Formal Self In Shakespeare's Henry V

The popular view of Hal as a dishonorable scoundrel is what brings King Henry IV, his father, to compare him to the high-strung and vibrant young rebel, Hotspur. King Henry's constant tirades stating that he wished Hotspur was his son

He uses the ethos described above to persuade his troops to fight. He does this to give them morale, which is necessary in order to fight. His aim was to lead his men into battle not to lose, but to win. He uses the men's emotions and futures as a reason to fight. Another reason is for the glory of the troop and the glory of England. These men have so much fear that all they can think of are reasons to flee. However, Henry gives the men better reasons to stay and fight. He wants his troop to give it their all and not abandon hope or the fleet. St. Crispin's Day is not a battle to dread. It will be a battle to remember for them, and for all people of England.

Act one, scene one, stresses the motif of honor in war, in characters, and, most importantly, in offspring. However, while Henry sees “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,

In Henry IV Part 1, although Falstaff and King Henry act as father figures in Hal’s life and are both intelligent in their own right, the differences in their tone and diction showcase the major differences in their personalities and relationship with pride.

Hal, assuming that it is about his interactions at the Tavern, because royalty usually does not “hang out” with common folk, is hesitant to go. Falstaff then sets a mock rehearsal to prepare Hal for his meet up. When the mock audition nears an end the immersion is broken as Falstaff question if he and Hal would still be friends and not banish him from his presence, Hal speaks “I do. I will.” the importance of this, is that when Hal is declared king, he will no longer be friends with Falstaff. He will terminate any friendship that does not seem fit with the courts. This scene is a key point which shows that Hal is not just Hal, but a Prince, who is conscious of his actions and mistakes; he knows fully well the responsibility and power which he has over the country. A boy who is changing to a man, a leader of men, and this will become more apparent as the play continues

Henry is trying to communicate to his audience that the British will betray them in terms that his audience will relate to or understand, so he uses a situation that happens in a well-known piece of

To examine Shakespeare’s exploration of identity as a means of control, it is important to understand what all constitutes each character’s identity. In the case of Henry, for one, it is apparent that the actions of his past alter his perceived identity throughout the play. Before Henry speaks his first lines in the play, the Bishop of Ely calls Henry a “true lover of the holy Church,” to which the Archbishop of Canterbury replies, “The courses of [Henry’s] youth promised it not” (1.1.23-24). This reckless reputation follows Henry further into the play when an ambassador from France delivers a message to Henry from the Dauphin: “…the prince our master says that you savor too much of your youth and bids you to be advised there’s naught in France that can be with a nimble galliard won: you cannot revel into dukedoms there” (1.2.250-254). Along with this message, the Dauphin included a gift of tennis balls meant to further insult Henry. Even later in the play, after the English won the battle at Harfleur, the noble Frenchmen continue to underestimate Henry’s ability as a leader: “What a wretched and peevish fellow is this King of England, to mope with his fat-brained followers so far out of his knowledge” (3.8.120-122).

Of all the characters in Part I of Henry IV, "Falstaff alone changes and develops" (Desai 15). Whereas King Henry IV remains guilt-ridden, Hotspur’s "passion for honour, reputation, and chivalry blinds him to every other consideraion" (Desai 15). Likewise, Hal, ostensibly transformed from rebellious youth to valiant hero, acknowledges his consistent "princely nature" is veiled by "foul and ugly mists of vapor that...strangle him" (Act I Scene III). Falstaff, alone, adeptly weaves among his static contemporaries. This eccentric behavior and refusal to comply with society’s prevailing practices provides him with mobility often

Falstaff’s soliloquy questioning the value of honour is an ironic contrast with how Hotspur and Hal regard honour. By now the contrast between their highly ordered morality and Falstaff’s own moral disorder is obvious. Falstaff’s inclusion at this point, when Hal has left his side and moved on, is necessary to point out the differing morality between the two, which was once so similar. Falstaff is of paramount importance to the sub-plot dealing with Hal’s decision between continuing his carefree lifestyle or maturing into the role he is destined to play as a respected prince and later king. This soliloquy continues the theme of another of Falstaff’s in Act 4 Scene 2, in which he is equally undisturbed by his amorality, and shows that his highest concern is for his own well being.

Despite how long Prince Henry disregards his father, and neglects returning home for long periods of time; it is clear that Prince Henry respects his father to a certain degree due to the respect that he yearns to receive from the King. If the Prince truly does not care about his image in the eyes of the King, then he would consort with the tavern folk forever ceasing to rise to the position of future king of England. However, this is not the case. In the line: “I do beseech your Majesty may salve, / The long-grown wounds of my intemperance” (III.ii.155-156) the Prince begs for his father’s forgiveness if he can stay true to his word, and win the battle between himself and Hotspur. The lessons that the Prince acquires from his father do not

In an abbreviated sort of version of the rejection scene, Prince Hal (Branagh) shows his intense link to Falstaff by conveying his lines of rejection and banishment without spoken words, choosing instead to use his facial expressions (assisted by a voice over by Branagh) to illustrate his thoughts. Falstaff's reception of Hal's non-verbal meaning shows the fact that Hal and Falstaff are linked beyond friendship and family, while the words themselves show that despite this union Hal has no qualms about using Falstaff to achieve his ends. The humanization of Falstaff changes the way we look at the character of Henry V and the production as a whole, as with Falstaff so much more pure, Henry is seen as the Machiavel he must become in order to succeed his father.

In the excerpt we are given, King Henry V rose to the occasion and spoke words of encouragement that rallied his troops. In his speech he says “I am not covetous for gold, Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost...such outward things dwell not in my desires.” Henry tells his men that he does not

This gives Hal a constant sense of inaptness. Knowing that his father thinks low of him drives him more towards Falstaff who praises him at all times, giving him the support he needs at such age. Hal’s disobedience is partly a stubborn reaction to his father’s criticism and partly a rebellion that is natural in his age. On the other hand, King Henry IV is haunted by a sense of guilt that is translated to a feeling of suspicion towards his own son. The source of this guilt is his usurping of the throne and, in a way or another, being a participant in the killing of Richard II, if not by giving the orders at least by turning a blind eye to it. King Henry IV unconsciously harbors a belief that God will punish him for doing this through his son. He expects that it will either be the fall of Hal when he succeeds him or Hal overthrowing him and taking over the throne. However, both options lead the king to treat his son with caution. An example of this is his fury when he wakes up to find that his crown is missing and thinking that his son wishes his death to become the king.

Henry V renewed his family’s claim to the French throne after hundred years of war. Shakespeare is telling the audience in England that they are people of bravery.

4. Henry says his Aunt was dressed like a ‘queen.’ He also says that his aunt is more towards the present mode. He is amazed by her appearance, for example her red hair and her teeth. At this