Act 1, Scene 1 establishes the setting of Henry IV Part 1 and what relationship King Henry has with his son Hal which will, most likely, be a point of controversy throughout the rest of the play.
I like your question a lot. I obviously don't have THE answer but I would guess that Shakespeare uses the first scene to set up a contrast for what second scene, therey giving the second scene more clout anyway. After the important business and national worries of the first scene, Prince Henry and his escapades draw more curiosity from the audience because it seems so inappropiate for a prince; it did for me at least.
I was wondering some of the same things. Obviously I don't have the answer, but I think that like Katie said, Scene 1 establishes the kind of relationship King Henry and Hal have. By putting Scene 2 after King Henry's conversation with Westmoreland, we really see the contrast between characters and why King Henry is so upset with his son. The conversation and statements made by King Henry about how he wishes he could switch sons with Lord Northumberland makes the reader want to read on and see what Hal could be doing that is so bad.
In this scene, I thought it was really interesting how the King wishes he had a different son. He wishes that the night fairy had exchanged his son for Percy (Mordake the Earl of Fife's son, I think). I think that's horrible! I guess this relationship sets up the rest of the play, but I still don't understand how a father can hate his son so much. I mean, he is blood related, and he's your SON! I understand him being upset with his son for being kind of wild, but still!
I think this scene shows just how much King Henry is upset with his son, to put him in there with talk of serious war and bloodshed. It is kind of pathetic that he is wishing he could switch sons while so many people are losing or have lost their sons in the war. I agree with Haley, I understand that Henry is disappointed in Hal, but enough to want a new son?!? It must go deeper than just being angry at his misdemeanors.
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Act 1, Scene 1 establishes the setting of Henry IV Part 1 and what relationship King Henry has with his son Hal which will, most likely, be a point of controversy throughout the rest of the play.
Kelly-
I like your question a lot. I obviously don't have THE answer but I would guess that Shakespeare uses the first scene to set up a contrast for what second scene, therey giving the second scene more clout anyway. After the important business and national worries of the first scene, Prince Henry and his escapades draw more curiosity from the audience because it seems so inappropiate for a prince; it did for me at least.
Kelly-
I was wondering some of the same things. Obviously I don't have the answer, but I think that like Katie said, Scene 1 establishes the kind of relationship King Henry and Hal have. By putting Scene 2 after King Henry's conversation with Westmoreland, we really see the contrast between characters and why King Henry is so upset with his son. The conversation and statements made by King Henry about how he wishes he could switch sons with Lord Northumberland makes the reader want to read on and see what Hal could be doing that is so bad.
In this scene, I thought it was really interesting how the King wishes he had a different son. He wishes that the night fairy had exchanged his son for Percy (Mordake the Earl of Fife's son, I think). I think that's horrible! I guess this relationship sets up the rest of the play, but I still don't understand how a father can hate his son so much. I mean, he is blood related, and he's your SON! I understand him being upset with his son for being kind of wild, but still!
I think this scene shows just how much King Henry is upset with his son, to put him in there with talk of serious war and bloodshed. It is kind of pathetic that he is wishing he could switch sons while so many people are losing or have lost their sons in the war. I agree with Haley, I understand that Henry is disappointed in Hal, but enough to want a new son?!? It must go deeper than just being angry at his misdemeanors.
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