Honor In Henry IV Part One

Hotspur, on the other hand, is always seen as "honorable" even though he has caused this whole war; there is no way, therefore, for anyone to correctly say what brings honor and what dishonors. The second time the word "honor" appears in the play, it is on the lips of Hotspur, who is damning the King and urging his father and Worcester to "redeem / [their] banish'd honors and [to] restore [them]selves..." (I, iii). The reader can easily see Shakespeare's notion that the concept of honor and its embodiment seldom come together in the reality of a single person—certainly the way that Hotspur wants his father and uncle to redeem themselves (by dethroning the king) is not very honorable, yet his honor is from battles won in the king's name. So despite his treasonous thoughts, his honor from battle remains with him for the rest of his life, as even the prince calls him "valiant." (V, i) Both Hotspur and the King believed in the undegenerate chivalric conception of honor, which was a lofty one. Under it, trial by battle, and war, became religious affairs. Hotspur also talks of "honor" as a symbol for a trophy of victory: he

Henry’s bold and passionate diction encourages the people of Virginia to join him in the fight for freedom. For example, he asserts, “… we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight!” His exclamation shows his pride and conviction, and he is not afraid to stand for his freedom. He is trying to prove to the colonial leaders that this is their last chance to be free of British rule, and this is their only option to challenge the British before they invade. Although he is very blunt and string willed, Henry is still using formal diction. He shows his respects when stating, “I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen…I

In “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” Maya Angelou make a statement about the power of names and gives examples of the importance by sharing instances where people are to assume a different identity with a different name.

King Henry IV must also contend with his son, Prince Hal, who’s not the honorable prince he had hoped him to be. He feels it is “an honorable spoil” not to have “a son who is the theme of honor’s tongue,” when he learns of Northumberland’s son Hotspur’s victories, which, should be “a conquest for a prince to boast of” (1.1.74,80, & 76). Pangs of jealousy strike Henry’s heart caused by the differences between his son and Northumberland’s. So much so, he wishes “it could be proved that” someone, or something, “had exchanged in cradle clothes, their sons at birth” (1.1.85-87).

In the following soliloquy from William Shakespeare's "Henry IV, Part II," King Henry laments his inability to sleep. As the poem progresses, so does the complex syntax. Shakespeare does this to show King Henry’s progression to madness.

Hotspur thinks that taking action against King Henry, who he believes seized the crown from Richard II will solve their problems. Even though Worchester helped him in the usurpation he also believes that if they take action against King Henry then something beneficial will come of it. Despite being ‘exceedingly well read’ Hotspur disregards the fact that the Percy’s army is weaker and his father, Mortimer has chosen to be “sick”. However it wasn’t entirely Hotspur’s fault, as when Worchester approached The King and the Prince, Henry then tells Worcester that he offers the rebels full pardon if they immediately decamp and return home. However, this message never was communicated to Hotspur, since they believed that the ‘hare-brained Hotspur’ would be punished for the rebellion. Since Worcester and Vernon didn’t tell him, there was a possibility that ‘gallant Hotspur’ would’ve reconsidered taking his army on a rebellion. Therefore, it was somewhat the Percy’s ‘I’ll weaved ambition’ to fight and Hotspur’s false directions which caused his downfall on the

Thus, due to the all-encompassing deteriorating of human dignity, catalyzed by the chivalric values and battlefield honour, England must aspire to reverse their regressive ways, in its place observing Falstaff’s nonchalance and nihilistic behaviour.

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 only successful monarchs in Shakespeare’s plays. He displays great strength and intelligence. King Henry V is capable of uniting all of his people in his St. Crispin’s Day speech as they prepare to go to battle. The troops were greatly outnumbered and believed they had no chance at winning. But King Henry makes them feel like they are part of something important, and by doing this he motivates them to fight their hardest.

Men and women’s honour play a very important role in William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and in the times of the Elizabethan era. Throughout the play characters are faced with situations destroying their honour and they will go through many obstacles to restore their honour. Some of the characters are not controversial men and woman and do not always live up to certain ideals that define an honourable man and woman. In the opening scene, Shakespeare introduces the concept honour when Leonato, governor of Messina, asks the messenger whether people have died in the recent battle. The messenger replies, But few of any sort, and none of name. (1.1.7). This is an indication that honour is of high importance to the people in Much Ado About Nothing. Shakespeare shows the honourable woman through the character Hero.

Honor means high respect. King Henry uses this theme to motivate his men to fight in the battle. Towards the beginning of his speech, King Henry says “He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam’d, And rouse him at the name of Crispian.” The point he is making is that if you choose to fight the battle, and survive, you will be greatly honored and respected for your fight during that battle. Also, even earlier in the speech, King Henry says “The fewer men, the greater share of honour.” By saying this he is showing the men that even though they seem to be outnumbered that is only another reason to fight because they will gain even more honor from the battle. This gives the men more will to fight.

No” (Henry IV Part 1, 5.1.130-132). Falstaff then concludes that “honor is a mere scutcheon” (5.1.138). Falstaff knows that Hal like the others on the battlefield are fighting for “honor,” but Falstaff sees that honor is really nothing. His lifestyle is drink and thievery is worth more than the lives lost for the reward of that honor. In “The Courage of Falstaff” from his an essay on the Dramatic Character of Sir John Falstaff (1777), Shakespearean literary scholar Maurice Morgann argues that Falstaff found an issue with honor “as well as every thing else, in ridiculous lights, and began to renounce its tyranny” (Maurice Morgann).

Hotspur on the other hand, begins the play in his father's good graces, and seems to represent the chivalry that eludes Hal. Indeed, Hotspur, being in charge of repelling the Scots to the North, has shown his fierceness in battle and has proven to be an accomplished military man, which are the qualities that the King wishes Hal possessed. Hotspur, however, has a temper which worries his father, Northumberland. In Act 1, Scene 3, he urges his son to be calmer: ìWhat, drunk with choler? stay and pause a while (I.iii.13),î and calls his son ìa wasp-stung and impatient foolî (I.iii.16). Northumberland is much more cautious than Hotspur, or Worcester, and

Prince Hal’s destiny is shaped for him by many forces: his association with the ne'er-do-well Falstaff, the expectations of his father, King Henry IV, and the constant comparison between himself and Hotspur. All three of these forces create in Hal a sense of honor that is an integral part of his education as the ideal king, and throughout the action of Henry IV, Part I, Hal is gaining a knowledge of honor that will shape him into the King that he will become. However, it seems that Hal ultimately chooses one form on honor over the other, although he must compare the honor of Falstaff and the conceptual honor of a chivalric hero before he comes to a final conclusion.

Then they return with an English army, which ultimately brings Macbeth 's destruction. Duncan 's murder also turns his lords against him, and when the time of the battle comes, they desert him. His people, obviously not content with his rule also desert him, and when the opposing army arrives at Dunsinane hill, Macbeth 's army leaves. "Where they not forced with those that should be ours,"(V.v.5). Macbeth has lost "honor, love, obedience, troops of friends" (V.iii.29), because of