An Explication on Act III, Scene 3 Henry IV Henry IV is a play written by Shakespear. In this Act III, scene 3, the main characters involved are. Falstaff - a rogue fat theif Lord Bardolph - his acquaintance Hostess Quickly - the tavern’s landlady (where this Act is set) Prince Henry V - King Henry IV’s son, heir to the throne Peto - Henry’s servant This scene involves dialogue between Falstaff, Lord Bardolph and Hostess Quickly. Falstaff along with lord Bardolph and Prince Henry is staying at Hostess Quickly’s Tavern at that time. The scene starts with Falstaff entering with Lord Bardolph bantering about his old age and shortage of money. He complains to Bardolph that the goodness of Church has spoilt his rogue nature. Bardolph replies matching Falstaff’s tone if he continues such bantering he’s not going to live long, to which Falstaff agrees. He asks Bardolph to bring some evil (like Theft, robbery etc) into his life. He can’t live in order long. He also makes fun of Bardolph by comparing him to a fireball, his nose to a burning lamp. While, they are arguing, enters Hostess Quickly. Falstaff badmouthing her asks whether she had found the thief who picked his pocket. Retorting back, Hostess says even after a thorough enquiry and search she and her husband could not find such a person. She swears that in her tavern never such a thing has happened before. Falstaff says nasty things to her and tells a lot of lies to get his dues cleared. He has no intention of paying back all that money, which Hostess swears, has been spent on him during his stay in the tavern. He also mentions Prince Henry being his pet. In the mean while Prince Henry (mentioned as Henry V in the play) enters the scene along with Peto. Henry V announces that there is an emergency and they have to fight the Percys. Hostess Quickly interrupts him and complains about Falstaff. Henry accedes to her complaints (regarding Falstaff’s claim that his valuables including his grandfather’s costly sealing ring have been stolen by some of her servants) and scolds Falstaff for telling such lies. According to him the ring was junk made of copper. He also scolds him(Falstaff) for insulting Hostess Quickly by calling her unwomanly and liar and a whore. Hostess Quickly tells the prince about Falstaff accusing him(prince) of owing thousand marks hearing which prince becomes angry. Falstaff saves himself by twisting his words. He says that the prince actually owes Falstaff not a thousand but a million marks as his love for the prince is as much worthy. Hearing all this Henry 5 accepts that Falstaff’s belongings are with him. Realising that the Prince is getting angry at him, Falstaff takes U-turn and tries to make things lighter by saying that it’s his old age and lack of Money which made him falter. He also forgives the Hostess taking back his blames and asks her to prepare breakfast for them. They once again become friends. Thereafter he worries for all his debt to which the prince say.

1. An Explication on Act III, Scene 3
Henry IV
Henry IV is a play written by Shakespear. In this Act III, scene
3, the main characters involved are.
Falstaff - a rogue fat theif
Lord Bardolph - his acquaintance
Hostess Quickly - the tavern’s landlady (where this Act
is set)
Prince Henry V - King Henry IV’s son, heir to the
throne
Peto - Henry’s servant
This scene involves dialogue between Falstaff, Lord Bardolph
and Hostess Quickly. Falstaff along with lord Bardolph and
Prince Henry is staying at Hostess Quickly’s Tavern at that
time. The scene starts with Falstaff entering with Lord Bardolph
bantering about his old age and shortage of money. He
complains to Bardolph that the goodness of Church has spoilt
his rogue nature. Bardolph replies matching Falstaff’s tone if he
continues such bantering he’s not going to live long, to which
Falstaff agrees. He asks Bardolph to bring some evil (like Theft,
robbery etc) into his life. He can’t live in order long. He also
makes fun of Bardolph by comparing him to a fireball, his nose
to a burning lamp. While, they are arguing, enters Hostess
Quickly.
Falstaff badmouthing her asks whether she had found the thief
who picked his pocket. Retorting back, Hostess says even after
a thorough enquiry and search she and her husband could not
find such a person. She swears that in her tavern never such a
thing has happened before. Falstaff says nasty things to her and
tells a lot of lies to get his dues cleared. He has no intention of

2. paying back all that money, which Hostess swears, has been
spent on him during his stay in the tavern. He also mentions
Prince Henry being his pet. In the mean while Prince Henry
(mentioned as Henry V in the play) enters the scene along with
Peto.
Henry V announces that there is an emergency and they have to
fight the Percys. Hostess Quickly interrupts him and complains
about Falstaff. Henry accedes to her complaints (regarding
Falstaff’s claim that his valuables including his grandfather’s
costly sealing ring have been stolen by some of her servants)
and scolds Falstaff for telling such lies. According to him the
ring was junk made of copper. He also scolds him(Falstaff) for
insulting Hostess Quickly by calling her unwomanly and liar
and a whore. Hostess Quickly tells the prince about Falstaff
accusing him(prince) of owing thousand marks hearing which
prince becomes angry. Falstaff saves himself by twisting his
words. He says that the prince actually owes Falstaff not a
thousand but a million marks as his love for the prince is as
much worthy. Hearing all this Henry 5 accepts that Falstaff’s
belongings are with him. Realising that the Prince is getting
angry at him, Falstaff takes U-turn and tries to make things
lighter by saying that it’s his old age and lack of Money which
made him falter. He also forgives the Hostess taking back his
blames and asks her to prepare breakfast for them. They once
again become friends. Thereafter he worries for all his debt to
which the prince says that he is going to pay as well as provide
for Falstaff. Falstaff makes some funny remarks and asks the
Prince about king’s courts news. To which Henry heartily
replies that he is again friends with his father, that he has won
the King’s heart once again.( Earlier, King Henry does not
approve of his son’s attitude as he befriends rogues,
highwaymen and robbers. Falstaff himself is a witty liar and
robber. The Prince regards Falstaff as his best friend as well as
a father figure. The King becomes extremely unhappy regarding
all this and summons him to have a word with him. When

3. Henry 5 meets his father, The King threatens him either he
mend his unprincely ways and earn the throne or lose it to
Hotspur. Hearing all this prince repents and promises his father
that he will soon abandon all bad ways and make all his rogue
friends fight for the king. The King becomes happy to see his
son becoming responsible and forgives him.)
King Henry is willing to do anything for him now. He also tells
Falstaff about the ensuing war with the rebels, the Percys and
orders Lord Bardolph to bear a letter to his brother John and
also to Lord of Westmoreland. Thereafter, he asks Peto to make
their horses ready as they have to march thirty miles ahead. He
also asks Falstaff to meet him tomorrow in the temple hall
pressing upon the urgency by saying either them or the Percys
would have to die.
The scene ends at a good note for Falstaff with the
Prince’s exit. Falstaff also praises the Prince as well as becomes
merry at his good fortunes. Thereafter he calls Hostess Quickly
to bring the breakfast.