Abstract
The falsification of the audience's expectations and Hal's miraculous emergence as a great English king, alongside the Hal-Falstaff relationship out of which the future king's identity is gradually constructed, are the main critical puzzles in most studies of the William Shakespeare's "King Henry" series. The paper examines concepts of fraud and politics in parts one and two of "King Henry IV" and in "King Henry V". It discusses notions by literary critics such as Stephen who claim that Hal is one of Shakespeare's most Machiavellian characters. The paper argues that Machiavelli's Prince is not sufficiently cruel or sophisticated to be ranked with Prince Hal, despite the fact that Falstaff's cry for help, voiced in his paradoxical accusation that the Prince has corrupted him, seldom succeeds in inverting the audience's impression that Falstaff is Hal's misleader.

From the Paper
"The concept of necessity, as it arises from the morality-patterned Phychomachia, reinforces providentialist notions, an idea first advanced by Tillyard but in a rather different context. Religious providentialism fuses the personal and political domains and Hal's borrowing from the theatrical and diachronic anthropological deposit causes the interweaving of theatrical illusion with politics, thus displaying their common structural patterns. The fusion of religion, politics and theater culminates in Hal's gradual conversion to virtue, which is at once a milestone in Hal's allegedly privileged relationship with God, a major political event, and a stock trick of Elizabethan drama."

Tags:Harry, Hotspur, Eastcheap, Ancient, Pistol

Abstract
This paper examines the use of legitimacy as a theme in the play, "King Henry IV," by William Shakespeare. The paper includes a discussion of the legitimacy of the king and his rule, as a well as a close look at Prince Hal. The paper contends that Henry's legitimacy becomes the center of all of the major crises in the play and, thus, is a major and binding theme.

From the Paper
"From the moment Shakespeare's play 1 King Henry IV opens, the legitimacy of King Henry's crown is a major theme throughout the play. Not only does it become the justification of the Percys and others violent revolts against Henry, but it can also be used to explain the disobedient acts carried out by Hal, King Henry's son and heir to the throne. King Henry's usurpation of the throne and act of regicide lead to consequences that will spoil his reign illegitimate."

Tags:prince, hal, percy

Abstract
This paper presents a character analysis of Henry and Hal, two of the main characters in Shakespeare's play, "King Henry IV", and shows how Shakespeare, by comparing and contrasting these two characters, was able to display the attitudes of both the nobility and the commoners and foreshadow Hal's ability to become a stable, successful ruler.

From the Paper
"Hal's feelings towards his father reflect the feelings of the commoners towards the king. Hal's soliloquy, "I know you all..." (I, ii 183-205) reveals Hal's moral awareness and scorn towards the character he has used to disguise his true frustration with the standards that the king has disgraced. A noble and virtuous young man deliberately masquerading as a dissolute prodigal, Hal is not likely to overlook the deep moral blemishes in his father nor the hypocrisy of Henry IV's assumption of rightful kingship. However, as the King's subject and heir, Hal is denied all means of expressing his contempt for the dishonorable means by which Henry IV has maintained and stolen power. By showing contempt for the king, Hal would be following the example of Henry IV's disloyal behavior towards Richard II, and siding with the rebels who now challenge Henry IV's fitness to rule."

Tags:overthrew, richard, ii, stability, nation, scorn, prodigal, son, dishonorable, stolen, maintained, power

Abstract
The paper looks at the apparent roles and functions of women, their impact upon other characters and whether or not their roles should have been different and, if so, how they should have been different. In the final analysis, the paper concludes that Shakespeare accurately captures the gender divisions of the age but also fails to highlight the central contribution of Henry IV's first wife, Mary de Bohun, in the establishment of this man as a powerful king over a flourishing empire.

From the Paper
"The following paper will look at the treatment of women in Shakespeare's, King Henry the IV, Part I. Specifically, the paper will look at the apparent roles and functions of women, their impact upon other characters (to the extent this can be divined), and whether or not their roles should have been different and, if so, how they should have been different. In the final analysis, Shakespeare accurately captures the gender divisions of the age but also fails to highlight the central contribution of Henry IV's first wife, Mary de Bohun, in the establishment of this man as a..."

Tags:henry, iv, shakespeare

Abstract
This paper examines King Henry and Prince Harry's discourse in Shakespeare's "Henry IV" Act III, Scene ii in order to determine what both men considered to be desirable soldierly and leadership values. The paper highlights these values to be modesty, in the sense of exercising restraint in taking advantage of one's popularity and showing humility in the face of the enemy, as well as glory through courageous deeds on the battlefield and in war as a whole.

From the Paper
"The discussion between King Henry IV and his son Prince Harry of Wales in Act III Scene II of Shakespeare's Henry IV Part I reveals much about the central theme of the play: leadership and soldierly values. The scene depicts King Henry reprimanding Harry on what he considers to be behavior not befitting a future King and hence also drawing into question his suitability as a sovereign. During the ensuing discourse, Henry contrasts Harry's manner with how he thinks a young prince should act. In a reply which pleases the King, Harry pledges he will change his ways and prove himself worthy of his royal position. From a modern perspective, this scene provides an excellent base for the reader to form opinions on the leadership and martial values conveyed by both Harry and Henry IV."

Tags:leadership, values, humility, glory, courage

Abstract
This paper examines the apparent roles and functions of women in William Shakespeare's "King Henry the IV, Part I". Specifically, the paper looks at the impact of women upon other characters and whether or not their roles should have been different and, if so, how they should have been different. The paper contends that Shakespeare accurately captures the gender divisions of his age but fails to highlight the central contribution of Henry IV's first wife, Mary de Bohun, in the establishment of this man as a powerful king over a flourishing empire.

From the Paper
"One other thing that becomes evident is that much of the play is about men seeking power - about them accruing titles or lands, in short. As a result, by as early as Act 1, Scene 3, it is fairly clear, at least as we listen to Hotspur denounce the Prince of Wales and "Bolingbroke" (Henry IV), that power in fourteenth century England is a "man's thing" and that women are only referenced in these matters if they are bearing children who may become lineal descendants to a throne or baronetcy or if the behavior of one nobleman or another is so intemperate that he is described by his colleagues as a "woman" who cannot hold his tongue or think rationally."

Tags:power children, first wife, rogues marginalized

Abstract
This paper is a discussion of the BBC's 1979 production of "King Henry IV", Part 1, a low-budget filming of the play. The paper discusses how the budgetary limitations show in a number of scenes, the performances in several scenes are less than wonderful, and the whole production is not what might have been expected. The paper opines that the film is most valuable for those who are not familiar with the play.

From the Paper
""Henry IV," Part I is one of the more widely produced of Shakespeare's histories, and it has several elements that make it a fine dramatic vehicle: Falstaff, the wayward Prince Hal, Hotspur, the mystical Owen Glendower, and the battle at Shrewsbury involving the various encounters among the warlords facing one another in individual combat. In 1979, as part of its project to videotape Shakespeare's plays, the BBC produced this play. The product was a mixed result. There are certain signs that this is a low-budget production. Most plainly this emerges in the fight scenes in Act V. There are never more than a few actors on the..."

Tags:shakespeare, bbc, vidoetape

Abstract
This paper explores the history of the technical production of "Henry IV," Part I as well as exploring some of the historical sources from which Shakespeare obtained his historical information.

From the Paper
"Most believe that the Elizabethan stage was rather bare by modern standards. It is a popular opinion that the actions and dialogue of the actors mainly dressed the stage. By modern technological standards this may be true. However records from the Revels Office indicate that scenery was quite elaborate at times and special attention was given to detail. We must draw our conclusions about staging and scenery in Elizabethan stage performances from descriptions written at the time. One of the earliest plays of which we have a description of the scenery is "Edwardes tragedy."

Tags:War, Roses, feud, Houses, Lancaster, York, palace, apartment, Prince, inn, yard, Rochester

Abstract
This paper explores the history of the technical production of "Henry IV", Part I and examines some of the historical sources from which Shakespeare obtained his historical information.

From the Paper
"Most believe that the Elizabethan stage was rather bare by modern standards. It is a popular opinion that the actions and dialogue of the actors mainly dressed the stage. By modern technological standards this may be true. However records from the Revels Office indicate that scenery was quite elaborate at times and special attention was given to detail. We must draw our conclusions about staging and scenery in Elizabethan stage performances from descriptions written at the time. One of the earliest plays of which we have a description of the scenery is "Edwardes tragedy." It was produced in Whitehall in 1564."

Tags:War, Roses, feud, Houses, Lancaster, York, palace, apartment, Prince, inn, yard, Rochester

Abstract
In considering Shakespeare's plays, it can often be seen that they are written to specific formulas. This is most clearly seen in the tragic plays, where the action of the plays is based on the fatal flaw of a character, leading to the tragic ending. The paper discusses that, while these similarities are obvious ones, there are also less obvious similarities. One of these similarities occurs in the opening scenes of the plays, where Shakespeare often introduces the characters and the events in similar ways. These similarities are discussed by focusing on two plays, "Hamlet" and "Henry IV." For both plays, the two opening acts are described, followed by a discussion of the similarities and the differences.

From the Paper
"Act I, Scene I of Hamlet opens with the changing of the castle guards, where the guards see the ghost of the former king. An air of tension is created as Horatio states that the appearance of the ghost suggests "some strange eruption to our state" (I,i 69). The discussion then also introduces the recent events for the state including the death of the previous king, and the appointment of the new king. With this information, the changing of the guard as the opening is given new relevance, since the change of kings also represents a changing of the guard. These elements combine to create a sense of unease. At this point, it is not known what the exact problem is with Denmark, but there is a sense that something is wrong."

Tags:king, denmark, character