In Henry IV, Shakespeare presents a troubled England with a king whose grip on the throne is tenuous at best. Those who had supported his accession to the throne during the overthrow of Richard II now turned against him. The king even doubts the loyalty of his own son and heir, Prince Hal. The royal figures of this kingdom can be divided into two camps: the revolutionaries and the court of King Henry. However, the characters of each camp are marked by a tendency towards rebellion. Each character, whether revolutionary, supporter of the king or even the king himself, is a rebel at heart. What differentiates the two groups of players is what they rebel against. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on 'Why violent video games should not be banned'?Get the original essayThe revolutionaries, Worcester, his brother Northumberland and his nephew Hotspur recognize that Lord Mortimer was proclaimed heir to the throne by Richard II. At the same time, this did not prevent them from supporting Henry in his bid for the crown. The reign of Henry IV, however, was a disappointment for them. Worcester addresses his complaints to the king, saying: "Our house, my sovereign overlord, little deserves to have the scourge of greatness applied to it - and that same greatness also which our own hands have helped to make corpulent" (I, iii). , 10-13). For this reminder, the king banished Worcester from his court, declaring his “presence too bold and peremptory” (17). The indignation that Worcester felt at this dismissal sowed in his heart the seeds of rebellion against the king. The three revolutionaries decide to throw in their lot with Mortimer and overthrow Henry. “May my soul need pity if I do not join him,” cried the exuberant Hotspur (131-132). Although the rebels may be seen in one light as heroes seeking to right a wrong they helped create, they are actually acting in their own self-interest. Indeed, before joining forces with Mortimer, Hotspur and Worcester meet him to divide the map of the kingdom into various parts for them once victorious. Hotspur even protests against the land intended for him. “See how this river comes to flow over me and cuts off from the best of all my country an immense half-moon, a monstrous cantle,” he complains (III, i, 95-97). Her family was treated poorly by the current king, whom she helped hold accountable, and Hotspur is determined not to repeat the mistake. Worcester also uses himself, even to the point of lying to his nephew about a peace offer made by the king and prince. He knows that even if the king forgave them now for their rebellion, he would simply wait for another excuse to punish them. “All our lives, suspicion will be full of eyes” (V, ii, 8). Although Hotspur's crimes might be forgotten due to his youth, Worcester knows that he and Northumberland would eventually have to pay for their betrayal. He therefore tells Hotspur of the prince's challenge to single combat, but withholds the king's generous offer of forgiveness if the rebels lay down their arms. Familiar with his nephew's hatred of the 'sword and shield Prince of Wales', he knows that the challenge will be one that Hotspur will eagerly accept (II, i, 229). Thus he sealed his fate and that of his nephew. Even though the king and his court have revolutionaries plotting against them, they themselves are no less rebellious than their enemies. Prince Hal rebels against his father. Worried about how his father came to the throne, he shirks his royal duties and spends time at the Boars Head Tavern. He even joins his shady tavern mates in a plan to attack a group of traveling merchants. Falstaff rebels against the concept.