Honor In Henry Iv Part 1

Question One

Shakespeare, in Henry IV, Part I, does not present one clear definition of honor; instead, he demonstrates competing conceptions through the individual character’s interpretations. Three characters each have their own sense of honor: Harry, Hotspur, and Falstaff. Harry’s honor most closely resembles the commonly held, contemporary view of “kingly” or noble honor: honor is self-deprivation from hedonism and self-sacrifice for the greater good of the nation. While at the beginning of the play King Henry disapproves of Hal’s gallivanting, Hal earns his father’s respect by modeling this conception of honor when he goes to fight alongside his father. Hal does not view this as a choice, but a necessity. In other words, rising to

Instead, honor rests upon the shoulders of an individual in a certain situation. Hotspur’s honor parallels pride. King Henry tainted Hotspur’s pride and his family’s name. This honor lost is something Hotspur seeks to regain. Hotspur believes he can renew his honor through defeating the king. He says, “"it were an easy leap to pluck bright honour from the pale-faced moon, or dive into the bottom of the deep, where fathom-line could never touch the group, and pluck up drowned honour by the locks" (I.iii.199-203). One victory and his disgrace abolished. His sense of honor consists of wins and losses. To be honorable, at the end of the day, Hotspur had to emerge on

He analyzes what has shifted in the world since the outbreak of the world wars. I interpret that he believes the honor of the old ages has died. However, he believes that despite” negation and despair” he can become an “affirming flame.” Instead of calling on honor and nationalism, he demands that, “we must love one another or die.” While he never addresses honor, to me, it seems that he calls to humankind to stand next to each other. Auden’s understanding of what it means to shine hope and to be good to all mankind parallels my personal definition of