Summary Of Hotspur And Lear In William Shakespeare's Henry IV

732 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Henry IV part 1 politics

In the Shakespearean play, Henry IV part I, Hotspur and Hal are portrayed as valiant soldiers. They are not afraid of a good battle or of even dying in a fight. On the other hand, the fearful Falstaff is putting up a performance. He is pretending to be intrepid like Hal and Hotspur, when in truth he is just a coward, to gain the same type of honor Hotspur and Hal have.
Hotspur is displayed as a valiant soldier. He is not afraid of a fight and is the one who initiated a battle with Hal. Shakespeare writes, “Nor shall it, Harry, for the hour is come/ To end the one of us; and would to God/ Thy name in arms were now as great as mine!” (Shakespeare, 5.4.67-69). Hotspurs is not afraid to die in this battle, and knows that there is a chance he will
In this sense, he fakes his death to save his life and pretends to kill Hotspur to gain some honor. Shakespeare writes:
The better part of valour is discretion, in the which better part I have saved my life. Zounds, I am afraid of this gunpowder Percy, though he be dead. How if he should counterfeit too and rise? By my faith, I am afraid he would prove the better counterfeit. Therefore I’ll make him sure; yea, and I’ll swear I killed him. Why may not he rise as well as I? Nothing confutes me but my eyes, and nobody sees me. Therefore, sirrah (stabbing him), with a new wound in your thigh, come along with me. (Shakespeare, 5.4.118-126)

Falstaff is full of play pretend. His is such a coward that he admits he is afraid of Hotspur, a valiant man, even after he is dead. However, he is going to pretend that he is valiant and that he is the one who killed Hotspur. His use of the word counterfeit is to express who he really is. In this sense, counterfeit means fake or forgery. By pretending he is the one who killed Hotspur he is faking an act of heroism. Therefore, the actor who plays Falstaff, plays a coward, who plays a hero. Thus, differently than the valiant Hotspur and Hal, Falstaff is nothing but a fearful man who forges the performance of

Show More
Related

  • King Henry Iv Part 1

    1098 Words  | 3 Pages

    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. Hal’s remark to his father indicates a strong, independent mind, predicting that Douglas and Hotspur will not accept Henry’s offer because of their love for fighting. Henry’s reply, in turn, indicates a change in attitude towards his son, a newfound respect. Acknowledging Hal’s prediction, the king orders preparations to begin, and we see he has his own set of solid moral values: knowing that their ‘cause is just’ helps him to reconcile with his highly honourable conscience that there is indeed cause for war.

    Read More

  • Relationship of Hal and Falstaff in Henry V

    920 Words  | 2 Pages

    first we think that as Falstaff is the older one of the two, that he

    Read More

  • Sir John Falstaff

    548 Words  | 2 Pages

    Humans are addicted to judging others on their first impression. Humans will never read into the book, they just look at the cover. Many people, both fictional and nonfictional can not be judged until you study them. Someone who first appears to be only comic relief, could end up to be a very important character. Sir John Falstaff is but one of these people. Falstaff's righteousness hides under his vocalization. John Falstaff's character is hard to understand without analyzing his words. He loves to play games with his speech. Falstaff tricks his audience with complex words and phrases. Often John would win over his opponent by tricking them into saying things that they did not mean or getting them to think that he is not that bad. Falstaff said this in Part I act II scene IV. "... A question not to be asked. Shall the son of England prove a thief and take purses? A question to be asked. There is a thing, Harry, which thou hast often heard of, and it is known to many in our land by the name of pitch. This pitch, as ancient writers do report, doth defile; so doth the company thou keepest. For, Harry, now I do not speak to thee in drink, but in tears; not in pleasure, but in passion; not in words only, but in woes also; and yet there is a virtuous man whom I have often noted in thy company, but I know not his name." In this passage, the Prince and Fastaff trade places in speech and try to make the other look dumb. Fastaff later goes on to say that this wonderful person that the King is talking about. The way Falstaff does this proves him to be very keen. He proves that even though he may look dumb, he will still put up a good fight. Falstaff is very bold about his thoughts and opinions. He stands out because he is not afraid to think his own way. While most people agree, because of the other people around them, Falstaff chooses to make his own decisions and think for himself. This is proven when Falstaff and the prince switch places in a verbal fight. Every one else in the book thinks of the Prince as a perfect young man because he is the prince, however Falstaff is too smart for this, he points out that the prince is a thief.

    Read More

  • King Henry IV

    594 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hal isn’t as interested in gaining honor for its own sake as he is in forcing Hotspur to render up all of his. This scene displays how Hal is honorable for himself and for himself only.

    Read More

  • Flashbacks in Henry V by William Shakespeare

    424 Words  | 1 Pages

    These three flashbacks display a great deal of information that the play did not give to its readers. The first scene was with Henry and Falstaff drinking and having a good time. It was used to show that Henry got along with the common people and in addition it also how Henry cared about how his subjects thought about him. Falstaff died of a broken heart. He died because during Henry's coronation, Henry disregarded Falstaff as if he never existed. Henry could not be friends with Falstaff when he was crowned king due to the fact that Falstaff was not a noble person to have around because criminals constantly surrounded him. As a result Henry chose his thrown over his family.

    Read More

  • Comedy in I Henry IV and II Henry IV by William Shakespeare

    2529 Words  | 6 Pages

    ...in themes similar to those found in the two Henry IV plays, such as usurpation, rebellion, and the issue of lineage of royal right. But Richard II and King Henry V are decidedly more serious in tone, and in comparing them to I Henry IV and II Henry IV, the argument can be made that it is these two latter plays which resound with greater realism with the broader spectrum of life which they present. Shakespeare carefully balances comedy and drama in I Henry IV and II Henry IV, and in doing so the bard gives us what are perhaps the most memorable characters in all of English literature.

    Read More

  • Sir Thomas More: A Man For All Seasons

    531 Words  | 2 Pages

    By More dying, he proved a point to himself and the public. That he was honorable and not going to succumb to the deceitful thinking of Cromwell and the King. “I have not disobeyed my sovereign. I truly believe no man in England is safer than myself.” (pg. 40)

    Read More

  • Father/Son Relationships in Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part One

    804 Words  | 2 Pages

    The consequences of the Hal and Hotspur's choice in father-figures are indeed what leads the play to its final outcome. Hal, who sides with his father and not Falstaff, becomes a noble prince and redeems himself in the eyes of his father. Hotspur, on the other hand, sides with Worcester, and their collective tempers lead them to make the rash decision to revolt. Their tempers are also responsible for other poor decisions that evade the chance of truce, resulting in the inevitable failure of the rebellion. Indeed, all could have been prevented if Hotspur sided with his father, rather than his uncle, and Hal would have become a desolate criminal had he followed Falstaff.

    Read More

  • Why Shakespeare Created Falstaff in Henry IV

    849 Words  | 2 Pages

    Falstaff made life exciting for Prince Harry, and he was fun to be around. His character is in sharp contrast with the nobility which will be Harry's companions at court when he becomes King, and seems to be quite dishonest by comparison. However, in some ways, he is truer than any of the noblemen, because he is quite person concerning his own self interest. It is not that he does not lie. He does, in the last scene of Act II, when he tells about how he and his companions were robbed by other highwaymen after capturing their prize, "All! I know not what you call all, but if I fought not with fifty of them, I am a bunch of radish: if there were not two or three and fifty upon poor old Jack, then am I no two-legged creature." Harry and Poins were, of course, the robbers who fell on the...

    Read More

  • Prince Henry Rite Of Passage

    1151 Words  | 3 Pages

    Prince Harry’s plan to kill Hotspur puts his life on the line to prove his valor. He swears all this in the name of God, a solemn oath. Act five shows Harry’s final development. In act five, scene four, King Henry IV fights against Douglas, a leader in the rebellion. Just as Douglas is about to kill the King, Prince Henry shows up to defend his father.

    Read More

  • Paranoia In Macbeth

    1967 Words  | 4 Pages

    Shakespeare and Stevenson illustrate how the protagonist faces a battle of desires and submits to the manifestation of evil. Their desires somewhat stunned the audience and readers at this time and to an extent, it still astonishes the audience/readers to this day.

    Read More

  • Henry IV, Part 1, by Shakespeare

    1108 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hal is the Prince of Wales and heir to the British throne was able to manipulate both the nobles and the court in order to satisfy his needs. Firstly, his ability to speak confidently between the lower class and upper class allowed him to gain authority of many things. In the beginning of the play, Poins tells Hal and Falstaff there is a robbery planned for...

    Read More

  • Ophelia's Madness

    1232 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...gton, 2009, pp. P1139 L190,191) Clearly, this is short-lived as but a few scenes later, he slays Hamlet in a fencing match by a poison blade as planned earlier. (Shakespeare & Bevington, 2009, pp. P1146-1148)

    Read More

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

    1338 Words  | 3 Pages

    He is happy being a drunkard and someone who indulges what he wants. But he also realizes that it is not the type of life that a prince, or a king, should associate himself with, which leads him to his pleading—another reason the scene is prophetic. He pleads with Henry about his morality, much like he will do later in the play and in Henry IV: Part II. Though the play extempore is supposed to prepare Henry for his encounter with his father. Falstaff realizes it may be a good time to practice the inevitable encounter that he will have with Hal once he becomes king. This argument can be further developed when one realizes that it was Falstaff that called for the play extempore, not Hal. Falstaff knew he wanted a trial run before Hal’s kingship, so he gave himself one. However, Hal’s only reaction to Falstaff’s final speech is his line, “I do, I will” (2.4. 465). Some may take this as his answer to Falstaff that he will pardon him, and continue to be his friend. But the argument could be made that Hal is saying that line more to himself than to Falstaff. He is saying that he will do what’s necessary to be a good king. That he does have what it takes to leave a life he enjoys for a life of

    Read More

  • Falstaff's Honor Speech Analysis

    1092 Words  | 3 Pages

    Falstaff’s honor speech does not imply cowardice, rather it exemplifies the contrast between himself and King Henry IV. In King Henry IV part one, act 5, Fallstaff explains why honor is not an ideal he strives for. He says that honor drives him to battle and asks, if he dies for honor, what is the reward? Honor will not assist him if he is wounded, it is nothing but air, a word. It is only achievable through death, and it is useless to the dead. Therefore, in the upcoming battle Falstaff will not, as characters in heroic plays had done for centuries, sacrifice himself for love of country. He will instead look out for his own self interest, and attempt to earn acclaim from the actions of others.

    Read More

More about Summary Of Hotspur And Lear In William Shakespeare's Henry IV

Open Document