Honor in Shakespeare's "I Henry IV" Analytical Essay by Nicky

An analysis of the principal theme of honor in Shakespeare's play, "I Henry IV".
# 150994 | 1,303 words | 1 source | MLA | 2012 | US
Published on May 17, 2012 in Drama and Theater (English) , Literature (English) , Shakespeare (Henry IV, V)


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Description:

The paper focuses on how Shakespeare addresses the notion of honor in the young and seemingly vapid Hal and the overreaching Hotspur. The paper highlights how through these young men, Shakespeare delves into how character can be misleading at times and how we must learn to look at a man's actions instead of his words to determine if he is actually honorable or not.

From the Paper:

"Hal also demonstrates his capacity for honor when he resolves the conflict at Shrewsbury. This is significant because this strife has carried over since King Henry. After Hal saves his life, the king must look him in a different way. In this scene, all that was before seems to fade away as the king realizes that his son does possess honor. He states, "Thou hast redeemed thy lost opinion, /And showed thou mak'st some tender of my life" (V.iv.47-48). Hal most certainly has redeemed himself and set the future in motion.
"Shakespeare brings the notion of honor and what it means to the forefront of this play. He does so by bringing readers' attention to the young and seemingly vapid Hal and the overreaching Hotspur. Both men appear to be something they are not at the beginning of the play and as time goes on, we see that true honor emerges in the least likely places. The young rivals point out how looks can be deceiving and, in the end, actions do speak louder than words. Hotspur turns out to be more talk than anything. Hal appears to be the lost soul guided by the lazy Falstaff."

Sample of Sources Used:

  • Shakespeare, William. I Henry IV. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Vol. I. New York: W. W. Norton and Company. 1986.

Cite this Analytical Essay:

APA Format

Honor in Shakespeare's "I Henry IV" (2012, May 17) Retrieved June 09, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/honor-in-shakespeare-i-henry-iv-150994/

MLA Format

"Honor in Shakespeare's "I Henry IV"" 17 May 2012. Web. 09 June. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/honor-in-shakespeare-i-henry-iv-150994/>

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