Shakespeares presentation of the characters of Hal and Hotspur in Henry IV Essay Example for Free

Shakespeares presentation of the characters of Hal and Hotspur in Henry IV EssayCompare Shakespeares presentation of the characters of Hal and Hotspur in Henry IV Part 1The two main(prenominal) characters in Henry IV Part 1 are named Hal and Hotspur. They are two genuinely differentiate characters. Hal (actual name Henry Bolingbrook) is the son of the king, Henry IV. Hotspur (Harry Percy) is the son of Lord Northumberland. His family is very wealthy and powerful, and at the divide of the play they are fighting for the nance because they are good friends with him. Things soon turn sour though, when the quick- holded Hotspur, egged on by his scheming uncle, Lord Worcester, falls out with the King and vows to get r neverthelessge on him. This essay describes the numerous differences between the two young men.In his fathers eyes, Hal mixes with the wrong sort of race, and this is probably true. He spends a lot of his time with thieves like Gadshill, liars like Falstaff, and d runkards like Bardolph. The King is very disappointed with the delegacy his son behaves, and he makes this clear right at the beginning of the play. Whilst I by looking on the praise of him HOTSPUR see riot and dishonour stain the brow of my young Harry he confides in West more thanland. He even goes as far as wishing that Hotspur was his son instead of Hal Oh that it could be turn out that some night-tripping fairy had exchangedour children where they lay.Hotspur is an aggressive, short-tempered character. He always says what he thinks, no matter who is around, and this characteristic tends oftentimes to get him into hot water. He forbad my spiel to speak of Mortimer, but I will find him when he lies asleep and in his ear livery holla Mortimer he says in one of his many rants around the King. Hal is almost the exact opposite of Hotspur in this respect, he is very laid-back, and keeps his thoughts to himself rather than blurting them out like Hotspur.When asked if he was afrai d of Glendower and the rebels, he replies nonchalantly Not a whit ifaith, showing his relaxed manner. Hal is not as flippant with his remarks as Hotspur. He keeps himself to himself. This is made clear to the audience when he reveals in an aside that his mixing with disreputable people is a scheming plan to eventually glorify himself when he turns over a new leaf. He reveals this kinda late in the play, which is done on purpose to show that he has been keeping it to himself for quite a while, giving the audience the impression that he is a scheming and calculating person.Hotspur is obsessed with fight and politics, whereas at the start of the play it seems like Hal couldnt superintend less. I love thee not I care not for thee Kate when I am a-horseback I will swear that I love thee infinitely says Hotspur, who we chouse loves Kate very a lot, but when there is a battle approaching he doesnt care about anything else. Although at the start of the play Hal seems disinterested in w ar and politics, it later emerges that he is almost as passionate about it as Hotspur.Hal, when he insults people, does it behind their back, and is much more subtle than Hotspur. In Act 2 dead reckoning 4 Hal has a dig at Hotspur while laughing and joking in the tavern, whereas Hotspur criticises the King while he is just meters away from him in Act 1 Scene 3. He forbad my tongue to speak of Mortimer, but I will find him when he lies asleep and in his ear Ill holla Mortimer he rants.Hotspur often mentions Gods name in his speeches. And God defend but still I should stand so he says at one point in the play, and Welcome, Sir Walter Blunt and would to God you were of our intent he says at another time. Frequent mention of Gods name was an important part of public rhetoric, in contrast to todays society where faith in God is no longer an essential part of the policy-making or judicial process. Harry does not mention God as often, perhaps hinting at any a lack of faith or a lack o f knowledge and experience of rhetoric. This comparison demonstrates how Hal has much to learn about being a successful speaker, and in a broader sense about brio as a noble in general, whereas Hotspur seems to have already picked the idea up.Hotspur is very disorganised, and doesnt plan ahead. He thinks on the spot, and has a tendency to let himself down as he sometimes makes poor decisions when he is under pressure. A plague upon it I have forgot the map he exclaims, when the whole point of the meeting he was attending was to use the map to divide up land. Hal is more of a forward-thinker, as proven with his long-term plan to make people disapprove of him and then to change his ways in the future. Hal controls events himself, whereas Hotspur lets his temper control events, and lets himself be egged on by crafty people like his uncle Worcester. An example of how easy Hotspur is to check is the way he is subtly encouraged by Worcester to fall out with the king. Hotspur uses lots of expletives and exclamations, whereas Hal uses much more relaxed language most of the time.A two-faced side of Hostpur emerges in Act 4 Scene 3, where he acts very warmly towards the enemys messenger. Welcome, Sir Walter Blunt some of us love you well, and even those some envy your enormous deservings and good name. he says. Hal is also two-faced in a way, because he mixes with dishonourable people even though he doesnt even want to. Of course he pretends to want to when he is around them.both Hal and Hotspur are admired by people on the opposite sides to them. In Act 4 Scene 1 Vernon compares Hal to the Gods, using lots of philosophical metaphors, much to Hotspurs displeasure. Rise from the ground like feathered quicksilver he proclaims in a description of Hal. The King shows his respect for Hotspur as well by craft him Mars in swaddling clothes. They are both respected by their enemies, and both seem to be ungratifying by their own sides.So as you can see, although Hal and H otspur at first seem like very contrasting characters, as the play progresses you begin to notice more and more similarities between them.