Honour in Henry IV
Question 10: Hotspur: “By Heaven, methinks it were an easy leap / To pluck bright honour from the pale-faced moon” (Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part One 1.3.201-2).
Falstaff: “What is honour? A word. What is in that word honour? What is that honour? Air” (Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part One 5.1.133-4). Discuss.
In the late 1590s, English playwright William Shakespeare wrote Henry IV Part One, the second historical drama of his second tetralogy. Henry IV Part One tells the story of the reformation of Prince Harry of Wales, the future King of England, from carousing with criminals and disgracing his father to defeating a rebel uprising that threatens to bring down his father 's regime. For Prince Harry, the virtue which allows him to escape his duality and transform into his true self is honour. Although honour is the main concept of the play, its definition is not constant and manifests itself differently amongst the various characters. King Henry IV, Hotspur, Falstaff and Prince Hal all concern themselves with honour, but illustrate different opinions of the virtue. Because of the conglomeration of perceptions, it is evident that honour cannot be defined by an exceeding standard, rather it is defined by the values and goals of the individual. In the case of King Henry IV, honour is thought of as kingly excellence. He believes honour to be the legitimacy of the ruler and his capability to rule the nation justly. Because he obtained the throne illegitimately, Henry fears that his kingship is not honourable. As he has already brought illegitimacy to his crown, King Henry is concerned that his son will bring dishonour to the nation, seeing “riot and dishonour stain the brow of [his] young Harry” (Shakespeare I.I 85-86). The fear of dishonour troubles the king so greatly that he becomes envious of his enemy Northumberland for being the father of Henry Percy, or 'Hotspur ' (I.I 78-79), claiming that Hotspur “is the
Falstaff: “What is honour? A word. What is in that word honour? What is that honour? Air” (Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part One 5.1.133-4). Discuss.
In the late 1590s, English playwright William Shakespeare wrote Henry IV Part One, the second historical drama of his second tetralogy. Henry IV Part One tells the story of the reformation of Prince Harry of Wales, the future King of England, from carousing with criminals and disgracing his father to defeating a rebel uprising that threatens to bring down his father 's regime. For Prince Harry, the virtue which allows him to escape his duality and transform into his true self is honour. Although honour is the main concept of the play, its definition is not constant and manifests itself differently amongst the various characters. King Henry IV, Hotspur, Falstaff and Prince Hal all concern themselves with honour, but illustrate different opinions of the virtue. Because of the conglomeration of perceptions, it is evident that honour cannot be defined by an exceeding standard, rather it is defined by the values and goals of the individual. In the case of King Henry IV, honour is thought of as kingly excellence. He believes honour to be the legitimacy of the ruler and his capability to rule the nation justly. Because he obtained the throne illegitimately, Henry fears that his kingship is not honourable. As he has already brought illegitimacy to his crown, King Henry is concerned that his son will bring dishonour to the nation, seeing “riot and dishonour stain the brow of [his] young Harry” (Shakespeare I.I 85-86). The fear of dishonour troubles the king so greatly that he becomes envious of his enemy Northumberland for being the father of Henry Percy, or 'Hotspur ' (I.I 78-79), claiming that Hotspur “is the
Cited: Shakespeare, William. Henry IV: Part One. New York: Oxford University Press Inc., 2008. Print.