Figurative Language In Prince Hal's Speech

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A title of prince may, at first, seem unearned, but its rewards also come with an expectation of maturity, self-control, and respect for others. In this brief passage from the play Henry IV playwright William Shakespeare further develops the character of Prince Hal, son of King Henry IV as he commemorates the efforts of a fallen rebel, Hotspur, though they were “Ill-weaved ambition” (90). This passage is evidence to the fact that, Hal has begun to sway from his boyish tendencies and immature acts and become the noble king he was born to be. This excerpt also develops the character of Fallstaff as we learn that he has fully immersed himself into his low-brow tendencies. Hal uses this passage as a chance to provide both of these fallen men with …show more content…

The informal nature of Hal’s speech is continued with Falstaff as he rises up and refutes Hal has said. He begins by furthering this idea of zoomorphism and deer imagery as he mocks him saying “Embowled? If thou embowled me today, I’ll give you leave to powder me and eat me too tomorrow” (113-114). His abbreviated words and language choice turns this soliloquy into a low-brow colloquial speech. Falstaff is very intent on defending his honour saying he had to fake dead or “that hot termagant Scot had paid me scot and lot” (116). This sentence contains a reference to Termagent who was a fictional Muslim god known for his anger and that’s how he describes the Scottish man who nearly killed him. Again he makes use of homonym’s using “scot” to mean both Scottish man and how he nearly killed him. The main theme of Falstaff’s speech that is portrayed to us through repetition is the idea of being a counterfeit. Falstaff believes that “to die is to be a counterfeit” (117) meaning that a dead person on the ground is counterfeiting a live one. This brings a new theme to the passage of life and death and how each of these character truly value it. He concludes this section of the passage with his final thought that “the better part of valor is discretion” (122) and therefore in his defensive tone says his discretion, not faking, saved his

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