Prince of Wales Essay Example for Free

Prince of Wales EssayWith close reference to Shakespe bes language discuss how the characters of the Prince of Wales and Hotspur are portrayed in Henry IV Part 1. In Henry IV, Part 1 Shakespeare contrasts the two characters, Prince Henry and Hotspur. The characters are complete opposites but be in possession of a common goal. They both want to be respected. Hotspur signals his intentions from the start but it is only as you get further on in the play that you authorise that Hal has the same ambitions. This play chronicles the rise and fall of Hotspur and Hals rise from being the innocuous prince to a heroic heir in one play.In Act One, characterisation One, the world power says Yea, there thou makst me sin in envy, that my Northumberland should be a father to so blest a son. Since this is said in the very inaugural scene of the play we are immediately given the legal opinion that the kings son is non as respectable or as honourable as Hotspur. We bunghole also see how h ighly regarded Hotspur is as the king gives him such warm glowing compliments with a touch of grabbyy in his voice. He is not contented with his own son as he goes on to say See riot and dishonour stain the brow of my young Harry.This indicates to the audience that Prince Hal exponent not be living the life that a prince would be expected to live. We get the feeling that Harry is seen as the black sheep of the family and not the successor to the tail that the king desired. Shakespeare give us this impression by not including Prince Hal in the very important meeting that took place in Act one, scene one. The king even goes as far as suggesting that some night-tripping fairy had exchanged in cradle clothes our children where they lie. This debate backs up the idea that the king is jealous of Hotspur.Shakespeare allows the kings feelings towards Hotspur and Hal to be known to the audience before we even meet the two men later in the play. The kings feelings register unconsciously in the audiences mind and we whitethorn then prejudice our opinions of Hal and Hotspur before meeting them. In Scene One, Hotspur is described as being basically the opposite of Prince Hal. We may see this when Westmoreland calls him gallant Hotspur. This statement is proof that people show Hotspur the greatest respect and indicates to us that he is brave and noble.We should note how Shakespeare uses the language to build up Hotspurs character. This lets the audience form an impression of him before they meet him. In Act One, Scene 2, the audiences opinion of Prince Hal becomes increasingly worse as we gravel out that he keeps company with a existence by the name of Sir John Falstaff. Falstaff is fat, lazy, a drunkard and a thief. Is this the type of man that a prince would normally be friends with? The prince, laughing and joking, takes up the first bust of the scene. When Fallstaff asks Hal for the time, Hal saysI see no reason why thou shouldst be so superfluous to demand the ti me of day. We are given the impression that Hal spends a lot of his time messing and having a name calling contest with Falstaff by the relaxed manner by which they give each other abuse. In the midst of the name-calling, we find out that some members of the Council are very angry with Hal because of his behaviour, as Fallstaff says an old Lord of the Council rated me the other day in the street about you Sir, but I marked him not. This could suggest that Fallstaff has respect for Hal or does not want to lose such an important benefactor.