# William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk — Henry VI, Part II character guide

> William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk in Henry VI, Part II by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Suffolk, my Lord of Suffolk, gentle Suffolk, Lord Suffolk, Suffolk True, William de la Pole, Pole, the Duke of Suffolk, King Suffolk

**First appearance:** 0000-henry-vi-part-ii

## Snapshot

The smooth-tongued duke who negotiated a queen for his king and kept her affection for himself, Suffolk is charm weaponized.

## Who they are

Suffolk returns from France with Margaret on his arm and a treaty in his hand that gives away two duchies, and he is rewarded with a dukedom for his trouble. His intimacy with the new queen makes him the most dangerous man at court, and his contempt for anyone below his rank is total, as his final confrontation with a pirate captain makes brutally clear. He matters because he embodies the play's central rot: private appetite dressed as public service.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_ii_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i)

Returns from France having negotiated the marriage and treaty; is created Duke of Suffolk by Henry.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_ii_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii)

Mentioned as a co-conspirator with Cardinal Beaufort in plotting against Eleanor.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_ii_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iii)

Plots with Margaret to disgrace Gloucester; intercepts petitioners; accuses York of treason through the armorer's man.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_ii_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i)

Insults Gloucester about his ambition and joins the Cardinal in undermining him.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_ii_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iii)

Gloats over the fall of Gloucester and Eleanor, comparing it to a lofty pine drooping.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_ii_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iv)

Mentioned by Eleanor as an enemy plotting against Gloucester.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_ii_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Arrests Gloucester and advocates for his death by any means, arguing it is necessary for the king's safety.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_ii_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii)

Orders the murder of Duke Humphrey and later faces accusation from Warwick. Banished by the king after the commons' demand.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_ii_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i)

Captured and executed by common sailors; defiant to the end, he invokes his noble blood and service to Queen Margaret.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_ii_se/characters/duke_of_suffolk
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_ii_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_vi_part_ii_se/characters