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King Henry VI
King of England and various regions in France. Henry is son of Henry V, a great warrior who won many lands in France, and it has been prophesied that this son will lose the lands his father won. Henry faces great difficulty with his advisors and nobles, many of whom are caught up in arguments with each other. Although young and inexperienced, he realizes what damage may be caused by such dissension among the lords. He marries a French earl’s daughter, Margaret, on the advice of Suffolk, though she does not symbolize a politically advantageous match.
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Charles
The Dauphin of France, Charles has himself crowned king and now tries to recapture his kingdom from Henry. He wins back half his former kingdom after a series of bloody battles. However, following this moderate gain, Charles desists in his campaign and agrees to make peace with the English to spare his people from further slaughter.
Gloucester
Named Lord Protector of the Realm, Gloucester manages the kingdom until Henry is old enough to rule. He is involved in an ongoing dispute with the Bishop of Winchester.
Winchester
Head of the English church and nemesis of Gloucester. Winchester accuses Gloucester of wanting to control Henry and exert his own influence over the kingdom. By the end of the play, he purchases the title of cardinal, swearing that no one will have more power in the kingdom than him.
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Richard Plantagenet
Son of the late Richard, earl of Cambridge. He enters a dispute with Somerset concerning his status among the nobility, and the dispute results in each man and his supporters pick different color roses as symbols of their affiliation: white for the Yorkists (represented by Plantagenet), and red for the Lancastrians (represented by Somerset). After Mortimer makes him his heir, Plantagenet is granted the title of Duke of York.
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Talbot
General of the English troops in France. A well-decorated soldier and terror to the French, Talbot easily conquers town after town until the arrival of Joan la Pucelle, who briefly turns the tide against him at Orléans. He is eventually trapped at Bordeaux, where he and his son John are killed. Talbot represents a dying breed of chivalrous soldiers fighting for the honor of king and country. When he falls, the last of a valorous line dies out.
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Joan la Pucelle
A French maiden who comes to Charles with reports of her visions of the future of France. She says she will lead his troops in breaking the Britons’ siege on Orléans, and her words prove true. Thereafter, she aids the French troops in several battles. She is eventually captured by York, put on trial, and burned at the stake.
Read an in-depth analysis of Joan la Pucelle.
Somerset
An English lord, Somerset quarrels with Richard Plantagenet, later known as York. Their disagreement dates from a scene in the Temple Garden when they both pick roses to signify their opposite sides in a legal argument. Somerset chooses the red rose, Plantagenet the white. Later, in France, Somerset’s dislike for York endangers the English campaign when he delays sending cavalry to York. Without these reinforcements, York is unable to back Talbot in battle, and Talbot dies.
Suffolk
An English lord who captures Margaret after the French are defeated. Suffolk is so smitten with her that he convinces Henry to marry her. He hopes to influence politics through his intimate relationship with the king’s new wife.
Mortimer
Richard Plantagenet’s uncle. Mortimer has been imprisoned in the Tower of London for years because he has a claim to the English throne, and Henry’s allies keep him out of the way. Mortimer tells Plantagenet about this claim but urges him to forget about it because the ruling family line is immovable.
Burgundy
A French lord who fights with Talbot’s English forces. However, Joan convinces him to return to the French. His departure from the scene of the battle leaves Talbot weakened, enabling the French to kill Talbot in his next battle.
Bedford
An English general who rushes off to France to help Talbot at the beginning of the play. Later, at Rouen, he is nearly too old and ill to lead his forces. Yet he does lead them, issuing verbal directions from his chair. The English win, and Bedford dies content.
Alençon
A French lord who fights with Charles.
René
A French lord who opposes Charles. He is also Margaret’s father.
Bastard of Orléans
A French lord who quarrels with Charles and first introduces him to Joan.
Exeter
An English lord who serves as a kind of commentator. He remains behind at the end of scenes after everyone else has exited and remarks on the problems caused by internal dissension and strife abroad.
Warwick
An English lord who is called on to serve as judge on various issues, including the dispute between Somerset and Richard Plantagenet. Later, he presides over Joan’s trial.
Salisbury
An English soldier killed during the siege of Orléans.
Gargrave
An English soldier who meets his death in the siege of Orléans.
Glasdale
An English soldier who fights at the siege of Orléans.
Vernon
One of Somerset’s men. Vernon resents Basset because Bassett serves the Duke of York, Somerset’s nemesis in a dispute over a point of law. Vernon and Basset ask King Henry to allow them to fight it out. Thus, the noblemen’s disagreement trickles down to their employees.
Basset
One of York’s men, who gets in a fight with Somerset’s man, Vernon.
Sir William Lucy
A messenger sent by Talbot to ask York and Somerset for reinforcements. He scolds both men when they are unable to come to Talbot’s aid.
John
Talbot’s son. John desires to learn the art of war from his father, but he dies on the battlefield in Bordeaux.
Margaret
René’s daughter. She is captured by Suffolk, who is so impressed with her beauty that he convinces Henry to marry her even though her father has no money and only a minor title.
Countess of Auvergne
A French noblewoman. She lures Talbot to her castle to capture him, but he thwarts her plan.
Sir John Fastolf
An English soldier who cowardly flees the scene of battle when he fears for his life. Talbot curses him for lacking the honor of previous generations.
Woodville
The lieutenant or head warden of the Tower of London. Winchester orders him to bar Gloucester from entering.
Mayor
The mayor of London. He manages the dispute between Gloucester and Winchester in the streets outside the Tower.
Master Gunner
A French soldier who helps Joan break the British siege at Orléans.
Boy
The Master Gunner’s son.
Governor
The governor of Paris.
General
The general of Bordeaux
Shepherd
Joan’s probable father. Though she tells Charles she’s a shepherd’s daughter, when this man is brought to her trial, she denies him.
