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Growing up is a part of life, and as people grow, they mature. Although some must mature more than others, the process does eventually take place. The process doesnt take place automatically though. There are decisions that must be made and the outcomes of these decisions determine the speed of the maturation process. In the stories of Henry I, part I, and Henry V, there is a young prince named Harry that has a lot of growing up to do, but he eventually develops into the glorious King Henry V. Young Prince Harry, also called Prince Hal, grows up in the royal family learning right from wrong and the responsibilities of being prince, but when he becomes the age of a modern day teenager, he starts to go astray.
He spends the majority of his time hanging out at a local tavern drinking and chasing women. When his friends ask him to participate in a robbery, he starts to say no by saying, Who, I rob? I a thief? Not I, by my faith, (1. 2. 142) but after some convincing he says, Well then, once in my days Ill be a madcap (1. 2. 146).
He knows what he should and should not do, but he decides to have fun instead of choosing right. While he is taking time to enjoy life, he knows that one day he will have to stop and get serious. He tells one of his friends, My reformation, glittering oer my fault, / Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes/ Than that which hath no foil to set it off (1. 2. 217 - 219). Prince Hal does finally get the chance to get serious when his father, King Henry IV, calls him to the castle to tell him about a group of rebels, led by Henry Percy, that have been gathering to overthrow the thrown. Not only does his father tell him about the rebellion, but he also scolds him boldly about the type of lifestyle Hal has been living.
This opportunity is Hals moment of truth. He decides that he wants to change and he tells his father, I will redeem all this on Percy's head (3. 2. 132). This is the first big step in his maturing process. The second step comes later in the story when the battle is taking place. During the battle, Prince Hal defends his father against an attacker. After he leaves his father, Henry Percy meets him.
The time has come for Hal to execute his plan and let reformation begin. Prince Hal defeats Percy, and the maturation process starts a new chapter. Prince Hal has successfully done what he said he would and can pursue greater things. Although one of Hals friends claims that he killed Percy, Hal says to the man, For my part, if a lie may do thee grace, / Ill gild it with the happiest terms I have (5. 4. 155 - 156). Hal knows that no one will believe the friend, but he lets the friend have the credit if he wants it.
Hal doesnt need approval of others now. He has already proven to himself that he can do it, and that he will achieve the glory that he dreamed of in his youth. Now that Prince Hal has proven himself, the next step in the maturation process is to gain experience and wisdom. When his father dies and Hal becomes King Henry V, the experience and wisdom follows. He rules the country with great leadership and decides to take a piece of land from France that he feels is rightfully his. He gathers an army together and marches them through France until they are met against French forces at Agincourt.
Although the French forces greatly outnumber the English, Henry V gives a glorious speech just before the battle and he tells the soldiers that, 'tis true that we are in great danger; /The greater therefore should our courage be (4. 1. 1 - 2). If we are make to die, we are enow/ To do our country loss; and if to live/ The fewer men, the greater share of honor (4. 3. 20 - 22). Gentlemen in England, now abed, /Shall think themselves accursed they were not here; /And hold their manhood's cheap whiles any speaks/That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day, (4. 3. 64 - 67). The English go on to defeat the French and King Henry V is honored in both England and France.
He finally reaches the end of his maturation process, and is now a glorious king. Not everyone will become a glorious king, but almost everyone will mature into something they deem valuable. Maturation is a part of life.
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Research essay sample on Part Of Life Prince Hal
