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 aplay of contrast where Prince Hal is caught between two father figures who representcontradicting ideals. The figure most notable in the Prince’s youth is Falstaff, a materialistwho rejects responsibility and has a childish demeanor, thus providing a comparison withthe Prince’s own youthfulness. In opposition to the jovial Falstaff comes Henry IV, thebiological father of the Prince, who is time honored with responsibility and politicalauthority, providing a model for the Prince in his maturation. This play becomes the studyof Prince Hals’s development in character as he observes the figures around him todistinguish what makes an effective King, along with his detachment from the youthfulrebellion within the tavern setting as he becomes an adult with the political prowess tobecome the next King of England.The growth of character in Prince Hal as an irresponsible youth associated with atavern gang into the authoritative cunning King Henry V is founded in the Prince’sintuition to humble himself during his youth in order to gain the favor and admiration ofthe English people. In a monologue the Prince suggest his intentions for glorification as headvances from the tavern gloom by stating,Yet herein will I imitate the sun,Who doth permit the base contagious cloudsTo smother up his beauty from the world,That, when he please again to himself,Being wanted, he may be more wand’red at...(I ii 209-205)In this speech Prince Hal regards himself as the sun who under the smothering pestilenceof the clouds will as a result become more missed and therefore more victorious amongthe populous. Shakespeare relates the same desire to humble thyself befor...
