Foil

Character Role Analysis

Gloucester to Suffolk and Cardinal Beaufort; Suffolk to Henry; York to Henry; Eleanor to Margaret

Gloucester to Suffolk and Cardinal Beaufort: What's the deal with everyone bagging on Gloucester all the time? Well, it's partly because of his job: Gloucester was appointed "Protector" of England when Henry was first crowned because Henry was a little baby at the time. Now that Henry's all grown up, a lot of characters think that Gloucester's totally unnecessary.

Gloucester gets passionate and angry at times, but he seems to want what's best for Henry. He doesn't pay someone off to save his wife; he knows losing the lands in France will be bad for the kingdom; and he respectfully gives up his staff when Henry asks him to. In fact, when Suffolk, Beaufort, and Margaret are trying to trump up charges against him, they all admit "that were no policy" they could bring against him. Translation: he's a good guy, and he hasn't done anything wrong.

Gloucester's enemies, on the other hand, sure go out of their way to make trouble for him... you know, by murdering him. Gloucester and the deadly trio act in opposite ways. Gloucester tells the truth, while the trio constantly lies. Gloucester backs down and does what's best for the king, while the trio does whatever they think is best for themselves. Hmm… who would you rather be friends with?

Suffolk to Henry; York to Henry: Suffolk and York are contrasted to Henry throughout the play. These two dukes know what they want, and they go after it. Henry, on the other hand, makes polite requests and seems weak compared to his wife (and to just about everyone else in the play).

While York and Suffolk fight for control over the crown and lie and kill to get it, Henry isn't so sure. He hates all the warfare and doesn't want to fight anyone, but he also want to run away either. He pretty much can't make a decision on his own.

Shakespeare gives us two pictures of kings with these men. One (York and Suffolk) is a strong, valiant, assertive kind of guy, while the other (Henry) likes long walks on the beach and long, thoughtful dinners with philosophical debate. No, really: Henry wants to spend more time out in nature thinking than on a battlefield killing people.

Which kind of guy makes a better king? We'll give you a hint: there's probably no correct answer to that question.

Eleanor to Margaret: Since Eleanor and Margaret are the only principal women in Henry VI, Part 2, it's easy to compare them to one another. Both women are in incredibly high-ranking positions, but both want still more power. Margaret is domineering, powerful, and—we'll admit it—scary, but Eleanor is a little less sure of herself. She has to go to witches to get a glimpse of the future before she's willing to make any bold moves.

When we first meet Margaret, she is zealous and opinionated. She tells her husband—the king—to get rid of his right-hand man because he's useless... and then she plots the dude's murder. Eleanor also wants to get on the fast track to becoming queen. She tells her hubby that she's dreamed of ruling, and he chides her... but she doesn't let his naysaying sway her. Basically, these two women don't take no for an answer, and they totally overrule their husbands' wishes. They dream of the crown just as much as the men in the play do.

The only difference is this: at the end of the play, Margaret is still in power, while Eleanor has been banished. Is that foreshadowing? Will Margaret one day lose her power and be mocked and banished, too? We could tell you, but you should really read Henry VI, Part 3 and Richard III to find out.