jamie whalen term paper

8/8/2019 Jamie Whalen Term Paper

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Jamie Whalen

term paper

Donald Bloom

10/08/09

Personal Development of

Prince Hal Throughout Henry IV


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This play depicts some of England's most legendary leaders and its more infamous usurpers

in a way that appealed to the common English people. The plot to overthrow King Henry IV,

though a failure, helped to set in motion events that are critical in English history. Shakespeare's

fictionalized account of those events portray the probable impact that they could have had on a

raucous Prince Henry. These dramatized events were used to highlight the changes that the young

prince underwent as a result of his experiences immediately before, during, and after the Battle of

Shrewsbury. Shakespeare uses this play to illustrate Prince Hal's personal metamorphosis from

royal embarrassment to a man his father could have been be proud of, and one who is worthy of

ruling a country. C. L. Barber agrees that the play is centered on Prince Hal developing in such a

way as to exhibit in the prince an inclusive, sovereign nature fitted for kingship(347,txt,Barber)

We are first introduced to Prince Hal while he and his compatriot Falstaff are having fun in

an apparently well known but seedy pub. In the beginning of the play, Prince Henry is obviously

quite enamored with Falstaff, who is a terrible influence for a multitude of reasons. For starters,

Falstaff is a liar and a thief, whose only real goal in life is to be as drunk as possible. Falstaff is

witty for sure, but is totally disdainful of all of the values that were taken for granted in his day.

Ideals like love, valor, courage and honor, he finds silly and wasteful. The things a good knight

should have, Falstaff views only as ways in which you can get yourself killed. Of course, these

traits are all things that a good prince should have, but that Prince Henry fails to exhibit. Instead,

he has disgracefully fallen in with the likes of Falstaff and Poins, whose lechery and thievery

tends to rub off on him, much to his father's regret.


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O, thou hast damnable iteration, and art indeed able to corrupt a saint. Thou hast done

much harm upon me, Hal, God forgive thee for it. Before I knew thee, Hal, I knew nothing,

and now am I, if a man should speak truly, little better than one of the wicked. I must give

over this life, and I will give it over. (11, txt)

In one part of the book, Poins and Prince Hal actually stage a robbery of Falstaff as a practical

joke. Of this prince Hal says :

Now merrily to horse.

The thieves are all scattered, and possessed with fear So strongly

that they dare not meet each other. Each takes his fellow for an officer. Away, good Ned. Falstaff

sweats to death, And lards the lean earth as he walks along. Weret not for laughing, I should pity

him.(29, txt) Though one must note that this situation does not wholly imply that Hal is as bad as

he seems, for as Elizabeth Montagu agrees Hal seems only diverted, rather than seduced by

Falstaff. In this incident Hal refuses the concept of robbery and only complies with playing a trick

on the robbers, and care is taken to inform the reader that the money is returned its

owners(221,txt,Montagu)

King Henry, prince Hal's father, disapproves of Hal and his behavior. In fact, he wishes

frequently throughout the first part of the play that Hal was not his son, or that he was more

responsible. In one quote he said,

Yea, there thou makst me sad, and makst me sin In envy that my Lord Northumberland

Should be the father to so blest a son, A son who is the theme of Honors tongue,Amongst a

grove the very straightest plant, Who is sweet Fortunes minion and her pride;Whilst I, by


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looking on the praise of him, See riot and dishonor stain the brow Of my young Harry. O,

that it could be proved That some night-tripping fairy had exchanged In cradle-clothes our

children where they lay, And called mine Percy, his Plantagenet! Then would I have his

Harry, and he mine.(7, txt)

In this part, he compares Hotspur to Prince Hal, and comes to the conclusion that he would rather

have Hotspur for a son than Hal. He tells Hal at one point that Hal is a disgrace to the kingdom and

that Hotspur probably has more right to the throne through his actions, if not through his birth.

Thy place in council thou hast rudely lost, Which by thy younger brother is supplied, And

art almost an alien to the hearts Of all the court and princes of my blood. Not an eye But is a

weary of thy common sight, Save mine, which hath desired to see thee more which now

that I would have it not do(57,txt)

His disapproving attitude towards Hal separates him from his son, but shows Hal that he needs to

change if he wants to be king some day, or if he ever wants to win his father's approval. to the

king, Hal is a character in his own tragedy in Henry's eyes Hal is a dangerous profligate whose

assention will initiate a further period of political chaos, whereas Hotspur is an ideal son who's

character and achievements overshadow Hal's.(281,txt,Wilders)

Eventually, as the story progresses Hal begins to see the error of his ways. Upon

examination of his life and attitudes he is shown that his peoples' and his father's opinions about his

behavior were entirely correct, and that he really does need to change. He begins to see that he can

no longer act as irresponsibly or as rashly as he has in the past, and must reform or risk losing his

future kingship. He then begins to understand the responsibilities entrusted to him by his people


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and his father because of his position as their future king.

So please your Majesty, I would I could Quit all offenses with as clear excuse As well as I

am doubtless I can purge Myself of many I am charged withal. Yet such extenuation let me

beg As, in reproof of many tales devised, which oft the ear of greatness needs must hear, By

smiling pickthanks and base newsmongers, I may for some things true, wherein my youth

Hath faulty wandered and irregular, Find pardon on my true submission.(56,txt)

He goes through an intermediate period where he admitted his wrongs and understands that he

needs charges but hasn't done it yet.

First among the things he recognizes as poor judgment is his relationship with Falstaff. Hal

realizes exactly with whom he has been associating and makes serious changes in his opinions of,

and his dependence on Falstaff. Hal describes Falstaff as avillainous abominable misleader of

youth, Falstaff, that old white-bearded Satan.(45, txt). Falstaff also proves himself to be unreliable

and a coward. After Falstaff reveals his true nature to Hal in part three of Act five when Falstaff

takes in to battle with him a bottle of sack instead of a gun. When prince Henry asks for assistance,

the following scene commences; PRINCE HENRY What, standst thou idle here? Lend me. Many

a nobleman lies stark and stiff Under the hoofs of vaunting enemies, Whose deaths are yet

unavenged. I prithee, Lend me thy sword.... What, is it in the case? FALSTAFF Ay, Hal, tis hot,

tis hot. Theres that will sack a city. ( PRINCE HENRY draws it out and finds it to be a bottle of

sack) (87,txt). To the current prince Hal, this show of cowardice is unacceptable yet recognizes

that with Falstaff the eventuality of this occurring was equally unavoidable. This further dissolves


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his relationship with the reawakened prince Hal. However, though the prince realizes that Falstaff

is a bad influence, he does not totally abandon him,and instead shows a degree of loyalty towards

his old friend proving once again his desire to better himself and his aptitude for future rule.

During this revelation the relationship between prince Hal and his father also begins to

change. Prince Hal swears that he has changed and that his ways are mended. And, in the closing

of some glorious day, Be bold to tell you that I am your son, When I will wear a garment all of

blood And stain my favors in a bloody mask, Which, washed away, shall scour my shame with

it.(60,txt) His father, being the admirable person that he is, notices theses changes as they begin

to overtake his son. KING

A hundred thousand rebels die in this. Thou shalt have charge and sovereign trust herein.(60,txt)

He wants to believe that his son is sincere in his promises and claims of continued self

improvement. However, he is not yet wholly convinced and remains passive on the issue while

allowing the prince a chance to prove his claim of virtue. The prince for his part seems willing to

accept the consequences of his actions and surrender himself to the conditioning required of a

young prince. PRINCE HENRY

I shall hereafter, my thrice gracious lord, Be more myself. (58,txt)

After proving himself in the battle against his fathers usurpers, Hal's father can finally

accept him as his heir. He sees the qualities that he wished his son possessed from the start when

Prince Henry bravely saves him from Hotspur and proceeds to kill him in one on one combat.

KING Stay, and breathe awhile. Thou hast redeemed thy lost opinion And showed thou makst


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some tender of my life

In this fair rescue thou hast brought to me. (89,txt) the quality of the relationship between Hal in

his father drastically improved.

The only contact the prince has with Falstaff is during their service in his fathers army.

Even though they are no longer as close as they once were, when the prince sees that Falstaff to has

changed he again treats him as a friend if only so much as a brother in arms Prince: come brother

John; full bravely hast though fleshed thy maiden sword (92,txt) This loyalty towards Falstaff

despite their tense relationship only serves to further prove his moral reformation.

This play is an illustration of prince Hal's transformation. From despicable rough to princely

hero we are shown this arduous journey to find a line between white and black in a world swarmed

with hoards of gray. He is able to change himself into a decorated war hero, when he once hung

about with thieves and vagabonds. He shows that he is ready to take on the responsibilities that his

father needs him for, and possibly for future kingship.


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Bibliography

(txt) Shakespeare,William. 1 Henry IV. New York, London. Norton and co. 2003

critics in txt

C.L. Barber

John Wilders

Elizabeth Montagu

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