Character Analysis Of John Falstaff

Throughout Henry IV, Falstaff, an important character impacting Henry’s growth; was said to act somewhat like his mentor, guiding him through the lower class society and its wilderness. This clearly portrayed their solid relationship, as Henry seemed to learn from Falstaff and use it for his good. However, it is found shocking when Falstaff is found on his death bed in Henry V leaving the Hostess say “The king has killed his heart.” The example metaphorically speaks of Falstaff’s unbearable pain from the King’s rejection; his betrayal was a trigger to Falstaff’s downfall and sickness. Henry seemed to disown Falstaff as he chose to rule his country rather than be found in pubs. Although found upsetting by many audience members, it is possible that Henry saw himself in Falstaff if he had not chosen to grow up, thus chose the best for himself and his

Falstaff is a tavern haunter, who partakes in the ìdrinking of old sackî (I.ii.4), lying, stealing, and thinks of honor as merely ìa wordî (V.ii.74). Although Hal enjoys the company of Falstaff, it is clear by his soliloquy in Act I, scene ii, that he intends to reform himself and act as a true prince: ìreformation, glittering o'er my fault, Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes, Than that which hath no foil to set it off, I'll so offend to make offence a skill, redeeming time when men least think I will (I.ii.9).î This shift in character is exemplified in the final battle, where Hal makes the chivalrous gesture of offering to ìTry fortune with [Hotspur] in a single fight (V.i.74).î

According to F. Scott Fitzgerald, "The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function." Indeed, very few people have this quality, the playwright William Shakespeare being one of them. In many of his plays, "Henry IV, Part One" among them, Shakespeare juxtaposes different worldviews, ideologies, and even environments. His characters usually provide a clear example of a split among them in one of many perspectives. One of his characters in "Henry IV"—Falstaff—is first seen as an endearing, uproariously funny scoundrel and later reveals himself more of a lowlife with his view of honor—he seems

subject to the analysis of the writers and artists of the day. This is no less true in the context of Elizabethan England. Arguably the most famous of all of Elizabethan creatives, Shakespeare contributed vastly to this reshaping of the relationship between ruler and subject. Henry IV Part 1 in particular was a commentary on modern times, relating to and helping shape perceptions of Queen Elizabeth I, as the character Henry IV formed a direct parallel to Elizabeth. Both monarchs experienced the question of legitimacy and the resistance that went with it, but most important is the portrayal of Henry himself. He was feminized through Shakespeare’s description and use of language, and, to Elizabethan audiences, would have called forth an image of Elizabeth herself. Henry’s relationship with Hal and his subjects supports this theory because he was, in many ways, maternal, and Elizabeth often referred to herself in a maternal fashion; both rulers are mothers in their own way. Henry’s close association with Elizabeth proves the immutability of Elizabeth in the annals of English history and, in the end, legitimized her rule at a point in time at which many believed her to be the opposite.

Honor is one of those concepts that is seldom defined. One’s reputation is based on his or her honor, integrity, honesty, and purity. William Shakespeare’s Henry IV is a one of his many plays that deal with the varying ideas of honor, as well as issues of courage, loyalty, and ambition, interposing examples of dishonor, weakness, and the deceitful plots among both the drunkards and noblemen. Shakespeare utilizes suggestive metaphors to create illusions, imagery, and to reinforce the different views of the major issues people were faced with in his time and in ours. His plays often focus on the imagery, either on some obvious important symbol, or some image pattern that recurs throughout the work. Readers are

In Henry IV Part 1, although Falstaff and King Henry act as father figures in Hal’s life and are both intelligent in their own right, the differences in their tone and diction showcase the major differences in their personalities and relationship with pride.

Have you ever binge watched a TV series? Many people usually do and even consider this a normal behavior in our society; however, the main character, Montag, from the novel Fahrenheit 451 written by Ray Bradbury is the only one in his society to be detached from the world of media. The civilians are brainwashed from the nonsense that they are watching and listening to. Television helps people to not interact with one another and trying to stop conversations. The people in the society are also getting into harm's way, when they are watching tv. In his novel, Ray Bradbury puts the focus on technology ruining the lives of innocent civilians.

“Banish Plump Jack, and banish all the world”. To what extent does Falstaff embody the qualities of his world?

Roles are played depending on the audience set before the actor, who must decide the characteristics they want to portray. These societal roles are often manipulated in a manner by which the actor feels as though they have control towards an end goal they wish to achieve. However, the roles are not always met in the way expected and the traits in the role an individual plays results in either personal destruction or salvation. In Shakespeare’s Henry IV, the importance of role portrayal and facades is essential for Prince Henry/Hal, King Henry and Falstaff because not only does it set their images in the public perception, but it allows the reader to see a glimpse into the true mind of the character.

In I Henry IV and II Henry IV, William Shakespeare brings together drama and comedy to create two of the most compelling history plays ever written. Many of Shakespeare's other works are nearly absolute in their adherence to either the comic or tragic traditions, but in the two Henry IV plays Shakespeare combines comedy and drama in ways that seem to bring a certain realism to his characters, and thus the plays. The present essay is an examination of the various and significant effects that Shakespeare's comedic scenes have on I Henry IV and II Henry IV. The Diversity of Society

An early interaction between the wealthy noble Olivia and her hired fool mocks the hierarchal stereotypes and provides an example of Shakespeare's ironic commentary on the social class distinction. In this scene, Olivia, mourning her brother's death, is angry with Feste, her fool, for his unexcused absence. Feste responds to this anger with wit and proceeds to disprove the stereotypes surrounding his title. As a fool, Feste is expected to embody his title and possess little wit. However, as he and Olivia continue to argue, he uses his wit to flip this cliche, proving her to be the true fool. Olivia exits this scene in higher spirits, due to Feste’s comedy, rather than Feste exiting in a body bag, as most would have expected. Shakespeare uses Feste’s humor and diction in this scene to develop not only the characters but provides more insight on the social class distinctions present in the play.

Falstaff’s soliloquy questioning the value of honour is an ironic contrast with how Hotspur and Hal regard honour. By now the contrast between their highly ordered morality and Falstaff’s own moral disorder is obvious. Falstaff’s inclusion at this point, when Hal has left his side and moved on, is necessary to point out the differing morality between the two, which was once so similar. Falstaff is of paramount importance to the sub-plot dealing with Hal’s decision between continuing his carefree lifestyle or maturing into the role he is destined to play as a respected prince and later king. This soliloquy continues the theme of another of Falstaff’s in Act 4 Scene 2, in which he is equally undisturbed by his amorality, and shows that his highest concern is for his own well being.

King Henry V is one of the greatest kings that ever ruled England and was a favorite among his people. One of the reasons behind this is the presence of two men in his life; his father, King Henry IV, and Sir John Falstaff, his lowlife friend and bar companion. Both men represent two opposite father - figures to the young prince. It is the Prince’s ability to take and acquire the best traits in each that makes him surpass both of them and become great. Prince Hal’s relationship with both men is one of conflict. On one hand, his relationship with his father is tumultuous, while on the other his relationship with Falstaff is confusing.

Shakespeare, a humanist and a man of crucial perspective, concentrates on moral, political, and philosophical questions of universal significance; he strives to change the world. Shakespeare brought new-fangled realism in drama and took it to great height with profundity. His dramas have the rich diversity of humanity with the help of hundreds living, believable characters showing multiplicity in individuality. Even after centuries, the characters can be identified with their aspirations, their strengths and their failings, and sympathise with their moral dilemmas. He was a true human with true human experiences bringing humanist approach. Janet Suzman: “Shakespeare was a humanist in everything he wrote.*1 Shakespeare’s plays and poetry reveal

Henry laments over the fact that Hal is not the son he would have liked, religiously alluding to the unruliness of his son that he has no control over is the punishment from God as a result of his usurpation of the throne. This religious allusion reflecting on Henry’s sins demonstrates the both the political power the King obtains, as he deposed the previous King, but also the powerlessness he has in correspondence to the Lord, and his own conscience. In addition, Henry use of the term “grafted” describes Prince Hal’s connection to Falstaff and the subsequent rejection of his more important blood relations and thus his role as the heir to the English throne. It can be argued that Hal purposely attempts to separate himself from the royal role that his father sets for him, understanding that his father usurped the Divine Right of Kings and thus sought the company of individuals that would successfully result in the disapproval of his father and the Royal Court. Hal finds companions in the rouges in which inhabit the Boar 's Head Inn and Eastcheap, including the thieving surrogate father Falstaff. However, while the two locations and companies are considered to differ starkly, Shakespeare successfully mirrors the separate destinations in first two scenes between the Royal Court and the “Rouge Court” found in the Boar’s Head Inn. Whilst the occupants are of the Inn are freely labelled as thieves, the occupants of the