Prince Henry, who is otherwise known as Hal, has a very distinctive character. Although Hal comes across as a ruthless down-class character at the beginning of the play, he later develops and changes, to become the real hero of the play. In scene two of the play, both he and Falstaff provoke each other, in a friendly way, but their relationship has an undercurrent of menace, because Hal is using Falstaff to maintain his "irresponsible and bad" reputation.However, he will forget Falstaff after he has regained his image, that will shock and surprise people, when he changes at the most unexpected of times, as he says in his soliloquy, "so when this loose behaviour I throw off, and pay the debt I ever promised" "by so much I shall falsify men's hopes.
And like bright metal on sullen ground, my reformation glitt'ring o'er my fault. " Act one Scene Two, Line hundred and seventy-one. Both of these quotations prove strongly that Falstaff is being used for his own benefit.Hal seems also to have the upper hand in the relationship, because Falstaff seems to rely on Hal becoming King. This shows that Falstaff too is using Hal; although he has an unhealthy dependency on Hal does not have any control over his future, as Hal will be responsible for him in the future. This can perhaps be related to a certain type of father/ son relationship, whereby, as time moves on, often the son may become "stronger" than the father, whilst the father may become "weaker" and thus the father becomes increasingly dependant on his son.
However, Hal and Falstaff do have a very superficial father-son relationship, as Falstaff is the father figure to Hal. However, there is no affection or love in the relationship, as it is only a self-befit relationship. This relation is also underlined by sinister, as Hal is planning on betraying Falstaff. He is in fact a traitor. However, he also has authority over the others, as for example, Poins refers to him as "My Lord," which shows that his position does stand clear.
Hal is also a manipulator, as he manipulates many of the characters in the play into believing that he is being honest and genuine to them, but in actual fact, he is using them for his own benefit against the king, and for the promotion of his own reputation and plans. However, Hal is very clever, as he does not partake in any of the offences himself, so that he cannot be blamed or accused for them. This shows that Hal is very sharp, calculated, and cunning. This is shown well when Hal does not take part in the robbery of the pilgrims with Falstaff, but instead decides to frame Falstaff with Poins.Although Hal does agree to be part of the 'joke' non-involvement is underlined with treacherous behaviour as he is going to try and frame Falstaff, and shift the blame to him, to get himself out of trouble. This is portrayed very well in the quote, which reads, "Were it not for laughing I should pity him.
" Act Two Scene Three, Line ninety-two. Hal could also be described as [megalomaniac], and craves power so much that he would do anything for it. In the play, you may think that Hal has a very emotional relationship with his father.This may be due to his father telling him that Hotspur would be more worthy of the throne than him "He hath more worthy interest to the state, than thou the shadow of succession" Act Three Scene Two, Line ninety-eight.
Hal also tells us in his soliloquy that he is power-hungry, as he says, "I will imitate the sun" Act One, Scene Two, Line hundred and fifty- seven, which shows that he thinks himself almighty.Maybe it even suggests that people will need him to live, as we need the sun to live. This shows that he will imitate the sun, as the sun is an object of power, which is what Hal will have. Hal avoids trouble all the time and he clearly uses manipulation to do this. He does this by persuasion [cohesion? ], and making his father believe that he is innocent, although he is in fact just trying to avoid punishment.
This shows that Hal has a very persuasive character as well, enabling him to sway people's thoughts, and feelings to his benefit.He father seems to fall prey very easily to this. This is demonstrated when Hal tells his father he will change, as this is what his father wants to believe as he says, "So please your majesty, I would I could quit all offences with a clear excuse as well as I am doubtless I can purge myself of many I am charged withal. " Act Three Scene Two, Line eighteen. He promises to his father, that he would be himself after his father's long speech, but what is his real self? Would his real self be the normal citizen, or the real prince?We cannot tell this because we have not really seen his two sides, as he has a false personality, and lives by manipulation, so we cannot really determine his 'real' self.
Although King Henry has feelings towards his son, Hal does not seem to have any feelings towards his father. Hal is very superficial and is only says reassuring word to his father to please him, and to secure his place on the throne. However, King Henry's love is clearly shown, when he begins to cry at the end of his very long speech in Act Three Scene Two, Line ninety, as he says, "Which now doth that I would not have it do, make blind itself with foolish tenderness.Hal is totally unemotional, and cannot feel anything for any of the characters apart from hate, or a wish to conquer them. This is because; everything he does is for his own benefit rather than for others. This could be explained, as there are not many women involved in the play at all, which makes the play seem very macho and male dominated anyway, and these sorts of characters are usually very un-emotional.
Prince Hal is a parallel to King Henry, because King Henry usurped King Richard II, and took the throne through disloyalty to his friend, as he had been exiled, but as Richard was overthrown, Henry took over.This is exactly what Hal is doing, because, there are rebellions against King Henry, as Hotspur, Mortimer and the other rebels want to overthrow him, and at the same time, Hal is proving his bravery and competence to be a good king, so that he can take over the throne if King Henry is overthrown. This shows that, although the character of Hal and King Henry seem different, they are in fact very similar. Both Hotspur and Hal are 'immature' in very different ways.
Hotspur has a real immaturity, because he is very much like a child, in the sense that he always wants his way, and is very stubborn.However, Hal has a 'false immaturity' as his is simply a show, to make people get the 'immature' image of him. Hal can change his immaturity as he pleases; however Hotspur cannot. Prince Hal is a direct contrast to Hotspur.
Where Hotspur has proven himself to be brave and responsible, Hal has become notorious for his ill conduct. Where Hotspur is single-minded, Hal is fickle. However, his flexibility will help him. Unlike Hotspur, whose obsession with honour and fixation on battle will lead to his death.
This can be linked to the image of a tree, because the type of tree which is very stiff and tall, will not last very long, as, if come the wind, it will be easily knocked down, but those that are flexible and can move with the wind will stand for much longer. Hotspur is like the stiff tree and Hal like the flexible. Hal is a very clever and intelligent person, who forms strategies to win, not just the for literal battle, but also the beneficial battle. This shows clearly that Hal can fend for himself and can plan well.He can also be described as a real politician, as he knows exactly what he wants and how to manipulate a situation to his advantage in order get it. Hal also strives for honour and glory.
Hal also has natural nobility, which is further seen in his suggestion that he fight a duel with Hotspur in order to avoid the unnecessary deaths that would come with a full-scale battle. His generous praise of Hotspur's character and achievements also shows his un-envious spirit. You earlier said he hates everyone].There is also no doubt that he is brave When wounded in battle, he refuses to rest, and he jumps in to save Henry from Douglas when the king's life is in danger, "stay and breathe a while thou hast redeemed thy lost opinion, and showed thou mak'st some tender of my life in his fair rescue thou hast brought to me. " Act Five Scene Four, Line forty-six.
Prince Henry has many different aspects to his character, however, most of the characteristics that he shows are manipulative skills and his intelligence and ability to plan, and that he knows what he is doing all the time.
