Henry IV, Act II, scene 3
General Directions, Act II
Everyone should read 2.1 and 2.2, but you are not required to blog about these scenes.
Rebels:
Read and think about how to perform: Scene 3.
Blog about scene 4 (blog 1: lines 1-337; blog 2, lines 338-end)
Pub Crawlers:
Read and think about how to perform Scene 4, lines 1-337.
Blog about scene 3 and the second half of scene 4--lines 338-end
Courtiers: (There is no Court scene in Act II, so courtiers will do a tavern scene. You’ll rehearse in the court space and perform in the tavern space. You’ll use the pub-crawlers’ costumes provided by that acting company.)
Read and think about how to perform Scene 4, lines 338-end.
Blog about scene 3 and Scene 4, lines 1-337.
In addition, respond to at least one comment posted on the blog. (That makes a total of 3 comments on the Act II class blog.)
Post your comments about scene 3 below.
Comments must be posted by Friday, 9/15.
Everyone should read 2.1 and 2.2, but you are not required to blog about these scenes.
Rebels:
Read and think about how to perform: Scene 3.
Blog about scene 4 (blog 1: lines 1-337; blog 2, lines 338-end)
Pub Crawlers:
Read and think about how to perform Scene 4, lines 1-337.
Blog about scene 3 and the second half of scene 4--lines 338-end
Courtiers: (There is no Court scene in Act II, so courtiers will do a tavern scene. You’ll rehearse in the court space and perform in the tavern space. You’ll use the pub-crawlers’ costumes provided by that acting company.)
Read and think about how to perform Scene 4, lines 338-end.
Blog about scene 3 and Scene 4, lines 1-337.
In addition, respond to at least one comment posted on the blog. (That makes a total of 3 comments on the Act II class blog.)
Post your comments about scene 3 below.
Comments must be posted by Friday, 9/15.
posted by Cheryl Makovsky at 1:47 PM
5 Comments:
Alright, allow me to start the ball rolling as far as it will permit. Scene 3 intrigues me mostly because one sees the relationship between Hotspur and his lady. I wonder if she should be watched and potentially play an important role? Also, does the roan colour of Hotspur's horse have significance? Does it reflect his character? Does anyone know any different temperaments of horses bred for this colouration? Does the horse in any way link itself to the person of Hotspur? After all, it has a cropped ear.
Furthermore, I simply wanted to add that I really like Hotspur's knowledge of women and how he consoles Lady Kate in saying that he shall vow his love to her from afar and on horseback, but not right now. Can Hotspur show restraint anywhere else in his life? He seems so angry almost to madness.
In this scene, Lady Percy at first appeared to be a nagging wife. But as I thought about it more deeply, I found that Lady Percy deserves more credit than that of just a gossipy, nagging lady. Even Hotspur deems her more worthy when he says, “I know you wise, but yet no farther wise than Harry Percy's wife.” Obviously she is a threat to the stereotypical woman of that time period. Hotspur knows that he can't reveal to her what his business is because his wife is too clever to be allowed to know. In this way, Lady Percy demonstrates her potential of power in their relationship while Hotspur recognizes this and s wary to hold what he views as his authority. His harsh words would seem to convey disrespect to Lady Percy, especially when he says, “Love, I love thee not. I care not for thee, Kate.” Despite his denial of her, Hotspur clearly respects his wife by acknowledging her as capable of much more than the role she is allowed to play.
Yes, Hotspur appears bipolar in a sense, but I still believe that he's just trying to do the right. However, I shall reference that Mrs. Makovsky stated herself that a previous class had placed two sides to Hotspur.
On the other hand, is it that surprising that he acts so differently towards his wife while trying to do his job? More often than not, when people have an agenda, even their loved ones become pests despite their good intentions or how much they truly care. Shakespeare appears to exaggerated traits because these qualities are harder to perceive from stage. In reality, Hotspur is fairly believable and I like him with all his madness.
Brett: Thanks for answering my horse question. I knew what a roan hue was, but your ideas of what it might mean are intriguing.
6. This scene says a lot, and raises a lot of questions about the relationship between Hotspur and Lady Percy. What caught my attention the most is when Hotspur said, "Love? I love thee not;/ I care not for thee, Kate" (90-91). It is really hard to understand their relationship at this point because, it being a text, the tone can be interpretetd differently. Either they are not very close at all and he was being quite cold to her or they are very close and he was joking with her. Or maybe something else entirely? I think the next time they appear together in the play, more solid deductions can be made.
Megan M:
I agree with your observations. Why would Hotspur disrespect Lady Percy's concerns and questions? What is Shakespeare implying about women?
In Macbeth, Lady Macbeth was not only Macbeth's wife but his confidant and practically second in command. So why would Shakespeare reveal a completely different representation of women? Does it have anything to do with Henry IV being a history play? Maybe Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's relationship was more positive because he was implying it as unrealistic?
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