Shakespeare's world has many beloved heroes and hated villains, but never a villain as beloved as Sir John Falstaff. With its comical appearance and endless jokes, this incorrigible red has won the public's affection for centuries. Falstaff first appears as Prince Hal's intimate in Part I of Henry IV, but is brutally rejected by his friend at the end of Part II. As a character who expresses so much intelligent comedy and who so delightfully captures the adversity of the world in parody, why does Shakespeare suffer such an undesirable fate in Falstaff? The answer lies in the historical and histrionic role of Prince Hal. In Henry IV, Falstaff's rejection is the necessary result of Hal finding his place among the three worlds that crowd around him. King Henry IV, Falstaff and Hotspur represent these worlds2E. Examining the roles of these three characters, as well as Prince Hal himself, illuminates the nature of Hal's choice to banish his friend. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essayInfluences on Hal's tetralogy of plays ending with Henry IV is steeped in political commentary on kingship. In the first part of this group of plays, Henry IV represents the political world and bears the brunt of this commentary. In Richard II, King Henry (then Bollingbroke) returns from banishment to usurp the crown from the rather inept monarch, Richard II. Henry's actions were not only slightly irreligious, but also aroused much anger from a number of his subjects. It turns out that the courageous and ambitious Bollingbroke turns into a politically ineffective ruler who has divided his kingdom in two. The play opens with Henry recounting that "we are so shaken, so pale with care, / we find time in frightened peace to pant." / And breathe the breathless accents of new grills/ To begin” (I,i, 1-4). Henry's anxiety over his crumbling kingdom, guilt over his uprising against Richard II, and the vagaries of his son's behavior diluted his earlier energy and strength. The legitimacy of Henry's reign is uncertain, even to himself, and it appears that Prince Hal holds the key to validating Henry's position through a successful succession. For Hal, his father represents a world of responsibility and politics. Hal intends to claim the crown and begin a rightful reign such as his father was never able to enjoy. The problem is that Hal seems unwilling to comply with the duties imposed on him by the state. This may be due to influences from two other worlds. One of these conflicting kingdoms comes in the form of Henry Percy, or Hotspur, as he is known in battle. Hotspur is angry, impatient and has decided to go to war against the king when Henry has failed to repay a debt to his family. Hotspur is obsessed with the idea of ​​honor and glory and represents rebellion, distinction and war to Prince Hal. Hal and Hotspur are around the same age and become arch rivals. This may be made easier by the fact that Henry wished that "a night fairy had exchanged/in cradle clothes our children where they lay,/and called mine Percy, her Plantagenet!/Then I would have her Harry , and he mine. » (I,ii,86-89). Hal must feel hurt that his father would choose an enemy over his own son. As a result, Hal is under great pressure to distinguish himself as a war hero, with Hotspur as his obvious nemesis. While the two worlds of war and politics have a lot to do with each other, there is yet another influence on thelife of Hal which is completely opposite to the first two. An irresponsible world and a deplorable lifestyle of drinking, petty theft and jokes are chaperoned by Sir Falstaff himself. Falstaff seems to represent a formlessness personified by his own inflated body. If Falstaff's belt were to break, Hal speculates "how [his] guts would fall around [his] knees" (III, iii, 161-162). Falstaff also serves as an axiomatic king in the tavern world of Eastcheap. Eastcheap is a world of parody, inversion, and simple people who seem to represent the real England, going about its business, yet untouched by the upheavals of the ruling class. In this world of formless parody, Falstaff also seems to be characterized as Vice. He is constantly made to speak using a slat dagger, or a wooden dagger, associated with Vice. This characterization is proven accurate by his unruly behavior and the effect it has on Hal. For Hal, Falstaff serves as a sort of mentor who shows him a good time and helps him chart a future where Hal is the king and Falstaff is still his devotee. side kick. Together, the two engage in a parody of a future conversation between Henry and Hal which serves to comment on the kingship of Hal's father. Falstaff points out that, although he himself is a purse thief, Henry stole a throne and is therefore no better. After Falstaff imitates the king, Hal asks him, "Do you speak like a king?" then removes him from the throne. By using the words "a king" and not "the kind", Hal implies that Falstaff's impression of the king confirms that Henry is not royal at all and should not have the throne. Although Hal and Falstaff know that the prince will eventually become king, Falstaff would very much like to claim Hal for the kingdom of Eastcheap, which would serve his own interests. Falstaff's world is quite critical and opposed to that of the political king and the pursuit of glory in war. What role does Hal play in these conflicting interests? Hal is a bridge that unites the two main plots, the three different worlds and, ultimately, England. Hal is complex, devious, and cunning, but demonstrates that he is capable of making the difficult personal choices that a king must make to rule a nation well. Hal has the strength of character and skills that will make him the king his father could never be. As king, Hal will redeem England by creating peace. He confirms this in the first part when he pardons Douglas in Act V. This act shows that he not only possesses a great sense of state, but also a confidence in his own abilities to win Douglas' support for the 'future. Hal will become the leader England desperately needs, but how does such a leader emerge from the pressures of these conflicting worlds, and why must this accomplishment result in Falstaff's rejection? The Influence of HalHenry IV Part 1 is the story of a prince, who knows what he must become, but does not know how to achieve it. He starts off as a crazy kid who shirks his royal responsibilities, but reveals much of his true identity when he tells the people of Eastcheap that "I know you all, and I'll keep up for a while/The humor unleashed of your idleness” (I. ii.173-174). The prince demonstrates that he will only temporarily be a common criminal, but will eventually rise to the royal occasion. He uses his current position to play the role of the prodigal son, so that he can shine even more later. Hal eventually moves smoothly between the worlds of politics, war, and common man pleasure, and the prince seems able to do so thanks to his uncanny ability to take on the best characteristics of each. Thanks to his talent formanipulation, he will end up ruling them all. Hal has long tried his luck in the world of politics. He was banished from the council after punching the Lord Chief Justice and constantly disappoints his father by enjoying "sterile pleasures" in "rude society". Yet, despite his reckless behavior, Hal manages to redeem himself during a brief interview with the king. He tells the king exactly what he wants to hear when he promises to kill Hotspur. He also evokes an unusual manifestation of his father's emotion: "Not an eye / But he is tired of the common sight, / Except mine, which desired to see you more, / Which now does what I would not like not that he does, / Make himself blind with senseless tenderness" (III, ii, 89-93). It is not clear whether these tearful emotions are genuine, but they do the trick. Henry and the prince reconcile and, in the next scene, Hal announces that the two are good friends. Hal is truly his father's son and seems to understand his father much better than Henry understands Hal from experience. political art of making peace and telling people what they want to hear Hal promised that he would "redeem all on Percy's head,/...When I wear a garment all of blood" (III,ii). ,132,136). This statement, derived from Revelation 19:13, refers to the time when the King of kings will wear a garment dipped in blood. Hal intends to become king, as well as redeemer, and has taken that which he has. needs his father's political world to achieve this. However, two other forces stand in his way. Prince Hal sees that Hotspur and his warworld can further consolidate his political position. Hal uses the Battle of Shrewsbury to shed his old self and claim his new identity as a heroic prince. Once again, Hal proves that he understands everyone a little better than they understand him. Not only is Hal able to beat Hotspur in combat, but he also captures Hotspur's last words. As Hotspur is mortally wounded, he says "No Percy, though art dust,/And food for-..." As he stops, Hal takes the words out of his mouth, saying " For verses, brave Percy” (V, iv,85-86). The victory over Hotspur constitutes a rejection of the world of war and its opposition. Hal has proven his abilities in war but chooses to reject it (which he establishes by pardoning Douglas). The political world is the one Hal desires, but there is an alternative influence that harms his ability to rule. Although in the end Falstaff's influence ends, this cheerful man is the most important world to Hal in many ways. Not only does Hal spend most of his time with Falstaff, but the world of Eastcheap allows Hal to try out different roles and scenarios, which helps him evolve into the person he feels he should become. In the famous "mock kingship" scene in Act 2, Falstaff helps Hal rehearse his upcoming interview with the king. Not only does the prince experience both his role and that of the king, but the scene causes Hal to realize and express the fact that he will eventually have to make a choice between Falstaff and political success.2E Although Falstaff and the prince seem Be good friends, Hal knows he will eventually have to reject the world of Eastcheap if he wants to succeed. The interactions between Falstaff and Hal lead to several moments of intense foreshadowing. Falstaff tells Hal that "By the lord, I will be a traitor then, when thou art king" (I, ii, 130) but later implores him to "banish not Harry's company, banish plump Jack, and banish all." the world” (II, v, 437-438). Hal only responds, “I do; I will” (II, v, 439). Hal is obviously training for the banishment he plans to impose in part two. Of all the characters.