, and intelligent, he is a close advisor to King Henry IV. He also becomes an advisor and father figure for young Prince Harry after Henry IV’s death.
Earl of Warwick, Earl of Surrey, Earl of Westmoreland, Gower, Harcourt, and Sir John Blunt
Noblemen; King Henry IV’s allies and advisors.
Sir John Falstaff
Usually called Falstaff but sometimes called Jack. A fat, cheerful, witty, aging reprobate, he has long been Prince Harry’s mentor and close friend. He pretended to have killed Hotspur at the Battle of Shrewsbury, and Prince Harry—the actual killer—agreed to go along with the lie. For this reason, everyone gives Falstaff much more respect than he deserves.
Read an in-depth analysis of Sir John Falstaff.
Page
A boy whom Prince Harry has assigned to serve Falstaff. He carries Falstaff’s sword and runs his errands.
Poins, Peto, and Bardolph
Friends of Falstaff and Prince Harry. Formerly highwaymen and robbers, they have, like Falstaff, gained money and prestige since the Battle of Shrewsbury. Poins is the smartest of the bunch and the closest to Harry. Bardolph, an insatiable drinker, has a famously bright red nose.
Ancient Pistol
An army ensign (“ancient” meant “ensign” in Elizabethan English). He serves under Falstaff and is extremely aggressive and prone to fighting.
Mouldy, Shadow, Wart, Feeble, and Bullcalf
Army recruits whom Falstaff inspects in Gloucestershire (act 3, scene 2). Only Shadow, Wart, and Feeble come with him to the war. The others bribe their way out.
Archbishop of York
A powerful northern clergyman who leads the rebellion against King Henry IV.
Mowbray and Hastings
Two lords who conspire with the Archbishop of York to overthrow King Henry IV.
Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland
Usually called Northumberland but sometimes called Percy. A powerful northern nobleman whose brother Worcester and son Hotspur have recently been killed in battle against King Henry IV.
Travers
Northumberland’s servant.
Hotspur
Dead before the play begins, he is often referred to in its early scenes. He was Northumberland’s son and a leader of the rebellion against the king. He was also called Percy or Harry Percy. Prince Harry killed him at the Battle of Shrewsbury, but everyone thinks the killer was Falstaff.
Lord Bardolph
An ally of Northumberland. He brings the false news of Hotspur’s success in act 1, scene 1. (Not to be confused with Falstaff’s friend Bardolph.)
Owen Glendower
A mysterious and influential leader of a group of rebel guerrilla fighters in Wales. His character is mentioned at several points, but he never actually appears in the play.
Mistress Quickly (the Hostess)
Proprietor of the seedy Boar’s Head Tavern in Eastcheap, London. She has a dim wit but a good heart.
Doll Tearsheet
Falstaff’s favorite prostitute and a good friend of Mistress Quickly. She has a bottomless repertoire of insults and seems to be both fiercer and smarter than most of the law officers hanging around Eastcheap. She may be in love with Falstaff.
Fang and Snare
Incompetent officers of the law upon whom Mistress Quickly calls to arrest Falstaff in act 2, scene 1.
Justice Shallow and Justice Silence
Middle-class country landowners who are also justices of the peace (minor local law officers). They are cousins. Shallow is an old school friend of Falstaff’s. The two both live up to their names: Justice Shallow talks endlessly about trivial topics, while Justice Silence barely ever opens his mouth—except to sing raunchy songs when he gets drunk.
Davy
An honest, industrious, and talkative household servant of Justice Shallow.
