Falstaff And Prince Hal Relationship Essay

1067 Words3 Pages

Jean Renoir, a famous French film director, asked, “Is it possible to succeed without any act of betrayal?” King Henry IV Part Two by William Shakespeare displays a complex relationship between Prince Hal and Falstaff. The relationship between the two men progresses from companionship to alienation; in the end, Prince Hal betrays Falstaff. Shakespeare displays the intense and changing relationship between Prince Hal and Falstaff to highlight the destructive power of greed and how it forces the sacrifice of one relationship in order to gain another. Prince Hal and Falstaff share a close relationship from the beginning. The two men are drinking buddies, and they often visit taverns in Eastcheap together. After staging a robbery, the prince finds that Falstaff comes to him later to lie about the whole situation. Falstaff, not know Hal had planned the robbery, lies about the situation which gives Hal the opportunity to orchestrate his rise to power. On the surface it seems like Hal is just questioning Falstaff, but there is deeper meaning behind Hal’s actions because he now has an opportunity to drive a wedge in the relationship. The bond between the two characters …show more content…

While banishing Falstaff, the actor who plays Hal is overcome with slight guilt for his actions. His voice softens as he offers Falstaff a little money to live off of. Falstaff’s lack of integrity and honesty combined with Hal’s cold and calculating mindset leads to a relationship which falls apart. The broken bond shows a pragmatic, realistic side of life in which one thing must always be given up in order to gain another. Hal had to give up Falstaff in order to please his father so he could gain the throne. The desire to have power and influence is responsible for the demise of Falstaff and Hal’s relationship. Living in a world where everyone is trying to reach the top, who can really be

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