The Significance of Hal from Henry IV Part 1

Henry IV Part 1 – The significance of Hal

The significance of Hal is interesting because Hal’s attitude at the opening of the play is of a young idle man. His father, Henry, wants him to be his true successor to the throne so it worrying that he behaves otherwise. Throughout the play Hal’s development is significant to me as he begins to mature into a young prince.

Overall I think there are three characters that influence Hal, in both positive and negative factors. The three characters are his father – King Henry, his companion - Sir John Falstaff and his rival – Hotspur.

The first time we hear Henry speak of his son Hal is the moment after Westmoreland tells Henry about the rebellion, led by Glendower. Hotspur has led to yet another victory by defeating the Scottish. We as the audience become more conscious of the tense political situation.

Henry IV wistfully wishes he could switch his son Hal with Hotspur because he sees Hotspur as a valiant solider. “That some night tripping fairy has exchanged in cradles clothes our children where they lay, and called mine Percy, his Plantagenet”. The word “exchanged” reminds Henry and the audience of how much Henry didn’t want Hal to be his son. He wants Hal to be like a true heir but at the moment its Hotspur as Hal is still very much a young idle man, especially when Westmoreland agrees that Hotspur has had a noble conquest.

The word “prince” reminds Henry of his son Hal and the great disappointment he is. This is the first comparison between Hal and Hotspur. Shakespeare is able to examine and understand both personalities but especially Hal’s. We as the audience can make a judgement also, but also helps the audience understand the story more. In those days when a prince was to ...

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...a young matured prince. Unlike Hotspur, at the start was a valiant solider but then developed bad habits e.g. being selfish to others and developing an immature attitude. We as the audience can now see the true image of Prince Hal, the worthy successor to King Henry IV.

Overall, I would say Hal is significance in a number of ways one of which is the True Prince emerges from the moral squalor in spite of its attractions including Falstaff as Lord of Misrule. The difference between Hal and Henry’s Leadership skills as Henry is autocratic, aloof, dictatorial whereas Hal skills are doubtable, anxious to know and understand his people and approachable. The “chiasmus” between Hal and Hotspur parallels as Hal turns bad to good and Hotspur turns good to bad. Portraying Hal as the underdog, making good “riot and dishonour” becoming “feathe

Works Cited

Book Henry IV Part 1