Henry IV, Act IV, Scene 1 and Instructions
Pub Crawlers and Courtiers: Please post your comment about Act IV scene 1 here.
Directions for Act IV posts. All three posts are due Friday, September 29.
Rebels: Read and think about how to perform 4.1. Read and comment on 4.2 and 4.3. Read 4.4, but no need to post a comment about that scene.
Pub Crawlers: Read and think about how to perform 4.2. Read and comment on 4.1 and 4.3. Read 4.4, but no need to post a comment about that scene.
Courtiers (You will perform a rebel scene): Read and think about how to perform 4.3. Read and comment on 4.1 and 4.2. Read 4.4, but no need to post a comment about that scene.
All groups: Read the comments on Mr. Sale’s class blog, Act IV. Post one comment to a student in that class: http://sale4th.blogspot.com/
posted by Cheryl Makovsky at 8:49 AM
10 Comments:
4/8.
"Rise from the ground like feathered Mercury/ And vaulted with such ease into his seat/ As if an angel [dropped] down from the clouds,/ To turn and wind a fiery Pegasus/ And witch the world with noble horsemanship" (4.1.113-116). Wow, I just really loved these lines. I am rather a fan of anything related to flight and horses because I simply think both have intensely beautiful motion. One cannot think of running of a glorious horse as anything but beautiful, nor think a great bird soaring anything but magnificence. After all, they make it look so easy.
Also, in these lines and the ones just above it, we see more comparisons to horses (in a sense if you consider Pegasus a winged horse, right?), fire, and the sun. This brief passage was simply full of powerful images which emphasized others and brought more to mind. Vernon speaks very well.
Well! I guess I'm not the only one who loved the imagery provided by Vernon. What I imagined when I read this was in the disney Hercules when the Fates where telling Hades that if Hercules lives then he'll destroy him the day the planets align. Just that image of Hercules riding up into the sunlight on Pegasus - that one part. What this means to me is that Vernon is describing Hal almost as a God-like figure and scaring the crap out of Hotspur, "No more, no more!" (4.1.109).
Now, the tables have really turned. Instead of Hal hearing heroic tales of Hotspur it's opposite and Hotspur is feeling the heat.
kell-eh,
I didn't pick up on these lines you mentioned, interesting to point them out, especially because that scene seems to represent a shift in the contrast of Hotspur and Hal. As you said, Hal is now the brilliant hero being talked about by his enemies, not Hotspur. I also noticed that Hotspur's reaction was both similar and different to Hal's reaction on hearing praise of Percy. Both of these young men are eager to prove themselves in battle; Hal says that he will kill Percy and prove his merit and Hotspur says he will kill Hal. But Hotspur, unlike Hal, will not sit idle and listen to such praise for long (again showing his hot-headedness). Instead he cries "No more, no more" and refuses to listen. Thanks for pointing these lines out to me. I must have overlooked them.
Danait--
I like the irony you mention. I hadn't really noticed that before. I also like how you point out how The tables have kind of turned. Now Hotspur is being compared to Hal instead of Hal being compared to hotspur. I think, too, that it really shows a turning point in the play. Hal has been searching for the respect of his father and while he hasn't achieved it yet, He has indeed gained more respect from the rest of the courtiers and his countrymen.
Hey Danait,
I hadn't even noticed the irony you pointed out. Now I definately see instances of how the tables are turning from Hotspur at least a little bit more in Hal's direction. After his conversation with King Henry I think Hal has really started to pull himself together, however Hotspur seems to be losing his edge for battle when all of his advisors have warned him to wait for reinforcements before going off to fight, but Hotspur insists "Tonight, say I!" (IV.iii.21). Hotspur is known for being a great fighter, but skillfull fighting requires caution and forethought, and here Hotspur seems to be becoming rash. Even if Hotspur's troops don't desert, I think his unwillingness to heed advice is foreshadowing the outcome of the battle in Hal's favor.
2. The significance of this scene is Hotspur's reaction to hearing the news of his father's health: he bypasses all concern for his father and busies himself instead with carrying out the plan shorthanded. Hotspur's talk is finally becoming action.
Megan M -
I am also having trouble deciphering Hotspur's actions in the scene, but I take his attitude and comments to be more negative than acting mature. I can definitely see your side to it, and how you would believe that he is being more mature and optimistic when he believes himself capable of fighting without his father, but I also believe he is being led into a false sense of superiority and feeling of greatness. I believe that in the end, Hotspur's actions will lead him to failure, and that his tone and way of life is immature and pointless.
Danaita
I agree that the rebels are begining to doubt their leader Hotspur. Worcester in this scene tells hotspur that they need to present a united front in this fight because the kings forces are so large. Hotspur is becoming nevrvous though during the time of preparation he has been strong. Also he tells his folowers to "go and die merily." Hotspur would rather die for this purpose of avenging his family than bow do this semmingly undefeatable army that is offering him peace.
danait-
As these roles change and the rebels start to fear internal rebellion, we're forced to wonder why? Why would the rebels fear sudden mutiny if their cause was truly just? What does this say about rebellion in general and how Hotspur represents the idea of "rebellion" as the leader of the "front"? Had they been more practical and critical of themselves and their own beliefs, would their following be stronger?
Danait -
Your comments brought forth a quote I hadn't really noticed before and they really placed a whole different perspective on the scene.
You described an interesting turn of events in the play. The whole play is really starting to come together now, the quotes in the beginning that foreshadowed events are starting to make sense, like when Hal says "when men think least I will."
I think we knew all along Hal would rise to glory and Hotspur would fall, simply because the he was at the top and the only place he could go was down. But even though these events were foreshadowed, the way that they are manifesting themselves fits the characters so well.
Anyway, you touched on a subject that I hadn't really noticed before, and I like it!
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