Character in Henry IV, part 1
Falstaff ♂ male
616Lines Spoken
1.2First Scene
5.4Last Scene
20.3%Of Play Dialogue
Falstaff is the #1 role in Henry IV, part 1 by line count (616 lines, 20.3% of the play), sharing the stage most often with Prince Henry — 8 scenes together across Acts 1 to 5.
Falstaff’s position in the full cast
| # | Role | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Falstaff (this role) | 616 | 20.3% |
| 2 | Hotspur | 562 | 18.5% |
| 3 | Prince Henry | 551 | 18.1% |
| 4 | King Henry Iv | 341 | 11.2% |
| 5 | Earl Of Worcester | 188 | 6.2% |
| 6 | Poins | 79 | 2.6% |
| 7 | Glendower | 79 | 2.6% |
| 8 | Vernon | 66 | 2.2% |
| 9 | Mortimer | 60 | 2.0% |
| 10 | Lady Percy | 57 | 1.9% |
Voice signature
Opening line (Act 1, Scene 2): “Now, Hal, what time of day is it, lad?”
Longest speech (Act 2, Scene 4): “I hope I shall as soon be strangled with a halter as another.”
Exit line (Act 5, Scene 4): “live cleanly as a nobleman should do.”
How Falstaff’s dialogue distributes across the play
Falstaff’s dramatic peak falls in Act 2 with 276 lines.
Every scene where Falstaff speaks
| Act / Scene | Lines spoken | Share of scene |
|---|---|---|
| Act 1, Scene 2 | 79 | 38.3% |
| Act 2, Scene 2 | 54 | 51.9% |
| Act 2, Scene 4 | 222 | 41.7% |
| Act 3, Scene 2 | 117 | 30.4% |
| Act 4, Scene 2 | 63 | 77.8% |
| Act 5, Scene 1 | 19 | 13.4% |
| Act 5, Scene 3 | 22 | 35.5% |
| Act 5, Scene 4 | 40 | 23.7% |
Who Falstaff shares the stage with
| Scene partner | Shared scenes |
|---|---|
| Prince Henry | 8 |
| Bardolph | 4 |
| Poins | 3 |
| King Henry Iv | 3 |
| Gadshill | 2 |
| Hotspur | 2 |
| Hostess | 2 |
| Sir Walter Blunt | 2 |
| Earl Of Douglas | 2 |
| Peto | 2 |
Other plays featuring a character named Falstaff
| Play | Lines |
|---|---|
| Falstaff in Henry IV, part 2 | 715 |
| Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor | 433 |
Questions about Falstaff
Is Falstaff the lead role in Henry IV, part 1?
Falstaff is ranked #1 by line count among 36 speaking characters in Henry IV, part 1 — carrying 20.3% of the play’s dialogue.
What is Falstaff’s longest scene?
Act 2 Scene 4, where Falstaff speaks 222 lines.
Who does Falstaff speak to the most?
Falstaff shares the most scenes with Prince Henry — 8 scenes together across Henry IV, part 1.