Although Henry V can be read and enjoyed as a standalone piece, it is most valuable when viewed as part of a tetralogy. The two parts of Henry IV portray the characters and present the first stages of the conflict in a way that prompts us to reconsider Henry V in the continuity of the two previous plays. The dynamic evolution of the depiction of Prince Hal is clearly visible from the study of Henry V. In particular, Henry IV Part 1 features two of the main characters, Hotspur and Falstaff, who are only mentioned in Henry V. These two characters are essential to better understand how Prince Hal becomes the king he is and why he makes the decisions he does. Through his interactions with them and their deaths, Hal acquires their qualities – the boldness and determination of Hotspur and the wit and wordplay of Falstaff – and adds them to his own charisma. Both parts, in association with V, help us see the two-part process by which this happens: Hotspur's death allows Hal to acquire qualities that will reside in him until Falstaff's death. This death serves as a catalyst, allowing acquired qualities to translate into noble actions on the ground. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayShakespeare subtly portrays two critical characters who would later play a decisive role in the making of Henry V. The young nobleman Harry Percy, known as Hotspur and the only one present in the first part, is the son of the Earl of Northumberland. His family, the Percy family of the North, is essential to the plot, as the Percys play a vital role in helping Henry IV ascend to the throne. Feeling that King Henry IV is no longer honoring his debt to them, they lead a revolt, thus forming the narrative of the first part. Hotspur is immediately portrayed as a valiant soldier, his nickname coming from his "hot" and fierce attitude in battle. It is in this context that he is first mentioned in Westmorland's play, which relates that Hotspur reconquered Holmedon and took several prisoners (1.1. 52-5). He is then mentioned by the king himself, who envies Northumberland having “such a blessed son”, “a son who is the theme of the tongue of honor” (1.1. 80). Unlike many of Shakespeare's antagonists, Hotspur is never portrayed as evil, but rather in a complementary light. The weaker qualities of Hotspur's character are a consequence of his very strengths: he is stubborn and impulsive. As an example, Hotspur attempts to negotiate a ransom with the king for his prisoners in order to recover his brother-in-law, Mowbray (1.3). In this scene, Hotspur lets his temper run wild, as he does not take the time to consider that the demands come directly from the king and that Mowbray is considered a traitor to the royal court. Along with these weaknesses, Hotspur is a reckless and boastful young adult. In 5.2, Worcester lies to him by telling him that Hal insulted the Percys. In response, and in a disproportionate reaction to the current situation, Hotspur calls for a duel with the Prince. Although Shakespeare takes time at the beginning of the play to establish Hotspur as a strong and central character, it does not take long to show that Hotspur's priorities are preventing him from achieving his goals. Shakespeare wants the audience to make a clear comparison between Prince Hal and Hotspur. Beyond their common first name, he gives them the same age and gives their wives the same first name (Kate). Against his rebellious but noble prince, he portrays Hotspur as the determined antagonist. Alongside Hotspur, Hal appears as an irresponsible young man, who does not deserve thecrown. The two never interact until the very end, when they meet in a duel, but they are constantly seen together in the minds of the audience and the king. To him, Hotspur is the epitome of the perfect son, with only a few minor qualifications. When Hal finally expresses his opinion of Hotspur, it is only with the positive terms with which he challenges Hotspur to a duel. Hal prefaces his request with the following lines: "I do not think that a braver gentleman, // More active-valiant or more valiant-young, // More daring, or more daring, is now alive" (5.1. 89-91). The challenge presented is combat and Hal must prove his worth by defeating Hotspur. For his part, Hotspur even recognizes that Hal takes away his honor in his last speech: "I had better bear the loss of a fragile life // Than these proud titles you have won for me." They have wounded my thoughts even more than your sword my flesh. (5.4.77-9). The prince wins the duel and, by killing Hotspur, gains the qualities he so admired in him. While Hotspur represents the world of the noble court, Falstaff is the main actor in Hal's favorite world, that of the commoners. Falstaff, present in both parts of Henry IV, is depicted as a fat, old and untidy man. He is the personification of the central location of their world: a cheap pub in Eastcheap, London. Falstaff spends his time drinking, making bad sexual references and desperately looking for money everywhere. One of its particular vices is greed which leads to corruption. As the revolt led by Percy intensifies, Hal asks Falstaff to join him in battle with soldiers from various cities (4.2). Falstaff only succeeds in bringing in “miserable rascals” (4.2.57) because he lets the more capable men go in exchange for sums of money. Unlike Hotspur, Falstaff is constantly described in terms of his faults, but there are passages where Shakespeare hints at mind games and word games. The most poignant example is found at the end of 5.1 of the first part. Falstaff speaks of honor and raises the problem of living men who must suffer in his name. In a forceful speech, Falstaff reduces honor to a simple word: “What is honor?” A word. (5.1.133). While these characters are pivotal in their own right, it's very interesting to see how they interact with Prince Hal. Falstaff and Hal are connected from the start. The first time the two characters are introduced is in version 1.2, in which we can see their familiar attitude towards each other. Hal does not hesitate to affectionately and jokingly insult his friend: “You are so thick-minded to drink an old sack, to unbutton yourself after supper and to sleep on benches after noon” (1.2. 2-4) . The two are constantly shown to be very close to each other, with Falstaff feeling almost a fatherly bond with Hal. This is especially evident when it is announced that Hal is to become king and Falstaff appears to be worried about him. On the other hand, Hal likes to play tricks on Falstaff, because he is easily deceived and always tends to exaggerate stories. However, Hal protects Falstaff and is there for him in his time of need. For example, there are several occasions where the police come looking for Falstaff in the pub, but Hal quickly makes an excuse for him. Falstaff leans on Hal several times and seems to grow through his presence; in fact, Falstaff expresses it explicitly when he says, “Before I knew you, Hal, I knew nothing” (1.2. 82-3). However, Hal's feelings towards Falstaff and all commoners in general are more confusing. Hal seems to be comfortable in their world as he spends most of his time with them and finds humor in it. Thatcontrasts with the passages where Hal admits that he is pretending to ensure that his father, and England in general, expect nothing of him - so that he can better impress them when he becomes king (1.2. 173-95). ). His relationship with Falstaff ends completely when he is crowned in Part II and asks Falstaff "not to come within ten miles of our person" (5.5.63). Hal realizes that to become the king he desires to be, he cannot afford to maintain his intimate relationships with the lesser commoners. Falstaff does not understand this and ends his days consumed by the sadness resulting from Hal, now king, no longer speaking to him. Both Hotspur and Falstaff have significant qualities and flaws, but their power lies in their influence over Hal. Through their respective deaths, Hotspur and Falstaff pass on their best traits to Hal. The Hal shown in Henry IV Part 1 is a young and intelligent man, but he lacks proper priorities and family values. Indeed, King Henry IV wanted his sons to be more princely. However, by saving his father from being injured and killed by Hotspur, Hal is able to demonstrate his ability to be the soldier he needs to be. After Hotspur's death, Hal appears to be a real leader, leading the troops towards Wales. What separates the two characters is Hal's ability to take on Hotspur's best qualities, while leaving aside his impulsiveness. An example of this can be seen in Henry V's pleading words to God: "Not today, O Lord, // O not today, think not of the fault // which my father committed in surrounding the crown. » (4.1.274-6). Henry recognizes his father's fault in having usurped the throne from its rightful owner, but he never makes the mistake of saying it out loud or showing an ounce of disloyalty. Unlike Hotspur, Hal is willing to own up to his mistakes and accept the blame. When asked to calm down by his uncle and father in the opening scenes of Part One, Hotspur ignores them and continues to assert that his actions are legitimate. The contrasting scene is found in the second part (5.2), when the Lord Chief Justice tries to justify his actions against young Hal. Hal, now King, responds by thanking him for rightfully imprisoning him. As such, Hal takes the qualities of a family-oriented man who cries by his dying father's bed, and an invincible soldier, and adds them to his own temperament and introspection. However, these qualities are not enough to make Hal the king he is capable of being, until the middle of Henry V. The beginning of Henry V shows a king who relies on others to take decisions. decisions and who avoids all responsibility. The king announced war on France partly because Canterbury and Exeter, in search of money, advised him to do so. He imputes the guilt of the war to them when he announces: “Let each one now try his thoughts, that this just action may be brought” (1.2. 309-10). However, scenes towards the middle of the play, such as 3.3 or the famous St. Crispian's Day speech, show a king who possesses a powerful command of language and a will that inspires all his soldiers to want to fight. Without having read Henry IV, it is difficult to think about it, wrongly attributing these qualities to his growth. However, the two previous parts allow us to reconsider this point. As stated above, Henry has many good qualities, but there seems to be something holding him back. Falstaff's study allows us to better understand this behavior. Even if Henry cuts the link between the two worlds at the end of the second part, he still maintains very strong links with it while the characters desperately try.