Aristotle breaks down the plot of tragedy into three parts, reversal, recognition, and catharsis. Shakespeare includes all three plot components in his play, Henry IV Part I. It establishes a tragic hero, Harry Percy, and allows him to achieve power and influence. Then, at the climax, comes the reversal, which results in a mortal wound, followed by recognition, which comes in Percy's last words before dying. The combination of these two components, combined with the audience's ability to relate to Harry Percy and his fatal flaws, lead to emotional catharsis at the end of the show. By identifying Harry Percy as the tragic hero of Shakespeare's Henry IV Part I and examining Shakespeare's use of these three aspects of the plot, it becomes clear that Henry IV Part I can be identified as an Aristotelian tragedy. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay According to Aristotle, a reversal is "a change of actions into their opposite" (96) which shows the change of fortune of the tragic hero. For a reversal to be successful it must be developed and must occur "according to probability or necessity" (96). In Henry IV, Part I, Shakespeare begins this development in Act I, Scene I, when the Earl of Westmoreland tells King Henry IV of Harry Percy's valiant efforts at Holmedon. King Henry IV praises Harry Percy's courage and says he is "envious that my Lord Northumberland / should be the father of such a blessed son - / a son who is the theme of the tongue of honour" (1.1.78- 80). This praise is amplified when King Henry thinks of his son's "revolt and disgrace" (1.1.84). Shakespeare begins to establish Harry Percy as the tragic hero of the play by introducing his fatal flaw, his arrogance, which renders him incapable of action. to properly assess his situation and act accordingly, as demonstrated through his interaction with King Henry IV in Act I, Scene III. During this conversation Percy brazenly refuses to hand over the prisoners captured at Holmedon to King Henry saying he will not return them. the King even “if the devil came and roared for them” (1.3.123).” Unlike his uncles who understand the correct way to speak to a king, Percy is unable to behave properly, which leads him to speak to the king as if he were an acquaintance rather than a king. Act IV Scene I is another case of Percy's arrogance leading to ignorance. Percy learns that his father has fallen ill and will not be able to go to battle, instead acknowledging the real reason his father did not come to battle, his fear of losing to King Henry, and the impact his absence will have . about the battle Percy says ignorantly: "I would rather make this use of his absence, / It gives luster and greater opinion" (4.1.76-77) Percy's arrogance reaches its climax just before the reversal in Act IV scene V As Percy and Prince Hal finally meet on the battlefield and prepare to fight, Percy tells the prince, “the time has come / to end one of us; and would God / thy name in arms were now so great mine” (5.4.67-69). This statement makes the outcome of the battle more shocking as the two men fight and Prince Harry emerges as the victor. As he dies Percy laments the loss of his honor: “O Harry, you have robbed me of my youth. / It is better to bear the loss of a frail life / Than those proud titles you have won from me” (5.4.76-78). The inversion ends when Prince Harry says to Percy's corpse: "When this body held a spirit, / A kingdom to it was a limit.