To Be With Or Without Honour: William Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part One

696 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Character sketch of falstaff

Falstaff and Hotspur have opposing belief systems towards honour. Falstaff holds a practical view of honour, valuing life more then honour (Beveridge 10). Hotspur views honour as life, willing to give up his life for honour (Beveridge 10). Although both beliefs are completely different they share some similarities. Both characters present their beliefs with extreme passion and consistency. Another characteristic shared by the two beliefs of honour is the selfish motive behind them. By dissecting Falstaff’s and Hotspur’s ideas of honour many similarities and differences are presented.
Falstaff views honour empirically, as just a word (Beveridge 10). He values life more then he values honour. This theory is evident after reading Falstaff’s soliloquy at the end of Act Five, Scene One “...Can honor set to a leg? No.Or an arm? No. Or take away the grief of a wound. No. Honor hath no skill in surgery then? No. What is honor? A word. What is in that word honor? What is that honor? Air...Honor is a mere scutcheon and so ends my catechism” (Henry IV 5.1.131-141). To Falstaff, honour is not tangible and therefore not worth his life. Falstaff compares honour to a scutcheon. A scutcheon is defined as, “A painted shield with coat of arms identifying a dead nobleman”. (Henry IV 5.1.140-141). He believes the dead have honour but they cannot bare witness to it, as it leaves behind only a symbol. In the end we see Falstaff fake his death to prove his point. To Falstaff life is what matters!
Hotspur’s idea of honour contradicts that of Falstaff’s. Hotspur would choose to die with honour then live without it. Hotspur’s idea of honour is expressed throughout the play, for example, during a conversation with Worcester, Worcester says, “There ...

... middle of paper ...

...f’s ideas of honour it’s is apparent neither characters have an ideal belief of honour.
Falstaff and Hotspur hold contradicting views of honour with both characters holding an extreme view on the concept. Falstaff’s cowardly personality is expressed through his selfish idea of Honour. He will not sacrifice his life for honour but will try and claim credit for honour that is not his. Hotspur holds an irrational view on honour, willing to sacrifice his life in the name of honour. Both Falstaff’s and Hotspur’s views were described as similar in the aspect of selfishness. The two theories are based on the satisfaction of the two individual characters, with no altruistic motive. The two characters present their views of honour compassionately throughout the play. Through analyzing Falstaff’s and Hotspur’s views of honour many similarities and differences are revealed.

Show More
Related

  • King Henry Iv Part 1

    1098 Words  | 3 Pages

    Falstaff’s blatantly honest soliloquy has provided the audience with a direct insight into his mind, and contrasts well with Hal and Hotspur’s speeches, in which their moral order and regard for honour is evident. Falstaff helps to show the change in Hal to the audience. Falstaff himself is no different to the Falstaff of Act 1, unlike Hal who has obviously undergone a great deal of change. Falstaff’s speech is highly typical of the tavern world’s way of thinking: straightforward, sometimes humorous, spoken in prose, and only the values of the tavern world taken into consideration, with no regard for such insubstantial, un-physical concepts as honour. In this way, and spoken directly to the audience, Falstaff effectively expresses his unashamed resolution not to submit to moral order.

    Read More

  • Shakespeare's Portrayal of Henry V as the Model Monarch

    3054 Words  | 7 Pages

    shall firstly do a summery of the play and give a basic image of what

    Read More

  • Sir Gawain and Green Knight Essays: Triumph or Failure?

    510 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sir Gawain is presented as a noble knight who is the epitome of chivalry; he is loyal, honest and above all, courteous. He is the perfect knight; he is so recognised by the various characters in the story and, for all his modesty, implicitly in his view of himself. To the others his greatest qualities are his knightly courtesy and his success in battle. To Gawain these are important, but he seems to set an even higher value on his courage and integrity, the two central pillars of his manhood.

    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

  • Honor in Arthur Miller's The Crucible

    1038 Words  | 3 Pages

    Honor can be defined by how one holds them in the public eye. Others may say that honor is how you live your life when none can see your actions. However defined honor can play major roles in how a person will act in a given situation. The Crucible by Arthur Miller has excellent examples of how honor can manipulate people’s decisions in times of importance. John proctor holds his moral standpoint and does not falter into the temptations of selfishness, while Elizabeth would describe honor as how a person lives their lives. Some can even describe honor as what is most important in life; family. Giles believed that his life was the ultimate object he could sacrifice to maintain his family’s happiness. However honor can be defined, one thing is certain; Everyone has some degree of honor in their lives.

    Read More

  • Sir Gawain and the Green Knight & color

    1426 Words  | 3 Pages

    Through jest of a game the Green knight enlightens Gawain the short sights of chivalry. He comes to realize within himself that the system which bore him values appearance over truth. Ultimately he understands that chivalry provides a valuable set of ideals toward which to strive, but a person must retain consciousness of his or her own mortality and weakness in order to live deeply. While it is chivalrous notions, which kept him, alive throughout the test of the Green Knight, only through acute awareness of the physical world surrounding him was he able to develop himself and understand the Knights message. From the onset of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight the author relies intensely upon descriptive language to create ambiance and tonality, but it is only later in the work, upon Sir Gawain’s development, that like Gawain, the reader is able to derive meaning from the descriptive physicality and understand the symbiotic relationship of nature and society.

    Read More

  • King Henry IV

    594 Words  | 2 Pages

    Before the final battle Falstaff asks for Hal’s protection. Hal’s response is, "Say thy prayers, and farewell. Why, thou owest God a death"(5.1.124-126). This statement gives the impression that Hal has had a change of heart. In Act 5.2, Hal shows a different kind of honor when he attempts to take away all of Hotspur’s honor.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Honor In Julius Caesar

    910 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar, has a heavy focus on honor. The characters in the play have a tendency to refer back to honor and the honor of Rome, but are they really as honorable as they say? Honor is a very abstract concept that is widely applicable in many situations, but what is it? To honor someone is to show them respect, and to be honorable is to act in a way that deserves respect and admiration. The characters of Julius Caesar, for the most part, are all seeking some form of honor, but do they achieve it? Three of the best examples of honor in Julius Caesar are Brutus, Cassius, and Portia. With varying levels of honor, these characters display the spectrum well.

    Read More

  • The Historical Accuracy of Henry V by William Shakespeare

    2126 Words  | 5 Pages

    Henry V, written by William Shakespeare, is by far one of his more historically accurate plays. This play is the life of young King Henry V, who ascended to the throne after his father, Henry IV's death. These times were much different for England, as Henry V was a noble lord whom everyone loved, whereas angry factions haunted his father's reign. Shakespeare portrays a fairly accurate account of the historical Henry V, but certain parts are either inflated"deflated, or conflated to dramatize Henry V as a character suitable for a Renaissance audience.

    Read More

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

    804 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the start of the play, the reader sees that Prince Hal has been acting in a manner which has disappointed his father. The King compares Hotspur to Hal, saying that Hotspur is ìA son who is the theme of honour's tongue,î and that ìriot and dishonour stain the brow of [Hal] (I.i.3).î He even wishes that the two were switched: ìThen would I have his Harry, and he mine (I.i.3).î The King obviously does not approve of Hal's actions, and believes that, if Hal does not change his ways, he will be a poor successor to the throne.

    Read More

  • The Flawed King in Shakespeare's Henry V

    1567 Words  | 4 Pages

    The theme of unity transcends any ambiguity found in Henry's character or motives. This theme is evident in many areas of Henry V, but for the sake of this article, the importance of this theme is discussed between play and audience, and within Henry himself. This production of Henry V proposes that these two aspects be emphasized to show how Shakespeare's play has a message for modern theatergoers. The setting and age are left the same, as this adds to the validity of the play.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Prince Hal

    1435 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hal understands that those of high birth have a greater responsibility to be honorable. The jealousy that comes with the persistent protection of one’s honor is a characteristic seen in almost every noble figure, but Hal’s attitude toward honor is different than those around him- especially Hotspur. Unlike Hotspur, who serves the code of honor, Hal intends to abuse it by postponing his acquisition of honor so that when he eventually attains it his reputation will seem greater than it would’ve originally.

    Read More

  • Honor in No One Writes to the Colonel and Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Garcia-Marquez

    1610 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...process to maintain honor then it would not be a major determinate on that person character and family. The preservation of honor is similar to recent corruption scandals in Providence, Rhode Island. The mayor of Providence Buddy Cianci focused and pursued his life on the attainment of power in the city. He cheated and lied his way through the office as governor doing anything he could to remain in power. Like in the pursuit of honor he made many business relationships and also fired anyone who would ruin his chances at remaining in office. Similarly to what happens in the pursuit of honor he devoted his entire life to his campaign. His struggle for power in Providence is similar to the way Garcia-Marquez shows complexity involved in the pursuit of honor.

    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

  • Morality And Morality In Hamlet

    719 Words  | 2 Pages

    Honor is a respectable fulfillment to acquire and uphold. In the play, Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, is respected by the people of the city for his family lineage in royalty. People that surround Hamlet refer to him as Lord and treat him with respect. When Hamlet

    Read More

More about To Be With Or Without Honour: William Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part One

Open Document