The way people and politics are portrayed vary greatly and not all representations are limited to manipulation as a core aspect of people and politics. This concept will be the focus of today’s conference, exploring the intricate ways Shakespeare adopts this in his historical play Henry IV: Part One. Ideas strongly evident throughout this text are the duality of human nature that comes with a lust for power or purpose, emphasising the notion of people and politics as acts of manipulation. Alternatively, Shakespeare also presents politics as a manifestation of human values and beliefs inherent within people, demonstrating the absence of manipulation in this respect. In addition, Shakespeare himself was a master manipulator and the play as a
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It is strongly apparent to us in King Henry IV of the duality of human nature that comes with a lust for power or purpose, emphasising the notion of people and politics as acts of manipulation. Contextualising this, one of the most notable representations of politics that Shakespeare presents is politics as any form of power. With this particular interpretation of politics in mind, politics can be seen as doing what is best for yourself, emphasising false integrity as a subsequent feature. This becomes a strong aspect …show more content…
As the play focuses on kingship, a central value that strikes out is honour. The multiple views on honour Shakespeare explores suggests that rather than an overarching set of guidelines, honour is simply a reflection of an individual’s personality and conscience. In this regard, Hotspur is definitely no manipulator, but a quick-tempered and military-minded young man, who is true to his beliefs and fears nothing. To this end, Northumberland complains “Why, what a wasp-stung and impatient fool/ Art thou to break into this woman’s mood, Tying thine ear to no tongue but thine own!”, utilising simile to compare Hotspur to a woman who cannot keep his mouth shut and is headstrong about his beliefs, with Shakespeare therefore juxtaposing Hotspur’s fierce honesty with Hal’s manipulative facade. Through their comparisons in character, it’s obvious to us that King Henry and Hal’s father-son relationship is fleshed out, particularly in Act 2: “Yea, there you make me sad, and makest me sin”. Shakespeare uses alliteration to emphasise the relationship in the king between sadness and sinning in the sense of wishing Hotspur were his son, not Hal. He describes Hotspur as “the theme of honour’s tongue”, a metaphor that represents Hotspur as the epitome of honour. What do
It is strongly apparent to us in King Henry IV of the duality of human nature that comes with a lust for power or purpose, emphasising the notion of people and politics as acts of manipulation. Contextualising this, one of the most notable representations of politics that Shakespeare presents is politics as any form of power. With this particular interpretation of politics in mind, politics can be seen as doing what is best for yourself, emphasising false integrity as a subsequent feature. This becomes a strong aspect …show more content…
As the play focuses on kingship, a central value that strikes out is honour. The multiple views on honour Shakespeare explores suggests that rather than an overarching set of guidelines, honour is simply a reflection of an individual’s personality and conscience. In this regard, Hotspur is definitely no manipulator, but a quick-tempered and military-minded young man, who is true to his beliefs and fears nothing. To this end, Northumberland complains “Why, what a wasp-stung and impatient fool/ Art thou to break into this woman’s mood, Tying thine ear to no tongue but thine own!”, utilising simile to compare Hotspur to a woman who cannot keep his mouth shut and is headstrong about his beliefs, with Shakespeare therefore juxtaposing Hotspur’s fierce honesty with Hal’s manipulative facade. Through their comparisons in character, it’s obvious to us that King Henry and Hal’s father-son relationship is fleshed out, particularly in Act 2: “Yea, there you make me sad, and makest me sin”. Shakespeare uses alliteration to emphasise the relationship in the king between sadness and sinning in the sense of wishing Hotspur were his son, not Hal. He describes Hotspur as “the theme of honour’s tongue”, a metaphor that represents Hotspur as the epitome of honour. What do