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There is evidence that the first part of Henry VI was in fact written after the second and the third parts (which were originally published under different names), and Part 1 may therefore be thought of as a 'prequel'. In addition, there is strong stylistic evidence that Part 1 is not by Shakespeare alone, but was co-written by a team of three or more playwrights whose identities remain unknown (although Thomas Nashe is one possibility). Team-writing was common in the period, especially for history plays. One estimate is that Shakespeare wrote no more than 20% of the text. For this reason, the word 'Shakespeare' in the following paragraphs should perhaps be considered a shorthand for 'Shakespeare and his co-writers'.
Shakespeare's concern with historical accuracy is non-existent, but he does follow the chronicles available fairly closely. Although the characters and events are based on things that actually happened, in the century before his birth, his sole purpose - though we have no documents indicating this - was to produce entertaining and dramatic action for the troupes of actors with whom he was associated; he had little interest in educating his audience. The sources on which Shakespeare drew for this period included the Chronicle of Raphael Holinshed, which was itself a literary as much as a scholarly work.
The play is very biased and patriotic. The French are depicted as being foolish and easy to conquer, since the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 had created the illusion that the English were superior fighters than the French and only internal divisions and aristocratic squabbling (represented by the feuds between Gloucester and Winchester and between Somerset and York) would account for the English defeat. Joan of Arc is also portrayed as a witch and a whore, something that bodes ill with modern audiences.
The play opens in the aftermath of the death of King Henry V of England (although it was written before Shakespeare's play, Henry V). News reaches England of military setbacks in France, and the scene shifts across the English Channel, to Orleans, where "La Pucelle" ( Joan of Arc) is encouraging the Dauphin to resist. She defeats an English army led by Talbot (Sir John Talbot, 1st Earl of ShrewsburyJohn Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury (died 1453) was an important English military commander during the Hundred Years War. He was second son of Richard, 5th Baron Talbot, by Ankaret, heiress of the last Lord Strange of Blackmere. Talbot was married before).
While in France, Talbot and fellow Englishmen are trapped in the castle of a countess, but Talbot is prepared and foils her plan. In England, Richard, Duke of YorkThis article is about Richard, Duke of York, father of King Edward IV. For the article about Edward IV's son who was imprisoned in the Tower of London see: Richard, Duke of York (Prince in the Tower . Richard (Plantagenet), Duke of York ( 21 September 141 quarrels with John Beaufort, 1st Duke of SomersetJohn Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset (baptised March 25, 1404 May 27, 1444), was an English noble and military commander. He was the second son of John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset, and succeeded his elder brother Henry to become the 3rd Earl of Somerset about his claim on the throne. The lords select red or white roses, depending on whether they favour the House of LancasterThe House of Lancaster is a dynasty of English kings. It was one of the opposing factions involved in the Wars of the Roses, an intermittent civil war which affected England and Wales during the 15th century. The House is named Lancaster, because its memb or that of YorkThe House of York was a dynasty of English kings. The House was involved in the Wars of the Roses, an intermittent civil war which affected England and Wales during the 15th century. Its name derives of the fact that its claimants to the throne were all d. Edmund Mortimer, a leading claimant to the throne, is a prisoner in the Tower of LondonThe Tower of London is officially Her Majesty's Palace and Fortress, The Tower of London although the last ruler to reside in it as a palace was King James I ( 1566- 1625). The White Tower the square building with turrets on each corner that gave it its n, and declares Richard his heir. The young Henry VI honours both Richard and Talbot. The latter dies bravely in his next battle against the French. In the meantime, King Henry is married off to a young French princess, Margaret of AnjouMargaret of Anjou ( March 23, 1429 August 25, 1482) was the Queen consort of Henry VI of England from 1445 to 1471, and a major proponent in the Wars of the Roses. Margaret was born in the province of Lorraine in France, the daughter of Rene I of Naples,, who has been discovered by the Earl of Suffolk. Suffolk intends to dominate the king through Margaret. Ill feeling between him and the Duke of Gloucester continues to fester.
This is one of few occasions in which Shakespeare ends a play with a lack of closure. The slack construction may be a result of collaborative authorship (see above), or it may be because the play was written to be performed in tandem with Henry VI, part 2, which continues the story.
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