An Analysis between the Father and his Son in William Shakespeare’s Henry IV

1024 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Performing arts and sport

Martial arts is a form of fighting and it contributes greatly on training beginners to self-defend. There are a total of 10 levels to achieve in martial arts: 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest. Level 1 is represented by the white belt and level 10 is represented by the black belt. The black belt is only given to the trainer once his sensei or teacher feels like the student has earned it. If the sensei does not feel that the trainee is ready for the black belt, then he will reject him. It takes a long time to gain the “sensei’s” trust and achieve his high expectations (“martial art.”) Just like the relationship of the sensei and trainee, in Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 1 Hal tries to gain his father’s trust so he can become prince once and for all. However, the king sees Hal as a dishonoured child that is misled by the darkness of the tavern. Of course, Hal shows his father how trustworthy he can be by leading the battle of Shrewsbury with him and saving King Henry’s life. Hal meets the high expectations of his father and becomes prince like he was intended to be. On the other hand, King Henry obtains his crown by killing the previous king and then receiving the help of the nobles to get him to where he is now. King Henry obtains his supremacies by relying on others, manipulating his associates to gain their limited trust, and by betraying his companions, while Hal becomes crowned prince by relying on his father and betraying his friends of the tavern.

King Henry and Hal attain power over the ruling classes manipulating the citizens of Wales. First, King Henry uses his authoritative power to let the people know that there is nothing to fear and he righteously earned his place on the throne. When King Henry addresses Hal...

... middle of paper ...

...ng. Prince Hal relies on his father to gain his own trust and to be crowned prince. Hal must first show King Henry that he is willing to betray his friends in the tavern and kill Hotspur just to gain his trust. When King Henry recognizes that Hal is honest about his choice he can then be crowned prince. King Henry achieves power deceivably and dishonestly while Hal attains power honestly and righteously. The lesson for audiences is to never gain trust easily because those who you may trust effortlessly might just stab you in the back without you knowing. Achieve your goals alone, do not rely on others to accomplish it for you.

Works Cited

"martial art.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.

Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2014. Web. 07 Apr. 2014.

Shakespeare, William. Henry IV, Part 1. Toronto: Simon & Schuster, 1994.

Show More
Related

  • The Development of Prince Hal into a Leader in William Shakespeare's Henry IV

    981 Words  | 2 Pages

    transformation of Prince Hal from a tavern crony into the next King of England. This is a

    Read More

  • Is The Juxtaposition In King Henry's Soliloquy

    534 Words  | 2 Pages

    Prince Hal is initially portrayed as being incapable of princely responsibilities in light of his drinking, robbery and trickery. Yet, Shakespeare reveals that Hal is in fact only constructing this false impression for the purpose of deceit. Prince Hal’s manipulative nature is evident in his first soliloquy, when he professes his intention to “imitate the sun” and “break through the foul and ugly mists”. The ‘sun’ Prince Hal seeks to ‘imitate’ can in this case be understood as his true capacity, as opposed to the false impression of his incapacity, which is symbolised by the ‘foul and ugly mists’. The differentiation of Hal’s capacity into two categories of that which is false and that which is true reveals the duplicity of his character. Moreover, Hal is further shown to be manipulative in the same soliloquy by explaining his tactic of using the “foil” of a lowly reputation against his true capacity to “attract more eyes” and “show more goodly”. The diction of “eyes” symbolically represents public deception, concluding political actions are based on strategy. It is through representation and textual form that we obtain insight into this

    Read More

  • Shakespeare's Portrayal of Henry V as the Model Monarch

    3054 Words  | 7 Pages

    shall firstly do a summery of the play and give a basic image of what

    Read More

  • King Henry IV

    594 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hal seems to lack honor at the commencement of the play, but near the end we see him display a different kind true honor which will be explained more in depth. Hal also shows his honor when he rejects the requests put forth by his good friend Falstaff and sides with his natural father to fight loyally. Even though Henry views Hal as an unworthy candidate for the thrown, Hal proves him wrong by displaying attributes that are very honorable. In King Henry’s point of view, Hal doesn’t seem much like an heir to his thorwn. Instead of living at the court to aid his father govern England, he frolics in the Taverns of Eastcheap with a group of petty thieves.

    Read More

  • Red Badge Of Courage

    1160 Words  | 3 Pages

    Henry becomes bored and unhappy. For time he begins to question his bravery and he

    Read More

  • Prince Henry Rite Of Passage

    1151 Words  | 3 Pages

    King Henry IV is saddened and ashamed of Harry’s drinking and stealing and wonders if he will ever become a capable leader. King Henry IV even questions if some...

    Read More

  • Henry IV, Part 1, by Shakespeare

    1108 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...der to maintain success. King Henry showed that he is restricted to one language which resulted him to not gain the lower class power and it then lead him to focus on his political status. On the other hand, Hal presented himself to the viewers as a friendly character, yet he sustained to manipulate and lie to others to achieve his goals. Henry IV n, Part 1 presents the idea of political power and the different characteristics leaders follow. The lesson for audiences, then, is to develop relationships with different people who will expand one’s area of inspiration and the ability to advance success. One can learn from the mistakes of King Henry and remember to be visible and properly positioned, so society can see one’s strengths and talents.

    Read More

  • The Flawed King in Shakespeare's Henry V

    1567 Words  | 4 Pages

    To turn Henry V into a play glorifying war or a play condemning war would be to presume Shakespeare's intentions too much. He does both of these and more in his recount of the historical battle of Agincourt. Although Shakespeare devotes the play to the events leading to war, he simultaneously gives us insight into the political and private life of a king. It is this unity of two distinct areas that has turned the play into a critical no man's land, "acrimoniously contested and periodically disfigured by opposing barrages of intellectual artillery" (Taylor 1). One may believe that Henry is the epitome of kingly glory, a disgrace of royalty, or think that Shakespeare himself disliked Henry and attempted to express his moral distaste subtly to his audience. No matter in which camp one rests, Henry V holds relevance for the modern stage. Despite containing contradictions, Henry is also a symbol as he is one person. This unity of person brings about the victory in the battle of Agincourt.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Prince Hal And Falstaff's Henry IV: Part II

    1338 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the most famous scenes in Henry IV: Part I is the scene in which Prince Hal and Falstaff put on a play extempore. This is often cited as the most famous scene because it is Hal’s turning point in the play. However, the scene is much more than that. The play extempore is a moment of prophecy, not epiphany because is cues the reader in to the play’s major themes, and allows readers to explore the possibilities of the play’s continuance.

    Read More

  • Honor In Henry Iv Part 1

    935 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Shakespeare’s play Henry IV Part I, the concept of honor plays a key role in the actions different individuals throughout the play. Honor is a broad word that encompasses various definitions and varies from person to person. Thus, it is no surprise that the main characters also perceive honor in their own specific ways. However, the key aspect of the variability lies within the distinction of class. However, each character perceives honor differently, which in turn leads them to very different courses of action. Three particular individuals who take honor into account differently throughout the play are Prince Hal, Hotspur, and Falstaff. For Hotspur, honor relates to feelings of duty on the battlefield and reputation, while Hal believes

    Read More

  • King Henry Iv Part 1

    1098 Words  | 3 Pages

    Shakespeare’s ‘King Henry IV Part I’ centres on a core theme of the conflict between order and disorder. Such conflict is brought to light by the use of many vehicles, including Hal’s inner conflict, the country’s political and social conflict, the conflict between the court world and the tavern world, and the conflicting moral values of characters from each of these worlds. This juxtaposition of certain values exists on many levels, and so is both a strikingly present and an underlying theme throughout the play. Through characterization Shakespeare explores moral conflict, and passage three is a prime example of Falstaff’s enduring moral disorder. By this stage in the play Hal has ‘reformed’, moved away from his former mentor Falstaff and become a good and honourable prince.

    Read More

  • Father and Son Relationship in Shakespeare's Hamlet

    558 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hamlet, of the play, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, is a young man with many distinctive characteristics. He is the loving and beloved son of Hamlet, the deceased King of Denmark. He is talented in many ways, as actor, athlete, and scholar.  Prince Hamlet draws upon many of his talents as he goes through a remarkable metamorphosis, changing from an average, responsible, young Prince to an apparently mad, raging son intent upon avenging his father’s untimely death.

    Read More

  • Falstaff And Prince Hal Relationship Essay

    1067 Words  | 3 Pages

    Jean Renoir, a famous French film director, asked, “Is it possible to succeed without any act of betrayal?” King Henry IV Part Two by William Shakespeare displays a complex relationship between Prince Hal and Falstaff. The relationship between the two men progresses from companionship to alienation; in the end, Prince Hal betrays Falstaff. Shakespeare displays the intense and changing relationship between Prince Hal and Falstaff to highlight the destructive power of greed and how it forces the sacrifice of one relationship in order to gain another.

    Read More

  • Parenting in Hamlet by William Shakespeare

    1437 Words  | 3 Pages

    The role parents play in a child’s development is critical. They are the people who have the most influence on them, effecting most aspects of even their adult life. When too controlling, the role of a parent can have lasting negative consequences for the child. In the play, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, the author shows that loss of an authoritative parent leaves people trying to replace the loss of that control in unhealthy ways that destroy the person. This can be seen in the lives of Ophelia, Hamlet and Laertes, who all loose a controlling father.

    Read More

  • The Character Falstaff in Shakespeare's Henry IV

    1080 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...honor of the bawdy house, of the drunken boast, but true honor that is based in fact and in deed. He can rise to the occasion of besting the best of the foemen. He rejects his false "father" Falstaff and rushes to the aid of his real father, saving him in battle. Yet, he has taken something from Falstaff too, and that is his humor, his flexible mind, his joy of life. He lets stand Falstaff's absurd claim that he Falstaff has killed Percy. In this, Hal shows modesty and true self-confidence. To that he has blended Hotspur's valor and honor while avoiding Hotspur's brittle hair-splitting and unalloyed pride. In Hal, Shakespeare successfully merges the two extremes of Falstaff and Percy into a human and humane whole.

    Read More

More about An Analysis between the Father and his Son in William Shakespeare’s Henry IV

Open Document