In 1 Henry IV, Falstaff is seen as comic and tragic. He is often referred to as the “play’s clown” (Bedford 91). Falstaff lives a life of sleeping during the day and thieving at night. He is often seen as a drunkard. Not to mention the scene where Hal wakes him up and he has a wench in his bed (Norton 1192). Falstaff lives as if every day is carnival or holiday time. Even Hal knows that Falstaff is the Lord of Misrule in the carnival. When Hal is speaking out loud about his plans to appear better, he says:
If all the year were playing holidays,
To sport would be as tedious as to work;
But when they seldom come, they wished-for come,
And nothing pleaseth but rare accidents.
So when this loose behavior I throw off… (Norton 1.2.182-186)
There
If all the year were playing holidays,
To sport would be as tedious as to work;
But when they seldom come, they wished-for come,
And nothing pleaseth but rare accidents.
So when this loose behavior I throw off… (Norton 1.2.182-186)
There