Henry Iv Redemption Essay Example For Students

Henry Iv: Redemption Essay Henry IV: RedemptionIn Shakespeares Henry IV, the character Hal, the Prince of Wales,undergoes a transformation that can be characterized as a redemption. Shakespeare introduces Hal, in the opening act as a renegade of the Court. Hisavoidance of all public responsibility and his affinity for the company of theBoars Head Tavern, have caused serious concern for the King, because Hal isheir to the throne. The King realizes that to keep order, a ruler and his heirmust prove to be both responsible and honorable; from the outset Hal possessesneither quality. The King even testifies to his own advisor, that he would haverather traded Hal for Hotspur, the son of the Earl of Northumberland. In theKings eyes Hotspur, not Hal, is the theme of honors tongue (1.1. 80),because he has won his glory through his merits in war. Thus, Shakespeare hasset Hal and Hotspur in opposition: Hal, the prodigal prince, versus Hotspur,the proper prince. Hal understands that he has been branded with the label,truant to chivalry,(5.1. 95) and as the heir to the throne, he realizes thatit is imperative that he redeem himself not only for himself, but also for hisfathe r and his people because life will not always be a holiday , for If allthe year were playing holidays, To sport would be as tedious as work (1.2. 211-212). However Hal needs some type of strength to make his realization come true. Luckily Hals father, the King is willing to lend several comments that enragehim and provide him with the necssary motivation. It also seems thatShakespeare has included the foil for Hal, the valiant Hotspur, in order toprovide the callow Prince of Wales with another source of motivation, fromwhich Hal can begin constructing his redemption. In a plea to his father, Halvows that he will redeem his tarnished identity at the expense of Hotspur,saying I will redeem all of this on Percys head, (3.2.137). However, theact of redemption does not only occur as the result of realization andmotivation. Redemption needs for these ideas to be put into action. At the endof Act 5.4, using his realization and motivation as a basis for his actions, Halconsummates his transformation, by physically saving his father from Douglasand defeating Hotspur in a single combat at the Battle of Shrewsbury. Thus, thePrince of Wales has performed, what he had originally promised to do in hisopening soliloquy, to r edeem his reputation. The phases of, realization,motivation and action, mark important facets in Hals transformation. However,Hals redemption occurs only as the product of all three phases, and as a result,it causes a significant change in the character of the Prince. The first phase of Hals transformation is marked by realization. Halrealizes that his life of truancy must end. This realization in turn, provideshim with a basis for redemption, which is marked by Hals soliloquy at the endof Act 1.2. However, Hals soliloquy is not the result of a strikingrealization. Rather, it is apparent that Hal has given much thought to hisriotous lifestyle and to the importance of being an earnest and honorable prince. In response to participating in the up-coming robbery with Falstaff and Poins,Hal says Who, I rob? I a thief? Not by my faith (1.2 144). Hal ishesitant to be solely member of this riotous world (meaning he wants to be amember of both worlds, the Tavern and the Court) . The only reason Hal enlistsin the robbery is in order to dupe Falstaff and to later hear theincomprehensible lies that this same fat rogue will tell (1.2. 193). In theTavern scene at the end of Act 2.4, Hal admits that even though he went throughwith the robbery, he promises to return all the money he stole from thetravelers (Hal stole the purses from Falstaff, who had stolen the purses fromthe travelers), because he is not a thief. Hal, in these early scenes of theplay, typifies the all too familiar tradition that many adolescents go through,that of youthful rebellion against the establishment of order and responsibility(usually that is symbolized by parents). As a result of rebellion, in allcases, including Hals, it is important to remember that the subsequentreformation that follows, has always been a necessary step. Hals callowbehavior is of great concern to the King, not only because Hal is the heir tothe throne and lacks the respect of his own people, but also because the Kingshonor and respect are at stake as well. Therefore, the King proclaims that hewould rather have the valiant Hotspur as his son, because Hotspur characterizesthe proper honor and respect a prince ought to receive. An analysis of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit EssayAnd God forgive them so much have swayedYour majestys good thoughts away from me. I will redeem all of this on Persias head,. And that shall be the day, wheneer it lights,That this same child of honor and renown,This gallant Hotspur, this all-praised knight,And your unthought-of Harry chance to meet. (3.2. 134-146)The Kings words, especially his comparison between Hal and Hotspur,gave Hal the necessary motivation (the slight nudge), to finally move from therealization of a need for redemption to the action of actually redeeminghimself. Hal will thus prove himself worthy of being Prince(i.e. redemption) byfighting Hotspur. The King overjoyed (for the first time in the play) that hisson will now be a true prince, puts Hal in charge of the army and declares, Ahundred thousands rebels die in this (war), (3.2. 164). With realization and motivation firmly established in Hals mind, Halcan finally go through the actual act of redemption, which culminates with thetransformation of Hals self. The redemption occurs throughout Act 5.4, at thebattle of Shrewsbury, where much of the action in this play lie. In twosequential actions, the defeat of Douglas and then the climatic defeat ofHotspur, Hal finds himself a hero, despite earlier being considered the Kingsderelict son and truant to chivalry, (5.1. 95). At the battle of Shrewsbury, King Henry finds himself on the verge ofdefeat. The King finds himself at the mercy of Douglas hands, until Hal, in avery noble fashion, rescues his father and single-handedly defeats Douglas. TheKing is so much in awe by his sons actions that he declares (to Hal) that thouhast redeemed thy lost opinion, (5.4. 46). Moments later Hal finally meetsHotspur, his foil, in a one-on-one combat. Hal quickly deposes of the valiantHotspur, the greatest opponent in the land, thereby deeming Hal the greatesthero in the land, and finally making him worthy of his title as Prince. Hal has undergone a remdemption. That is, he has performed the actionsnecessary to justify his prior promise, to become a Prince. Therefore, bt theend of the play, Hal is a different individual. The witty, relaxed Hal fromthe Tavern is no more. Because he has redeemed himself, Hal is now a Prince andtherefore, a member of the Court. He must act as a noble and disregard histavern ties that gave him such a riotous reputation. In Act 5.3, after thedeath of Blunt, it is affirmed that Hal of the Tavern is lost forever. Insteadof joking(playing) with Falstaff, as he would have earlier in the play, Halscolds Falstaff for trying to joke with him, What is it time to jest and dallynow?, (5.3. 57). Hal, as a Prince, does not have the same time to foolaround as he did when he did not accept his duty as Prince. He has becomeserious because of the great responsibility he gained from redeeming himselfprince. Therefore, Hal has lost connection with his former Tavern self, and isnow and forever a nob le. The three distinct phases: realization, motivation, and action, eachhelp characterize the transformation of Hals self throughout the play. Halmakes the realization in his soliloquy that he will have to redeem himselfsooner or later. Hal is provided with motivation from his fathers words, thatgive fuel to his later action. Finally Hal completes his redemption through theactions of defeating Douglas and slaying Hotspur. Hal has transformed himselffrom an undisciplined member of the Tavern to a hero of Court. By redeeming thehonor and responsibility of being Prince, Hal has consequently had to cut loosehis Tavern ties, because he can not be a witty and relaxed individual if hewants to someday rule the nation.