Friday, September 01, 2006

Henry IV, Act I scene 2

Post your comments about this scene before Wednesday's class.

7 Comments:

Blogger nathan said...

3. Throughout scene 2, Prince Henry appears to enjoy the company of his thieving friends, constantly joking and punning with them. However, the very last lines of the scene, spoken by Prince Henry, convey a feeling of bitterness toward his "friends." Is this bitterness directed toward his friends or toward general expectations of him or both?

6:56 PM  
Blogger The Katie said...

Nathan, I didn't really perceive Hal's comment as bitterness. True enough that he accuses the pub-crawlers of being foul, pestilence of the sky to the sun he compares himself to, but I thought that Prince Henry was truly setting himself apart. Not in bitterness, but to prove that he truly is a princely person despite his selection of company to show himself greater than those around him. After all, his father thinks he's worthless, when in fact he's merely biding his time. Yes?

8:15 PM  
Blogger Aly said...

It doesn't seem like Hal is really that bad. Yes, he hangs out with theives and isn't providing himself a very good image, but when invited to go rob some travellers, he initially opts out. Hal doesn't decide to go until Poins convinces him to play a joke on Falstaff and the others, robbing them instead of the travellers. So this makes me wonder, does Hal just talk the talk but not walk the walk? Is he really bad or just trying to look like a rebel?

10:43 AM  
Blogger Anonymous said...

It seems like the Prince and Falstaff really connect and like to mess with each other by witty bantering back and forth. They are constantly throwing jokes and puns at each other like a nonstop battle of the wits.

8:39 PM  
Blogger Aly said...

Matt-

I agree with Rachel. I think that Hal and Falstaff's personalities connect and it's the one relationship they each have where they don't have to be serious all the time. They can joke and banter and know its all in good fun and serves as an outlet for all that energy and sarcasm other peers force them to keep to themselves.

8:58 PM  
Blogger haley said...

I agree with Sarah E. It is so typical of a character like this to be the coward and have others do the dirty work for him. However, it was interesting that he originally did not want to be involved in the robbery, like Aly A. said. However, I think that because he was so easily convinced to be involved, his true character comes out. He seems to be quite a push-over, as long as he doesn't have to commit the act, yet still gain the benefits. I also thought it was ridiculous when Hal was explaining that if he did bad things now, and then "turned to the good side," for lack of a better term, he would be considered a hero. I think it is absolutely outlandish and ridiculous!

10:12 PM  
Blogger Anonymous said...

Aly A-

I agree.I don't think Hal is really a bad person at all. And is he really associating with the pub-crawlers for some complicated reason? What if he just doesn't want to live up to his royal expectations and he genuinely enjoys being around the pub-crawlers?
Of course this is Shakespeare and there always is that deeper meaning but we can't forget the classic cliches!

11:34 AM  

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