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Hotspur

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Hotspur
English II

Spring 2013

Character Analysis: Hotspur

Hotspur is seen as a one-dimensional character, a bloodthirsty warmonger. His

Loyalty to his brother-in-law and the Percy namesake outweighs his loyalty he should

have for his King (commander and Chief). This will be his ultimate downfall such as a

man who would attempt a coup. He is a formidable warrior such as Sgt York & John F.

Kennedy. These young warriors gained respect and notoriety because of courage under

fire and the lives of the men they saved. The difference between them and Hotspur is

they were humbled by their failures and they knew that going to war was what they had

to do and was not a desire.

In Act 1 Scene 1 Westmoreland mentions Hotspur while talking to the King, who

makes the statement “makest me sin, in envy that Lord Northumberland should be the

father to so a blest son, a son who is the theme of honour tounge.” With this statement

the King see’s Hotspur as an honorable and a righteous warrior.

The King is jealous that Lord Northumberland has such an honorable and valiant

son. It is truly revealed with the statement the King makes in act I scene I line 78-90 “see

riot and dishonor stain the brow of my own young Harry (Hal). O that some night

tripping fairy had exchanged in cradle-cloths our children where they lay and call’d mine
Percy.” We see that the King wishes that the Prince and Hotspur were switched at birth

and he would discover it. The King and Hal’s sir name is Plantagenet, meaning spring

of the broom bush, which is brilliant because the King is the ruler of England, the land,

the people and all its assets and while Hal is the rightful heir apparent to the crown but,

Hotspur is showing he would be a better heir apparent and become one with the land and

its people. The King further proves his preference to Hotspur than his own son in Act III

Scene II Line 93-128 “when

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