Essay on Honor in Henry IV - 1078 Words

Honour in Henry IV Honor is one of those concepts that is seldom defined. One’s reputation is based on his or her honor, integrity, honesty, and purity. William Shakespeare’s Henry IV is a one of his many plays that deal with the varying ideas of honor, as well as issues of courage, loyalty, and ambition, interposing examples of dishonor, weakness, and the deceitful plots among both the drunkards and noblemen. Shakespeare utilizes suggestive metaphors to create illusions, imagery, and to reinforce the different views of the major issues people were faced with in his time and in ours. His plays often focus on the imagery, either on some obvious important symbol, or some image pattern that recurs throughout the work. Readers are†¦show more content†¦King Henry IV must also contend with his son, Prince Hal, who’s not the honorable prince he had hoped him to be. He feels it is â€Å"an honorable spoil† not to have â€Å"a son who is the theme of hono r’s tongue,† when he learns of Northumberland’s son Hotspur’s victories, which, should be â€Å"a conquest for a prince to boast of† (1.1.74,80, 76). Pangs of jealousy strike Henry’s heart caused by the differences between his son and Northumberland’s. So much so, he wishes â€Å"it could be proved that† someone, or something, â€Å"had exchanged in cradle clothes, their sons at birth† (1.1.85-87). Act one, scene one, stresses the motif of honor in war, in characters, and, most importantly, in offspring. However, while Henry sees â€Å"riot and dishonor† in his son, Hal sees a father who has stolen his title by disgracing a king (1.1.84). Shakespeare wouldn’t dream of imposing his personal beliefs of who is honorable or who is dishonorable for the simple fact that it is obvious honor is perceived differently by each individual, as in each character’s perception and the imagery that surrounds that character. As Hal tries to discover the true meaning of honor, readers take the journey along with him. Hal realizes that honor is ambiguous when utilized to plead for emotional retort, yet leaves no margin for error when used as personal description, â€Å"Yet herein will I imitate theShow MoreRelatedHonor in Henry IV, Part One Essay2363 Words   |  10 PagesHonor in Henry IV, Part One  Ã‚      In Henry IV, Part One Shakespeare revels in the opportunity to suggest the idiosyncracy of character through his command of a wide range of both verse and prose. As a result the play is full of rich and different character parts (Wells 141). Two in particular, Falstaff and Hotspur, hold diverse beliefs concerning the main theme of the drama, honor. In Shakespeare’s time, honor was defined as the special virtues which distinguish those of the nobility in theRead MoreThe Concept of Honor in Henry IV, Part One Essay2355 Words   |  10 PagesShakespeare’s talent as both a writer and a poet lead to his gift for character development, down to the last detail. Henry IV, Part One contains a variety of deep characters, two of which play key roles in the evolution of the concept of honor in the play. Falstaff and Hotspur symbolize opposing viewpoints concerning the main theme of the play – honor. At the time the play was written, honor was defined as â€Å"the special v irtues which distinguish those of the nobility in the exercise of their vocation–gallantryRead MoreHonor in Henry Iv, Part I Ââ€" Falstaff vs. Hotspur1572 Words   |  7 PagesHonor In Henry IV, Part I Ââ€" Falstaff vs. Hotspur According to F. Scott Fitzgerald, The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function. Indeed, very few people have this quality, the playwright William Shakespeare being one of them. In many of his plays, Henry IV, Part One among them, Shakespeare juxtaposes different worldviews, ideologies, and even environments. His characters usually provide aRead MoreEssay on Comparing the Defective Rulers in Henry IV and Richard II836 Words   |  4 PagesDefective Rulers in Henry IV and Richard II      Ã‚   It has been shown again and again throughout history and literature that if there is a perfect human he is not also the perfect ruler.   Those traits which we hold as good, such as the following of some sort of moral code, interfere with the necessity of detachment in a ruler.   In both Henry IV and Richard II, Shakespeare explores what properties must be present in a good ruler.   Those who are imperfect morally, who take into account only self-interestRead MoreEssay on Honor in Prince Hal1001 Words   |  5 PagesHonor in Prince Hal Prince Hal’s destiny is shaped for him by many forces: his association with the neer-do-well Falstaff, the expectations of his father, King Henry IV, and the constant comparison between himself and Hotspur. All three of these forces create in Hal a sense of honor that is an integral part of his education as the ideal king, and throughout the action of Henry IV, Part I, Hal is gaining a knowledge of honor that will shape him into the King that he will become. However, itRead More Essay on Hotspur as Tragic Hero of Henry IV1322 Words   |  6 PagesTragic Hero of Henry IV       In Shakespeares Henry IV Part One, the characters many different conceptions of honor govern how they respond to situations.   Each characters conception of honor has a great impact on the characters standing after the play.   For instance, Falstaff survived because he dishonorably faked his own death, and his untrue claim that he was the one who killed Hotspur may get him a title and land.   On the other hand, Hotspur lies dead after losing a duel for honor.   HotspurRead MoreDelusions of Valor and the Repercussions on Conduct 1402 Words   |  6 PagesKing Henry IV shows no compunction for voicing his distaste of his son, Hal’s, actions while praising the valor displayed by Sir Henry Percy, commonly known as Hotspur. Given his debaucherous behavior and residence in the tavern, Hal has disappointed his father to the point where he has lost his Council seat to his younger brother and the devotion of a father to his firstborn, an admiration instead directed to Ho tspur for his military might. Expectations proved to be a force of delusion, as HotspurRead MoreAnalysis Of Henry Iv s The King Of The Throne 1373 Words   |  6 PagesHenry IV takes place in the very early 1400s and generally uses true historical events and characters throughout. While based on the history of England, it conveys its message and meaning through an often satirical and comical context, providing an enjoyable experience for the audience. Characters such as Falstaff and his fellow thieves keep the story unusually captivating and clever. Of the play’s many themes, loyalty, honor and relationship stand out as most important. These matters are highlyRead MoreEssay about The Evolution of Shakespeares Henry V1621 Words   |  7 PagesThe Evolution of Shakespeares Henry V Foremost among the characters William Shakespeare develops in his series of historical plays is, undoubtedly, the character of Henry V. Henry, also at times referred to as Harry or Hal, develops through the course of four plays: Richard II, I Henry IV, II Henry IV, and Henry V. From the brief mention of Henry in Richard II to the full focus upon him in Henry V, a dramatic change clearly takes place: the playful carousing youth portrayed in the first playRead MoreHamlet by William Shakespeare1097 Words   |  5 PagesFather Figures in 1 Henry IV In William Shakespeare’s 1 Henry IV, Falstaff and King Henry IV share father-figure relationships with Henry â€Å"Hal,† Prince of Wales. The former, a drunk and cavalier knight, acts as a surrogate father to the prince, while the latter, a determined and distanced monarch, is his blood. Yet, who is the better father-figure to Hal? Although Falstaff and Prince Henry share a strong, quasi father-son relationship, the former’s manifestation of the tavern atmosphere, venality