Henry IV, Act II, scene 4, line 338-end
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(Line 338 begins with Falstaff's entrance and Hal's line, "Here comes lean Jack. Here comes bare-bone.")
Also, be sure to read and respond to other student's comments.
Comments must be posted by Friday, 9/15.
(Line 338 begins with Falstaff's entrance and Hal's line, "Here comes lean Jack. Here comes bare-bone.")
Also, be sure to read and respond to other student's comments.
Comments must be posted by Friday, 9/15.
posted by Cheryl Makovsky at 1:31 PM
6 Comments:
I know it's at the very beginning of this section of the scene, but what's anything to do with the sparrow mentioning? We know that Shakespeare selects every word carefully because we can analyze a small section for a great deal of time so, why a sparrow? In the Canterbury Tales they mention sparrows and Chaucer really liked physiognomy so, what's Shakespeare doing? I really don't like to consider it chance he chooses a sparrow.
Beyond my questions, I wanted to acknowledge the idea of what Falstaff teaches Hal. When they turn their roles around, Jack opens many doors and ideas which Hal seems closed to when thinking of his father and his friend alike. Despite the comedic perspective Falstaff appears to possess towards all areas of life, how much is he really just acting for humour and how much is he trying to teach Hal something?
My question is similar to Katie's. The fact that Hal and Falstaff switch places seems significant, but I'm not quite sure why it's so important. I don't know if Falstaff is trying to show Hal that he needs to defend his friends and their actions, or if he's trying to show Hal that if he can't defend his friends, then maybe they aren't true friends after all. I also found it ironic that Falstaff continually described himself as a kind, virtuous, moral man, when clearly, he's not. I don't know if he's trying to be funny, or if behind his joking faccade, he's being serious.
Megan,
I understand totally where you're coming from, but Falstaff still manages to defend himself textually against Hal's bombardment of accusations while they banter out troubles and merely further understand each other on a deeper level than anything other relationship Hal knows. As the prince, himself, Falstaff defends against the actual prince's accusations both as himself and as king saying, "But to say I know more harm/ in him than in myself were to say more than I know./ That he is old, the more the pity; his white hairs do/ witness it. But that he is, saving your reverence, a/ whoremaster, that I utterly deny. If sack and sugar/ be a fault, God help the wicked. If to be old and/ merry be a sin, then many an old host that I know is/ damned. If to be fat be to be hated, the Pharaoh's/ kine are to be loved. No, my good lord..." (2.4.483-491). Even if his rebukes still seem kind and friendly, he understands despite his jolliment how Hal struggles with, I believe, the desire to have friendship but still hold a somewhat Princely role. His soliloquy in act, Scene 2 might support this idea also.
Sorry! I forgot to quote my last entry. Falstaff says of himself, " . . . thou knowest I am as valient as Hercules . . . " He also refers to himself as " . . . a valiant lion . . ." When Hal and Falstaff play the roles of the king and of Hal, Falstaff thinks Hal should say of him, " . . . there is virtue in that Falstaff; him keep with . . ." Does this suggest that maybe Falstaff is trying to show Hal what qualities a friend or role model should posess? Is Falstaff trying to teach Hal to be a virtuous man, because Hal's father is not?
Jimmy-
I like what you said, but I had a different view on things. I'm still not sure what I think exactly though. To me, it seems very possible that Falstaff is just a static character. I agree that he brings a comic approach to everything in life, but that makes his character more linear. The reason Poins and Harry tricked Falstaff was because they anticipated his reaction. If he was so dynamic, he wouldn't be so easy to predict.
Kelly! I loved your insight about the foreshadowing that Hal would become king. I completely looked over that and found it very cool and meaningful. thanks!
6. Like pretty much everyone else, I thought the most important part of this scene was the role play between Hal and Falstaff. Up to this point of the play, it was still unclear why Hal associated with the pub-crawlers. His intentions for the future were clear, but not why he chose to befriend a well-known theif. Now the reader learns what Falstaff has to offer and at the same time Falstaff realizes that he actually is a good role model for Hal. Falstaff isn't as bad as everyone makes him out to be. He points this out to Hal by stating "If sack and sugar be a fault, God help the wicked. If to be old and merry be a sin, then many an old host that I know is damned" (line 415-418). Falstaff isn't so bad afterall, he is just a normal man trying to enjoy life. Falstaff goes on to say "banish not him thy Harry's company...Banish plump Jack, and banish all the world" because Falstaff represents the majority of the people who are just trying to enjoy life and are getting punished for it(lines 423-425). This scene was very interesting and I loved the father-son relationship portrayed by Falstaff and Hal.
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