In Henry IV Part One Hal achieves great honour, and proves himself truly ready to be King. However, he has only achieved this at the expense of others. In the play we find out how he has gone from ‘Eastcheap rogue’ to ‘battlefield warrior.’
In the beginning, Hal and his obese friend Falstaff, are two rednecks that act like children. They get drunk and like to party, having no seriousness in their lives. Hal abuses his power as Prince by paying all of Falstaff’s Bills. He has behaved in immature and ruthless way, has gained no respect from the public and likes to joke about being king.
The king has serious fears and doubts that Hal is ill fit to take over from him as being king. He wishes Hal was more like Hotspur, a great leader and also very brave. Hal’s father influences him to be more like himself and Hotspur. He believes he is behaving the same way as Richard while Hotspur wins the respect and admiration, which may one day; help him to win the crown. For example when the King says, ‘As thou art to this hour was Richard then’ & ‘And even as I was then is Percy now.’
This shows just how different Hal is to what his father wants him to be. He apologises to his father, explains his conduct and promises to reform.
We find out that Hal wishes Falstaff will take things a bit more seriously and actually help him become what he should already be. This shows a change in him. Furthermore, in the battle where Falstaff fakes his death, Hal says ‘I should have a heavy miss of thee if I were much in vanity.’ This indicates to us just how much Hal has matured and grown apart from Falstaff. In relation to this he has just lost a best friend. To become what he is now, Hal has done it at the expense of Falstaff.
The Essay on Prince Hal Falstaff King Henry
Although William Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1 depicts Henry Bolingbroke's troubles following the usurpation of England's thrown, the more consequential plot concerns the transformation of Prince Hal from a tavern crony into the next King of England. This is a play of contrast where Prince Hal is caught between two father figures who represent contradicting ideals. The figure most notable in the ...
Before, the Prince could only use words to express his loyalty to his father but now his sword speaks even more powerfully for him. He rescues his father from the Earl of Douglas and defeats the brave Hotspur. It is the complete reconciliation of father and son. It is Hal showing his true worth as a son. This is shown when the king says, ‘With such lustier maintenance than I did look for of such an ungrown warrior.’ The King can now be proud to say he has a son now Hal is brave, mature and loyal. He truly stands up to, and meets, his responsibilities as heir to the throne.
In Act IV, Scene 1 Hal is seen as a serious threat. This is quite a change in Henry as the rebels are now saying that they should tread carefully as Hal is coming. This is shown when Vernon describes him as gallantly armed, as if an angel dropped him down from the clouds, feathered mercury and with noble horsemanship. These words show how much Hal has grown apart from being an ‘Eastcheap rogue’ to being a feared and respected young man.
We see that Hotspur has no fears for Hal. He still has no respect for him as he describes him as a nimble-footed madcap. This all changes before Hotspur and Hal fight. He says, ‘Nor can England brook a double reign’ and ‘I am the Prince of Wales.’ Both these quotes show that he accepts, and is proud, to be the Prince of Wales. He is now realizing what his duties and responsibilities are.
At the end of the play, Hal, achieves great honour, and proves himself truly ready to be king but comes come at the expense of others. These people being his best friend, father and arch rival. They all have an impact on him in ways like Falstaff, who influenced Hal in the early stage, his father, who was the main influence on his change of character, and Hotspur, who gave Hal a sense of drive and envy. Hal changed from a ruthless and immature drunkard to a distinguished hero but at the expense of others.
