Falstaff's Argument Essay: What Is Honor?

Honor is not a tangible thing that we can pin to our lapel, nor a stole to be drape around our necks, it is much more important than that. In Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Just before battle Henry’s friend Falstaff mocked the pursuit of honor. “What is honor? A word. What is in that word “honor”? What is that “honor”? Air.” Through this brief catechism, Falstaff explained that honor is merely a word, with no significant value, and I strongly disagree. Honor is something that you carry within, can only be attained through hard work, and once attained it can never be taken away nor does it depreciate in value. We have all experienced honor at one point or another in our lives. Whether it was from earning an exceptional grade or making progress on a personal goal, we have all felt the inner glow of success. This is because honor is something that you carry within yourself. Doctor Charles Callahan describes honor as “The act of being held in esteem, the process of becoming worthy to be held in esteem, and the resulting esteem itself.” According to Dr. Callahan, merely putting forth an honest effort equates to Honor. Every time we strive to complete a challenging task, …show more content…
During my junior year of high school I wanted to become a member of the National Technical Honors Society (NTHS). In order to gain membership, I had to write an essay, and amass three glowing recommendations to hand in with the application. I can recall feeling intimidated by the amount of prerequisites, but I knew that it was worth the honor of being a member in the society. I diligently completed all of the requirements, submitted my application, and was accepted! If I had decided not to complete the application because of the amount of work, or the fear of rejection, I would have never had the opportunity to be a member of NTHS. This is only one example of how honor must be earned through hard