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Henry IV Part 1: Difference between revisions
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Than that which hath no foil to set it off.|'''Hal''', I.ii}}
A history play by [[William Shakespeare]]. It is the first in a duology, the second being ''[[Henry IV Part 2]]'' (logically enough). It actually also relates to two other Shakespearean plays
Following the events in ''[[Richard II]]'', Henry Bolingroke, now King Henry IV, wishes to wage a crusade to cleanse himself of the sin of Richard's death. It is not to be, as some of his former allies plot to overthrow him -- chief among them the Percy family, whose son Harry (known as "Hotspur") is one of the greatest warriors in England.
Looming war isn't King Henry's only problem, though. His son, Prince Harry (known as "Hal"), is a seeming good-for-nothing lout who surrounds himself with drunkards and rogues and rejects the royal life, preferring to play pranks and chase women. Hal's best friend is the old, fat, wily Sir John Falstaff, a bombastic drunk who provides much of the play's comedy.
As King Henry and the Percy family wage a tense political battle, Hal and Falstaff get themselves into a number of comic situations. It is during one of these that Hal reveals his plot to the audience -- he is playing the part of the foolish prince so that people will not expect much of him; that way, when he finally reveals himself as the great thinker and fighter he is, he will look much better by comparison.
Eventually, the political tensions come to a head and the two sides face off in the Battle of Shrewsbury. Hotspur leads his forces boldly into fray; Hal swears his loyalty and love to his father and join the fight; Henry IV has a number of his soldiers dress as him to confuse the enemy; and Falstaff reaps profit from draft dodgers. At last, Hal and Hotspur meet in single combat, and Hal prevails.
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* [[Self-Fulfilling Prophecy]]: King Henry's refusal to ransom Mortimer under the fear that he might lead a rebellion eventually causes Hotspur to lead a rebellion of his own.
* [[Shadow Archetype]]: Hotspur to Hal. They even have the same name (but different nicknames).
* [[Sliding Scale
* [[Too Dumb to Live]]: Hotspur, who antagonizes an ally who claims he can summon spirits, tries to launch an attack when half of his army is absent, and, unlike everyone else in the play, honestly believes in chivalry and that they have the right to the throne, as opposed to it just being a power grab by his allies.
* [[Warrior Prince]]: Hal at the end.
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{{reflist}}
[[Category:Theatrical Productions]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Theatre]]▼
[[Category:William Shakespeare]]
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