Essay on Hotspur as Tragic Hero of Henry IV - 1322 Words

Hotspur as Tragic Hero of Henry IV In Shakespeares Henry IV Part One, the characters many different conceptions of honor govern how they respond to situations. Each characters conception of honor has a great impact on the characters standing after the play. For instance, Falstaff survived because he dishonorably faked his own death, and his untrue claim that he was the one who killed Hotspur may get him a title and land. On the other hand, Hotspur lies dead after losing a duel for honor. Hotspur, who is in many ways the ideal man by the standards of his time, is killed by his lust for honor. In creating Hotspur, Shakespeare has created a variation on the tragic hero of other works: the stubborn tragic hero, who, dying†¦show more content†¦In this he is similar to other famous tragic heroes. Oedipus was king at the opening of the play Oedipus Rex, and Odysseus was returning from a great military conquest that had been won with an idea that was at least partly his. In addition, Hotspur experiences the tr aditional rise and fall sequence of the tragic hero. As Hotspurs plot against the King unfolds, it appears that he has as allies all the forces of the men who were earlier named as fighting Englands wars, and the King does not even have his son. Here Hotspur hits his peak, just as Odysseus returning from victory at Troy was at his peak as he started the journey home. Shakespeare packs almost all the bad news Hotspur will receive into a single scene, telling us that many of Hotspurs allies have fallen out of the scene and describing the Kings forces and reinforcements, including Hals joining Henry. This is in the style of the fall of the tragic hero, and follows the pattern set by Odysseus sudden shipwreck and Oedipus sudden understanding of what he is. To complete the picture, there is what might have been. Just as Oedipus might have turned back from his quest for knowledge at any point, so Hotspur had several clear opportunities to turn back, even at advantage. For instance, while the message carried by Worcester is altered, the message Blunt took back to the King was not changed, and could have been an offer of peace, on Hotspurs terms. In addition, it is Hotspur who pushesShow MoreRelated The Character of Falstaff in Henry IV Essay1644 Words   |  7 PagesThe Character of Falstaff in Henry IV  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   None of Shakespeares plays are read more than the first and second parts of Henry IV. Particularly in Henry IV Part I, Shakespeare writes chronologically historical and interesting to follow events. The reader follows the chain of events with devotion and content eager to find out what happens next. Even though the hero of the play is Prince Henry, or Hal as we know him, the reader may find themselves more focused on Falstaff, one