However, it could be argued that this is because Henry lacks the divine judgment thought by some in Elizabethan England to be possessed by monarchs. In this instance he appears to lack the political skill and foresight to see that he must keep his supporters happy.Apparently this is a misjudgement on the part of Henry, as opposed to the failure of his rule because he was not divinely appointed. In this way it seems that Henry is in trouble, not because he does not fit into the divine succession of monarchs, but because he has forgotten the people who brought him to his current position. Hotspur makes this explicit when he regrets that they have set “the crown / Upon the head of this forgetful man (I. The reason for the Percys’ actions against Henry IV has nothing to do with the fierce legitimist claims made by these one time rebels it is the age old concern of self interest: “The King will always think him in our debt And think we think ourselves unsatisfiedTill he hath found a time to pay us home” (I.Also, the phrase “crowned King attempts to undercut Richard ‘s authority but in only succeeds in reminding us of his legitimate rule. The verbs “stole” and “dressed” reveal his awareness of the crime that he has committed. In his description of how dexterously he gained the support of the public, Henry IV inadvertently acknowledges of the illegitimacy of his present rule: “I stole all courtesy from heaven And dressed myself in such humilityThat I did pluck allegiance from men’s hearts Loud shouts and salutations from their mouths Even in the presence of the crowned King” (I. This particular aspect of Henry’s crime is likely to have resonated more with a contemporary audience who would have been aware of this concept even if they did not believe it.
Tellingly, Henry begins to start using the first person instead of the royal “we,” that publicly signifies the unity of King and country, since he can no longer speak for his fractured nation: “My blood hath been too cold and temperate Unapt to stir at these indignities,And you have found me, for accordingly You tread upon my patience but be sure I will henceforth rather be myself” (I. The tensions of the opening of 1 Henry IV certainly take their toll on the eponymous character and this is reflected in his language. This understanding and acknowledgement of his guilt indicates that on some level Henry knows that he is not the legitimate ruler and is troubled by the fact. 184-5) by which he took the crown from Richard. Henry Iv Part 1 King Accuse Crack In His40-3) and in this shows himself to be skilled at playing the part of King which is required. In Act I Scene he chastises his son for his “inordinate and low desires, since he believes Hal’s wild behaviour in the taverns of London has threatened his authority.In this scene Henry admits his manipulation of public opinion to take the throne from Richard: “Had I so lavish of my presence been / Opinion, that did help me to the crown” (I. Despite Henry’s worries over the legitimacy of his rule, his real concern for Hal is not his lineage but his political ability. D S Kastan argues that for Henry to be himself is for him to be “King in all his regal majesty but “to be King in this delegitimizes world is to be dependent upon a coercive power that can be displayed rather than upon an authority willingly ceded by loyal subjects.This calls into question whether a monarch rules by the will of God or by the will of his people. I.) in the attitude of the Percys and is troubled by it.This speech demonstrates how Henry’s confidence in his own ability has been shaken by the rebel forces and also that on some level the crack in his authority results from a fear that his rule is not legitimate. This comes after Henry discovers Hotspur’s rejection to hand over the prisoners “that he believes are rightfully his 3 and in his treatment of Worcester and Northumberland clearly shows that he sees the “danger and disobedience (I. Free guitar vst plugins downloadBoth Henry and Hal understand that the role of King “can” indeed must “be acted upon and show their awareness that “legitimacy is something that must be forged no less by kings in Westminster than by Falstaff in the tavern. These political tactics used by Henry and Hal move away from the notion of a ruler being divinely appointed and assisted by God and instead moves towards the impression that to succeed as a King you must know what the people want and then play that part.In Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 the concern of legitimacy appears to be overwhelmed by that of political prowess. He does this by constructing a negative impression of himself, to make his improvement when he takes the throne, all the more impressive. 187-191).In terms of understanding and manipulating the English populace Hal has the same understanding as his father, (indicated by the desire of both to be “wondered at” but Hal takes his plan a stage further. Interestingly Hal using the same phrase: “wondered at” in Act I scene where he informs the audience of his plan: “Yet herein will I imitate the sun, Who doth permit the base contagious clouds To smother up his beauty from the world, That, when he please again to be himself, Being wanted, he may be more wondered at” (I. How to flash nokia lumiaAlthough the audience know from the opening act of the play that Hal’s intention is to reject his “loose behaviour nd London friends, we are still shocked when he rejects Falstaff since there appears to be genuine affection between them. 41) and he is met with chilling disdain with Hal’s brutal speech beginning “I know thee not, old man.In these plays not only are the qualities of monarchs debated but also, especially in the character of Hal, to what extent humanity must be sacrificed on the altar of kingship. This is most obvious in the case of Hal and Falstaff at the end of 2 Henry IV, in which Falstaff’s affection for his young friend is unmistakable in his cries of “God save thy grace, King Hal, my royal Hal! ” (V.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorDedrick ArchivesCategories |