An Analysis of Shakespeares Henry IV Part 1 - 1447 Words

One of the most appealing elements of Shakespeares works is that, despite subject matter that is hardly realistic in todays general society, the heart of each play retains much in terms of human relationships, central conflicts, and humor. For the scholar the sheer poetry and beauty of Shakespeares language remain appealing. Hence, in a play like Henry IV, Part 1, the subject matter of royalty and civil war from an interesting and dramatic backdrop to more common themes like the conflicts between personal affection and the duties a person such as Prince Harry is expected to fulfill. As such, Harrys person affection for Falstaff is ultimately overridden by his drive to regain the admiration and affection of his father in the name of his concept of honor not only to the palace, but also to England as a whole. As such, Harry claims that his affection for Falstaff and his roguish world was simply appearance in order to more prominently return to the world of duty that he knows is his rig ht and destiny, which could, in todays terms, be viewed as ultimately dishonorable. When the play opens, the young Prince Harrys major relationship is with the old and fat knight, Sir Falstaff. The knight, however, is hardly representative of any type of knighthood that might be expected from a person of the order. Instead, he is representative of the world of the tavern, where thieves and generally lower-class members of society gather and pass the time either with idle chatter orShow MoreRelatedThe Real Hal By William Shakespeare Essay1034 Words   |  5 PagesAn Analysis of â€Å"The Real Hal† in Shakespeare’s, â€Å"Henry IV, Part One† In Shakespeare’s, â€Å"Henry IV, Part One† one of the main themes revolves around Prince Henry, also known as â€Å"Harry† or â€Å"Hal† and his continuous struggle with maturing to a point where he is ready to accept his inevitable responsibility as heir to the crown. Hal resists authority and refuses to accept his role as heir to his father’s throne until he deems it the right moment, preferring instead to hide behind this false appearanceRead MoreOedipus Complex, Penis Envy, And The Tragedy Of Hamlet2112 Words   |  9 Pagesemployed some of Sigmund Freud’s concepts long before Freud himself was even a figment of his ancestor’s imagination. 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