In Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part I, King Henry often laments his son’s unseemly behavior through well-thought-out speeches and superior language. Yet, in spite of Hal’s reputation as a villainous disgrace to the royal line, on multiple occasions, Hal speaks in an ornate and regal manner. The audience, unlike King Henry, is aware of Hal’s potential as a highly capable leader through the similarities between King Henry and Hal’s speech patterns. Thus the difference in the king’s perspective of Hal and the audience’s reinforces the strained relationship between father and son.
Firstly, King Henry’s continued elaborate and intelligent speech patterns illustrate his status as a well-educated royal figure. From the beginning of the play and onwards, …show more content…
Hal’s cunning and intelligence is most prominent at the beginning of the play when he outlines his plan to become a great king. The speech, first of all, is littered with clever and elaborate imagery to illustrate Hal’s redemption to the audience. Hal mentions how he will “imitate the sun” (1.2.65) by rising from his current dark and unseemly lifestyle towards a grander and more admirable position. The play on the word “sun” and “son” furthers the idea that Hal will become the son that his father expects him to be, as well as demonstrating another layer of forethought and intellect that Hal possesses. Another well-thought-out simile of Hal’s is his comparison of good behavior to holidays. Hal explains how “if all the year were playing holidays, / To sport would be as tedious as to work” (1.2.72-73). A unique subversion on how people commonly wish for everyday to be a holiday or period of rest, Hal uses the idea of an everlasting but exhausting holiday to show how rarity creates value. Hal then uses the holiday simile to excuse his currently devious behavior by incorporating the bad behavior into a plan to make his rare moments of regal behavior even better. Such convoluted metaphors, not only prove Hal’s intelligence to the audience, but prove Hal’s linguistic similarities to King Henry as well. Another way in which Hal imitates King Henry is his …show more content…
From the audience’s omniscient viewpoint, they’re aware of the deeper levels to Hal’s personality. Yet, King Henry, Hal’s very own father, cannot see past the shallow facade Hal maintains. As a result, King Henry is frustrated with what he believes is a less-than-perfect son and constantly complains about how Hotspur would make a much better prince. Henry openly admits that Hotspur’s father, Lord Northumberland, “should be the father so blest a son” (1.1.80) and how Henry “would have [Northumberland’s] Harry and he [Hal]” (1.1.90). Consequently, Henry pushes Hal further away and, without a close relationship to his father, Hal is less likely to explain himself to King Henry. Hal will continue to enjoy his life of deviancy, which Henry will continue to complain about and then continue to drive Hal further away. Ergo, Henry and Hal’s relationship deteriorates into a negative feedback loop, due to King Henry’s inability to perceive the obvious similarities between Hal’s and himself. Furthermore, the audience’s ability to see in Hal what King Henry cannot then emphasizes the divisive relationship between father and son. By communicating both Henry and Hal’s personalities and capabilities through their similarly regal speeches, Shakespeare illustrates how a character’s method of speaking plays a large role
Firstly, King Henry’s continued elaborate and intelligent speech patterns illustrate his status as a well-educated royal figure. From the beginning of the play and onwards, …show more content…
Hal’s cunning and intelligence is most prominent at the beginning of the play when he outlines his plan to become a great king. The speech, first of all, is littered with clever and elaborate imagery to illustrate Hal’s redemption to the audience. Hal mentions how he will “imitate the sun” (1.2.65) by rising from his current dark and unseemly lifestyle towards a grander and more admirable position. The play on the word “sun” and “son” furthers the idea that Hal will become the son that his father expects him to be, as well as demonstrating another layer of forethought and intellect that Hal possesses. Another well-thought-out simile of Hal’s is his comparison of good behavior to holidays. Hal explains how “if all the year were playing holidays, / To sport would be as tedious as to work” (1.2.72-73). A unique subversion on how people commonly wish for everyday to be a holiday or period of rest, Hal uses the idea of an everlasting but exhausting holiday to show how rarity creates value. Hal then uses the holiday simile to excuse his currently devious behavior by incorporating the bad behavior into a plan to make his rare moments of regal behavior even better. Such convoluted metaphors, not only prove Hal’s intelligence to the audience, but prove Hal’s linguistic similarities to King Henry as well. Another way in which Hal imitates King Henry is his …show more content…
From the audience’s omniscient viewpoint, they’re aware of the deeper levels to Hal’s personality. Yet, King Henry, Hal’s very own father, cannot see past the shallow facade Hal maintains. As a result, King Henry is frustrated with what he believes is a less-than-perfect son and constantly complains about how Hotspur would make a much better prince. Henry openly admits that Hotspur’s father, Lord Northumberland, “should be the father so blest a son” (1.1.80) and how Henry “would have [Northumberland’s] Harry and he [Hal]” (1.1.90). Consequently, Henry pushes Hal further away and, without a close relationship to his father, Hal is less likely to explain himself to King Henry. Hal will continue to enjoy his life of deviancy, which Henry will continue to complain about and then continue to drive Hal further away. Ergo, Henry and Hal’s relationship deteriorates into a negative feedback loop, due to King Henry’s inability to perceive the obvious similarities between Hal’s and himself. Furthermore, the audience’s ability to see in Hal what King Henry cannot then emphasizes the divisive relationship between father and son. By communicating both Henry and Hal’s personalities and capabilities through their similarly regal speeches, Shakespeare illustrates how a character’s method of speaking plays a large role