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... pleasure, and the golden sleep?" Prince Hal is the energetic, high-spirited eldest son of Henry IV. He has a carefree way of life. His gradual rises from associating with lonely thieves like Falstaff to defeating Hotspur at the end of the play. When associating with Falstaff, Hal knows exactly what he is doing. By socialising with people looked down upon by society, he knows that he redeems himself it will seem all the better because of his past.
This is shown in his soliloquy. In Act 1 Scene 2 Lines 218 - 219 he says: "I'll so offend to make offence a skill Redeeming time when men think least I will" In the king's opinion, Hotspur is the most serious contender for throne, he feels punished in having a disloyal son for usurping the throne and killing the precious king: "For the hot vengeance and nod of heaven To punish my misleading, tell me else" He is also unhappy to have lost his place in council to his younger brother, John of Lancaster: "Thy place in council than last host rudely Which by the younger is supply'd" The kings also expresses his disappointment in his son Hal: "Had I so lavish of my presence been So common-hackneyed in the eyes of men" So stale and cheap to vulgar company" However, the Prince seems to be taking the same path of life as his father. His father kept himself in obscurity and was more praised when he emerged: "By being seldom seen, I could not stir But like a comet I was wondered at" This is what Hal is doing, he is obscured by his bad reputation, but plans to change this as we see in Act 4 scene 4, "I have sounded the very base string of humidity." In this speech Hal is commenting on how he is being ironic with "Tom, Dick and Harry", and how they treat him as equal. This speech presents Hal as humorous when referring to the lower class of London: "With four loggerheads amongst three or four score hogs head" However, he is bitter of his life so far, he states: "To conclude, I am so good a proficient in one Quarter of an hour that I can drink any tinker In his own language diving my life. " In this speech he criticises himself saying how he has discarded his position as Prince of Wales. The speech is full of bitterness and clearly shows a stage of transition in Hals life. Now his ascendancy begins.
He is aware of public opinion but one of his main strength is understanding lower class people as he spent most of his life so far. Hal's reply to his fathers is that redemption for him when they fight the rebellion and more notably Hotspur in particular: "I will redeem all this on Percy's head, " In this speech he begins to use violent words which suggest he is beginning to rage: "Or I will tear the reckoning from his heart" He feels that defeating Hotspur will lead to redemption, and cover the shame of his past. Shakespeare portrays Hal in scenes of wit and humour and, also shows a calculating nature. The humorous scenes with Hal and Falstaff keep the play from being too serious. Hals has great political acumen, whereas Hotspur does not. You could possibly blame the rebels defeat on the mentality of Hotspur.
In Act 2 Scene 4 the Prince states: "I am not yet of Percy's mind; the Hotspur of the north- he thie Kills me some six or seven dozen of Scot at a Breakfast, washes his hands and says to his wife" Here Hal gives his opinion of Hotspur, his opinion is clearly biased and he may even be envious of his success. Hal begins the play at the lowest point of his life, but his gradual ascendancy and promises of redemption are kept and at the end of the play we begin to see this at the battle of Shrewsbury. Even Vernon, one of the rebels can see genuine signs of princely behaviour in Hal in Act % Scene 2 when he tells Hotspur the contrary of Hotspur's opinionated stance on Hal: "If he outlive the envy of this day England did never owe so sweet a hope So much misconstrued in his witness When Hal and Hotspur fight in Act 5 Scene 4 we see the Prince reach his potential and is now worthy of kingship. "I am the Prince of Wales, and think not Percy, To share with me in glory any more. " Here Hal Views Hotspur as a real contender for the throne, in saying this he compliments him. After defeating him he is a noble to say: "Adieu, and take thy praises with thee to heaven Thy ignominy sleep with thee in the grave But not remembered in the epitaph!" Here the prince shows maturity, which was not evident earlier. Throughout the play there is much talk of desires for honour between both characters.
Yet their intentions and definitions of honour are different. Hotspur views honour very highly in a military sense, whereas Hal's type of honour seems to be more dignified and caring. At this time in history, plays had a theme, a moral issue like devine right, greed or lust. Honour I feel may have been the main theme to this play. Shakespeare in this play shows a prince maturing, reaching his potential. One of Hal's main strengths is that he understands people, which Hotspur lacks.
Hotspur is a political innocent, and despite his rashness and temper he is easily manipulated by his father Northumberland and Uncle Worcester. Shakespeare presents the two in a familiar situation. That is, that a situation like this occurred with Hal's father and Richard II due to his behaviour and actions. In my opinion Shakespeare intentionally left the redemption of Hal to the end, for dramatic purposes and although Hotspur was killed, I think Shakespeare wanted him to be viewed as honourable, likeable character who his own faults met a tragic end.
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Research essay sample on Prince Of Wales End Of The Play
