Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- It's clear to pretty much everybody that Henry doesn't make a particularly good king. What is it about his character that invites so much rebellion—from commoners and nobles alike?
- Who is the protagonist in the play? Why does Shakespeare include so many different nobles and commoners for us to keep track of? What might he be trying to say with the multitude of people fighting in this play?
- Why do Margaret and Suffolk care for one another? In what ways does Suffolk contrast with Margaret's husband, Henry?
- What's the deal with the punishment scenes involving Peter and Simpcox? What do these scenes tell us about the relationship between the nobles and the commoners? What do they show us about the characters?
- Is Gloucester's death linked to the commoners' rebellion? Why do the commoners demand to know if he was murdered?
- How do the desires and methods of the commoners and the nobles compare and contrast with one another? Which group's needs are more important in the play?
- Where is the love? Why is everyone so set on violence in Henry VI, Part 2? Does violence breed more violence?