Henry Iv Act 1 Analysis

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I do not think that he has the right to rule because monarchs are supposed to inherit the throne from past generations and also the fact that he killed the previous king makes him feel guilty throughout the play. Most important Henry Iv is trying to get Mortimer out of the picture because he was assigned from Richard II to take the throne. As Hotspur was having a conversation with his dad and worcester he discovered that “ King Richard then Proclaim my brother Edmund Mortimer Heir to the crown” (act 1). For one reason why henry IV should not be the ruler was because it was not assigned for him and also as long as the people that helped him get into power is out of the picture, there is no threat to the legitimacy of henry’s reign. But in the …show more content…

Moreover, as the first act opens King Henry IV states that “ So shaken as we are, so wan with care, Find we a time for frighted peace to pant, And breathe short-winded accents of new broils To be commenced in strands afar remote” (act 1). For this reason England would not have the potential or the strength to wage another war as England is in a bloodshed and emphasizing that the king is “shaken” (act 1), as he is facing problems mentally and physically. King henry IV greatest attribute is that he does things when the opportunity appears. For example, we know that he tries to destroy everything that gets in his way of …show more content…

Since King Henry IV usurped the throne he wants Mortimer to stay away because he knows that he was the next to be king after Richard II. King Henry is failing as the leader because he is facing a lot of problems with society and with his son. For example he does not have a good relationship with his Prince Hal and also the fact that he does not try to fix his relation shows why he is confronted with a lot of problems. Also he is seen as a failing leader because he does not try to find a way to solve the problems that England is facing but only talks about it as more problems appear. We can see this in his plan to wage war in the holy land because he states his plan to wage war in the holy land is “ our purpose now is twelve month old, And bootless ’tis to tell you we will go. Therefor we meet not now”( act 1). As we can see the king keeps talking about his plans but he does not do anything about it as he confronts new problems without solving the

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