Although Henry V can be read and enjoyed as a standalone piece, it is most valuable when considered as part of a tetralogy. The two parts of Henry IV depict the characters and present the initial stages of the conflict in a way that prompts us to reconsider Henry V as a continuation of the previous two plays. The dynamic evolution in the portrayal of Prince Hal can be clearly seen from the study of Henry V. In particular, Henry IV Part 1 features two of the main characters, Hotspur and Falstaff, who are only mentioned in Henry V. These two individuals are essential to better understand how Prince Hal becomes the king he is and why he makes the decisions he does. Through his interactions with them and through their deaths, Hal acquires their qualities - boldness and determination from Hotspur and wit and wordplay from Falstaff - and adds them to his charisma. The two parts, in association with V, help us see the two-part process through which this occurs: Hotspur's death allows Hal to acquire qualities that will remain in him until Falstaff's death. That death serves as a catalyst, thus allowing the qualities acquired to translate into noble deeds on the field. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Shakespeare cleverly creates two critical characters who will later play a decisive role in the making of Henry V. The young nobleman Harry Percy, known as Hotspur and present only in the first part, is the son of the Earl of Northumberland. His family, the Northern Percy family, is essential to the plot, as the Percys are instrumental in helping Henry IV take the throne. Sensing that King Henry IV no longer honors his debt to them, they lead a revolt, thus forming the narrative of Part 1. Hotspur is immediately portrayed as a valiant soldier, his nickname coming from his "hot" and ferocious attitude in battle. It is in this context that he is first mentioned in Westmorland's play, which relates that Hotspur has recaptured Holmedon and taken more prisoners (1.1.52-5). He is then referred to by the King himself, who envies Northumberland for having “so blessed a son”, “A son who is the theme of the tongue of honour” (1.1.80). Unlike many of Shakespeare's antagonists, Hotspur is never portrayed as evil, but rather shown in a complementary light. The weakest qualities of Hotspur's character are a consequence of his own strengths: he is stubborn and impulsive. For example, Hotspur tries to bargain with the king for his captives a ransom to get back his brother-in-law, Mowbray (1.3). In this scene, Hotspur gives vent to his anger, as he does not take the time to consider that the demands come directly from the king and that Mowbray is considered a traitor to the royal court. Along with these weaknesses, Hotspur is a reckless and boastful young adult. In 5.2, Worcester lies to him by telling him that Hal insulted the Percys. In response, and in a disproportionate reaction to the current situation, Hotspur demands a duel with the prince. Although Shakespeare takes time at the beginning of the play to present Hotspur as a strong and central figure, he is quick to demonstrate that Hotspur's priorities cause him to fail in his goals. Shakespeare wants the audience to make a clear comparison between Prince Hal and Prince Hal. Hotspur. In addition to their common name, he gives them the same age and gives their wives the same name (Kate). Against his rebellious but noble prince, he paints Hotspur as the motivated antagonist. Next to Hotspur, Hal appears as an irresponsible young man, who does not deserve the crown. The two never interact until the end,when they meet in a duel, but are constantly considered together in the minds of the public and the King. For him, Hotspur is the epitome of the perfect son, with only a few minor qualifications. When Hal finally expresses his opinion on Hotspur, it is only in the positive terms with which he challenges Hotspur to a duel. Hal prefaces his request with the following lines: "I do not think a braver gentleman, // More active-valiant, or more valiant-young, // Bolder, or bolder, is now alive" (5.1.89-91 ). The challenge presented is combat and Hal must prove his worth by defeating Hotspur. For his part, Hotspur even acknowledges that Hal is taking away his honor in his final speech: “It is better to bear the loss of a fragile life // Than those proud titles you have won from me. My thoughts hurt me worse than your sword hurts my flesh. (5.4.77-9). The prince wins the duel and, as he kills Hotspur, takes on the very qualities he so admired in him. While Hotspur represents the world of the noble court, Falstaff is the chief comedian of Hal's favorite world, that of the common people. Falstaff, present in both parts of Henry IV, is depicted as a fat, old and untidy man. He is the personification of the central location of their world: a cheap pub in Eastcheap, London. Falstaff spends his time drinking, making cheap sexual references, and desperately looking everywhere for money. One of his particular vices is greed which leads to corruption. As the revolt led by Percy intensifies, Hal asks Falstaff to join him in battle with soldiers from various cities (4.2). Falstaff manages to bring in “pitiful scoundrels” (4.2.57) only because he lets the ablest men go in exchange for sums of money. Unlike Hotspur, Falstaff is consistently portrayed in terms of his flaws, but there are passages where Shakespeare allows glimpses of wit and wordplay. The most poignant example of this is found at the end of 5.1 in Part 1. Falstaff speaks of honor and raises the issue of living men having to suffer on its behalf. In a forcefully delivered speech, Falstaff reduces honor to a single word: “What is honor? A word." (5.1.133). While these characters are essential in their own right, it is very interesting to see how they interact with Prince Hal. Falstaff and Hal are linked from the beginning. The first time both characters are introduced is in chapter 1.2, where their familiar attitude towards each other can be seen. Hal does not hesitate to playfully and affectionately insult his friend: "You are so fat in drinking old sack, unbuttoning after dinner and sleeping on benches afterward. noon" (1.2.2-4). The two are consistently shown to be very close to each other, Falstaff feeling almost a paternal bond with Hal. This is especially evident when it is announced that Hal will become king and Falstaff appears to be worried about him. On the other hand, Hal enjoys playing pranks on Falstaff, as he is easily fooled and always has a tendency to exaggerate stories. However, Hal protects Falstaff and is there for him when needed. For example, there there are multiple occasions when the police come looking for Falstaff in the pub, but Hal is quick to make an excuse for him. Falstaff relies on Hal in multiple instances and seems to grow from his presence; in fact Falstaff expresses this explicitly by saying that "Before I knew you, Hal, I knew nothing" (1.2.82-3). However, Hal's feelings towards Falstaff, and all common people in general, are more confused. Hal seems comfortable in their world as he spends most of his time with them and finds humor in it. This is in contrast to passages in which Hal admits that he is showing off so that his father, and England in general, will expect nothing from him,so that he can better impress them when he becomes king (1.2.173-95). His relationship with Falstaff is completely over when he is crowned in Part 2 and asks Falstaff "not to approach our person within ten miles" (5.5.63). Hal realizes that to become the king he desires to be, he cannot afford to maintain his intimate relationships with common people. Falstaff does not understand this and ends his days consumed by the resulting sadness. Hal, now the King, no longer speaks to him. Hotspur and Falstaff both have important qualities and flaws, but their power lies in their influence over Hal. Through their respective deaths, Hotspur and Falstaff pass on their best traits to Hal. The Hal shown in Henry IV Part 1 is a young, intelligent man, but he lacks proper family values ​​and priorities. Indeed, King Henry IV wishes his son were more princely. However, by saving his father from being wounded and killed by Hotspur, Hal is able to demonstrate his ability to be the soldier he is required to be. After Hotspur's death, Hal appears to be a true leader, directing the troops towards Wales. What separates the two characters is Hal's ability to take on Hotspur's best qualities, leaving aside his impulsiveness. An example of this can be seen through Henry V's pleading words to God: "Not today, O Lord, // O not today, think not of the guilt // My father has committed in seizing the crown." (4.1.274-6). Henry there admits his father's guilt in usurping the rightful owner's throne, but never makes the mistake of saying it aloud or showing an ounce of disloyalty. Unlike Hotspur, Hal is willing to acknowledge his mistakes and accept blame. When his uncle and father ask him to calm down in the early scenes of Part 1, Hotspur ignores them and continues to assert that his actions are right. The contrasting scene can be found in Part 2 (5.2), when the Lord Chief Justice tries to justify himself for his actions against young Hal. Hal, now king, responds by thanking him for rightfully imprisoning him. As such, Hal takes the qualities of a family-oriented man crying at his dying father's bedside and an invincible soldier, and adds them to his own temperament and introspection. However, these qualities are not enough to make Hal the king he is capable of being, until the middle of Henry V. The beginning of Henry V shows a king who relies on others to make decisions and who shuns responsibility. The king announces war with France partly because money-seeking Canterbury and Exeter advise him to do so. He blames the war on them when he announces that "Let every one therefore now attend to his own thought, that this righteous action may be taken on foot" (1.2.309-10). However, scenes towards the middle of the work, such as 3.3 or St. Crispian's famous speech, show a king who has a powerful command of language and a will that inspires all of his soldiers to want to fight. Without having read Henry IV, it is difficult to think about this, mistakenly attributing these qualities to his growth. However, the previous two parts allow us to reconsider this aspect. As mentioned above, Henry has many great qualities, but there seems to be something holding him back. The study of Falstaff allows us to better understand this behavior. Although Henry cuts the link between the two worlds at the end of Part 2, he still has very strong ties to them as the characters desperately try to become involved in his life. So, indirectly, these two forces pull him and he is unable to fully assume leadership. In 2.3 of Henry V it is stated that Falstaff is dying because of Henry. This is due to the fact that.