Shakespeare S Henry IV Part I Explores What It Means To Be An Honest And Honourable Man
‘Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part I explores what it means to be an honest and honourable man.’ Discuss
In Shakespeare’s King Henry IV, Part, the playwright aims to present differing views of the time on the themes and notions of being deceptive and honourable, through situation as well as character. Consequently the playwright leads to the central question what it means to be a man. William Shakespeare’s interpretation is reflected in the perfect transformation of Prince Hal. Shakespeare’s main characters Hotspur, Falstaff and Prince Hal display different understandings of honour and deception in order to support Shakespeare’s establishment of the nobility of Hal as he rises to take his place as Prince of Wales, future King. In addition to this, the concept of honour is seen to be derived from each individual’s characteristic interpretation. The proud and arrogant Hotspur is besotted with the idea of personal honour to a degree that it becomes a fault in his character, something Prince Hal needs to avoid. Falstaff represents honour among thieves”, he has an inverse comprehension of what honour means, a cowardly perception centred very much on his safety and comfort and as such represents the world of moral decay which the Prince must eschew. The idea of deception is something that Shakespeare places great emphasis on. He acknowledges that deception is part of a make-up of the medieval man, such as Hal, but is something that must be carefully managed, as witnessed with the demise of both the scheming Lord Worcester and the brutally honest Harry Percival. Shakespeare sets King Henry IV part 1 in changing times, there is a new king on the throne and there is social upheaval in and around the country. As a result traditional concepts such as honour and the beliefs surrounding them have been subsequently challenged. This is mimicked through the “portly” Sir Jack Falstaff who a knight himself forsake his feudal duties and adopted the tavern life of the common folk.
In Shakespeare’s King Henry IV, Part, the playwright aims to present differing views of the time on the themes and notions of being deceptive and honourable, through situation as well as character. Consequently the playwright leads to the central question what it means to be a man. William Shakespeare’s interpretation is reflected in the perfect transformation of Prince Hal. Shakespeare’s main characters Hotspur, Falstaff and Prince Hal display different understandings of honour and deception in order to support Shakespeare’s establishment of the nobility of Hal as he rises to take his place as Prince of Wales, future King. In addition to this, the concept of honour is seen to be derived from each individual’s characteristic interpretation. The proud and arrogant Hotspur is besotted with the idea of personal honour to a degree that it becomes a fault in his character, something Prince Hal needs to avoid. Falstaff represents honour among thieves”, he has an inverse comprehension of what honour means, a cowardly perception centred very much on his safety and comfort and as such represents the world of moral decay which the Prince must eschew. The idea of deception is something that Shakespeare places great emphasis on. He acknowledges that deception is part of a make-up of the medieval man, such as Hal, but is something that must be carefully managed, as witnessed with the demise of both the scheming Lord Worcester and the brutally honest Harry Percival. Shakespeare sets King Henry IV part 1 in changing times, there is a new king on the throne and there is social upheaval in and around the country. As a result traditional concepts such as honour and the beliefs surrounding them have been subsequently challenged. This is mimicked through the “portly” Sir Jack Falstaff who a knight himself forsake his feudal duties and adopted the tavern life of the common folk.