The part of Hal was written for Richard Burbage, generally considered one of the greatest actors of his time. The part of Falstaff, played originally by Will Kemp, is considered Shakespeare’s greatest comic creation, and arguably the greatest comic creation in literature. This was almost definitely true in the Elizabethan era when the play was written – Falstaff was killed in a play but then brought back because of popular demand. It is interesting to note that after a few performances Will Kemp left the show following an argument with Shakespeare. It is ironic that the rejection of Kemp by Shakespeare is not unlike that of Falstaff by Hal.
The protagonist in “Henry IV Part 1” is Prince Hal, the son of Henry IV – the play is named after Henry IV because it is set in the time period that Henry IV reigned as king. The play is essentially a study in kingship, and follows the transformation of Hal from a “madcap prince” to a prince suitable to inherit the throne. Shakespeare juxtaposes the concept of honour and Machiavellian culture, which was starting to become popular in the Elizabethan era.
There are strong references to religious, specifically Christian imagery, for example the crown that the king wears represents the crown of thorns. Also, to be king is to take on suffering, and later in the play King Henry states Prince Hal’s wayward behaviour must be punishment for his previous crimes.
The play has a dual structure: a main plot which is set in the world of the court, and a sub-plot which is set in the world of the tavern. Shakespeare differentiates between the two plots by writing the dialogue in iambic pentameter for the former plot, and changing to prose for the latter. This change in writing style portrays the class differences between the two separate ‘worlds’ and further illustrates the distance between them, and therefore highlights the importance of Hal to renounce one in order to join the other. The plots run parallel to each other and certain events in one plot counterpoint those of the other, e.g. the robbery is an event of civil disorder which is parallel to the battle of Shrewsbury.
The first scene I will be writing about is Act II Scene 4, as it signposts Hal’s future rejection of Falstaff. Right from the beginning of the scene the audience is shown Hal’s immaturity when he and Poins play a practical joke on Francis. Hal talks to Francis while Poins calls him from another room. He gets confused and “stands amazed, not knowing which way to go”. Elizabethan audiences would have found this very funny, and Shakespeare has placed this comedic part of the scene very well as it breaks up and distracts from the fundamental seriousness of the plot. Although the comedy continues throughout the scene, as it progresses we find out there is an underlying message: Hal has to reject Falstaff in order to regain his honour and become kingly.
Earlier in the play as a prank Hal and Poins rob Falstaff, Bardolph, Gadshill and Peto immediately after they have robbed some pilgrims travelling to Canterbury. They amuse themselves by questioning Falstaff about how he was robbed, and hearing his lies and exaggerations in an attempt to defend his pride. He also takes great offence when it is implied that he is cowardly – this ironic and hypocritical of himself because later in the play he runs away from a battle. He greatly exaggerates the numbers of people he ‘fought’ with when he was robbed and says he killed two of them. He also describes the clothes they were wearing and Hal points out that Falstaff had just said it was too dark to see his hand. Falstaff continues to try and explain his way out of the situation, but Hal eventually interrupts and tells Falstaff it was in fact him and Poins that robbed him of the money. Falstaff then claims that he knew it was Hal, and that was the only reason he didn’t hurt Hal. Bardolph and Peto explain to Hal and Poins that Falstaff chipped his own sword to make it look as if he had been in a fight to back up his story.
Shakespeare uses this part of the play primarily to demonstrate Falstaff’s cowardice and deceitfulness, and also to display the new political culture of Machiavellianism at that time. The secondary purpose of this part of the scene is again to provide comedy – Elizabethan audiences would have found the dramatic irony very humorous as Falstaff was caught up in his own web of lies.
The next part of the scene is a turning part for Hal and the whole play because Hal essentially rejects Falstaff. It is also where we see the two plots merged and Hal has to choose between the world of the court and the world of the tavern. This is a vital moment in the play because it represents a choice between good and evil; this also links with the idea of Christian imagery – choosing salvation over the temptation of the devil.
Hal and Falstaff decide to play the roles of Hal and his father, King Henry IV. Falstaff pretends to be the king and is very flattering of Falstaff – he refers to himself: “And yet there is a virtuous man whom I have often noted in thy company, but I know not his name.” However, when the roles reverse and Hal plays the king he is a lot more critical of Hal’s friends. The role play, which started as light-hearted banter, becomes a lot more serious as Falstaff and the audience realise that Hal is not joking when he says “That villainous abominable misleader of youth, Falstaff, that old white-bearded Satan”. Falstaff pleads with Hal to accept him as his friend, but to no avail.
The scene is interrupted and the tension broken slightly by the sheriff knocking on the door of the tavern, looking for the money that was taken from the pilgrims. As it is obvious Hal does not want to reject Falstaff, but is only doing so because it is necessary for him to be a good prince and future king, he decides to do Falstaff a last favour. He tells everyone to hide and then gets rid of the sheriff. From this point onwards Hal has effectively promised to reject his old self and embrace the new world of lords and kings.
The next scene I will focus on is Act III Scene 2. This is another vital scene to the transformation of Hal – it is a discussion between King Henry and Hal, and it shows how much Hal has changed.
King Henry IV criticises Hal for wasting time with his life by drinking in taverns and associating with Falstaff. He warns him that Hotspur may have a greater claim to be king by his actions than Hal will by right alone, if Hal continues to waste time while men like Hotspur earn the people's admiration just as King Henry IV himself did, allowing him to replace Richard II.
This brings up another important issue that is present throughout the play – as King Henry usurped Richard he is worried for most of the duration of the play that he himself could be usurped. This stress is apparent in his actions towards others.
King Henry implies that God has made Hal wayward because of his past crimes against Richard II, "I know not whether God will have it so, For some displeasing service I have done.” He asks Hal how his actions can be explained by anything but God punishing him for his past actions.
Hal defends himself, saying that although he is not innocent, the stories about him have been exaggerated. His father is not convinced, reminding his son that his behaviour has led to his place in the council being removed and his brother replacing him as next in line to the throne, adding that Hal's absence has made him a stranger to “all the court and princes of my blood".
King Henry goes on to explain that if he had wasted his time with such "vulgar company," as that which Prince Hal keeps, he might never have earned the respect of the English people that helped him usurp the throne from King Richard II. He compares Hal to Richard II – how his behaviour in the eyes of the public lost Richard the throne. Hal’s father doesn’t want the same to happen to Hal. King Henry now tells Hal that as much as he represents King Richard II, he himself was very much like Hotspur at the same age. He says that Hotspur may have a greater claim to the thrown because of his actions to gain the respect of the public.
Hal is clearly upset by his father’s comments, and vows to change. He says to King Henry,
“I will redeem all this on Percy's head,
And in the closing of some glorious day
Be bold to tell you that I am your son;"
Hal is saying that he will redeem himself by killing Hotspur (Percy) and at the end of that day he will be bold enough to tell him that he is his son.
King Henry is very pleased that his son is finally starting to act like a prince, and promises that if a hundred thousand rebels die in the battle, Hal will be king. King Henry IV also announces that he will set off for Bridgenorth whilst Harry will march through Gloucestershire with all their forces and they will meet at Bridgenorth.
The mention of the impending battle reinforces the fact that Prince Hal and King Henry are now on the same side: Hal has chosen to permanently leave behind his previous life in the ‘underworld’ of taverns and lawbreaking.