Expectations of Kingship in Henry IV by William Shakespeare

Expectations of Kingship in Henry IV by William Shakespeare

Henry IV is a play that concerns itself with political power and kingship in English history. References to kingship are prevalent throughout the play, especially in the depiction of the characters. Although most of the characters in this play could teach us about kingship, I would like to focus my attention to Prince Henry. I think that this character helps us to best understand what kingship meant at this particular time in history.

First, it is important to get a background on Prince Henry and his lifestyle. He is not what you would consider a typical prince. Instead of making appearances as the royalty that he was, he would frequently be seen at the local bar drinking with the common folk. Due to his unacceptable behavior, he has acquired a bad reputation throughout the land, and even with his father, King Henry IV. His character is even further discredited because of the low-life drunks that are his friends. As you can see, Prince Henry is not as proper and well behaved as you would expect with nobility.

King Henry was not very proud or accepting of his son. This is shown very early in the play when he speaks about him to Westmoreland. The king states:

Yea, there thous mak’st me sad, and mak’st me sin

In envy that my Lord Norhtumberland

Should be the father to so blest a son;

A son who is the theme of honour’s tongue,

Amongst a grove the very straightest plant,

Who is sweet Fortune’s minion and her pride;

Whilst I by looking on the praise of him

See riot and dishonour stain the brow

Of my you Harry. O that it could be proved

That some night-tripping fairy had exchanged

In cradle-clothes our children where they lay,

And called mine Percy, his Plantangent (EL 486)!

Basically, the King is saying that he is very envious of Lord Northumberland’s son (Hotspur), because he is so honorable and praiseworthy. He wishes it could be proved that a fairy exchanged their children because Hotspur was a well-noted warrior, while his son was disreputable low-life.

We see Prince Henry being compared to Hotspur many times in this play. I think that it is trying to show how Hotspur is the true example of royalty, not Hal. When King Henry talks to his son in Act 3, Scene 2, he lets him know how he feels that Hotspur is more worthy of the throne then he is.