Henry VI Part 2 Religion Quotes

Henry notices that Cardinal Beaufort dies without making a religious symbol. It's moving to Henry—and concerning to him, too. He decides to pray for the Beaufort, even though Beaufort helped murder Henry's friend and innocent confidant, Gloucester. It looks like Henry prefers to forgive than to judge.

After Warwick says Cardinal Beaufort must have been the worst guy ever, Henry defends him by saying that we've all done stuff we're not proud of. (Beaufort more than most, though, right?) It's characteristic that Henry focuses on forgiveness and understanding even here, after he's witnessed the death of a murderer.

Here, Henry is answering Buckingham about what to do about the rebels. He doesn't want to fight (even though the rebels helped destroy his country); instead, he wants to save them all. Again, that's a nice thing to do, but it's debatable whether that's the right thing for a king to do. (There's no right answer.) Do you think Henry's religious beliefs about forgiveness and sinners get in the way of ruling his nation? Maybe the problems in the country run so deep that judgment and punishment won't save things, and Henry is right that what's needed is understanding? Or is it too late for that, as far as these rebels go?