'Henry VIII' Summary

The play opens with a prologue that introduces the main characters and sets the scene. The first act introduces Henry VIII and his court, and explores the tensions between Henry and his advisors, Cardinal Wolsey and the Duke of Buckingham. The second act focuses on Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon and the birth of their daughter, Mary. The third act explores the growing tensions between Henry and Catherine, and the rise of Anne Boleyn. The fourth act focuses on Henry's divorce from Catherine and his marriage to Anne. The fifth act explores the fall of Anne Boleyn and the rise of Jane Seymour. The play ends with a final scene that shows Henry VIII as a powerful and feared monarch.