How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #1
WESTMORLAND
Farewell, faint-hearted and degenerate king,
In whose cold blood no spark of honor bides.
NORTHUMBERLAND
Be thou a prey unto the house of York,
And die in bands for this unmanly deed. (1.1.187-190)
As soon as Henry strikes a deal with York, his men run off to tell his wife. Hmm… maybe that's a sign that she's the one who wears the pants in this relationship. It also shows us even Henry's own people think he's weak.
Quote #2
RUTLAND
So looks the pent-up lion o'er the wretch
That trembles under his devouring paws;
And so he walks, insulting o'er his prey;
And so he comes to rend his limbs asunder. (1.3.12-15)
Rutland is one of the only characters who seems truly blameless: he's just a child, so he doesn't really understand what's going on around him. And he knows it, too: he points this out to Clifford before he's murdered, asking for pity because he's weak. Unlike the adults who try to hide their weakness, Rutland owns it and tries to spin it to his advantage.
Quote #3
WARWICK
For thou shalt know this strong right hand of mine
Can pluck the diadem from faint Henry's head
And wring the awful scepter from his fist,
Were he as famous and as bold in war
As he is famed for mildness, peace, and prayer. (2.1.154-158)
"Who cares if Henry has the crown? We'll just take it from him." That's essentially what Warwick says to Richard. Henry's got a reputation for being a weak guy, and it only stirs up trouble in his kingdom. If he were a stronger ruler, would any of this trouble have started in the first place? Or did the trouble start as soon as Henry's grandpa took the crown from Richard II?