Essays on Henry IV

To What Extent is Prince Hal Portrayed as an Honorable Man in Shakespeare’s The History of Henry IV [Part One]? In today’s world, honor is not commonly considered to have the greatest amount of importance, and there are contrasting opinions on what exactly honor means…

Context in Henry IV, Part 2: “By the mass, I could anger her to th’ heart. She was then a bona-roba. Doth she hold her own well?” (III.ii.208-210) Definition: Courtesan; prostitute This word is a noun. Etymology: “Bona-roba” is a word of Italian descent. In…

Clowning In Shakespeare Psychologists say much clowning is defensive and therefore pathological. Many of the characters in Shakespeare’s plays support this notion by depicting comical behaviors in conjunction with subconscious defense mechanisms, proving that this humorous behavior is pathological. One of the most famous of…

Hal is dynamic. We see definite changes in his character from our first encounter with him (in Henry IV part I) to when he is king (in Henry V). He starts out as a rebellious and seemingly care-free youth. He chooses to spend most of…