Gloucester: The Good Duke Who Cannot Survive
First appears: Act 1, Scene 1
Gloucester is the play's closest thing to a good man in politics. He is the Lord Protector, and he takes the role seriously. He is loyal to Henry without exploiting him. His enemies cannot find a genuine charge against him, so they fabricate one.
His wife's ambitions are his undoing. The Duchess dabbles in witchcraft and pays for it, and her disgrace is used to strip Gloucester of his office and credibility.
He is killed off-stage in Act 3, murdered before his trial can expose the falseness of the charges against him. His death is the moral pivot of the play. After it, nothing goes right for the Lancastrian side.
Key Scenes
Famous Quotes
“Virtue is choked with foul ambition And charity chased hence by rancour's hand;”
Duke of Gloucester — Act 3, Scene 1
Themes
Other Characters in Henry VI, Part II
Test Your Knowledge
Think you know your Shakespeare? Put it to the test with one of our free quizzes.
See all quizzes →