Henry IV Essay: The Case Against Hotpsur

Heroism in Henry IV: The Case Against Hotpsur For me, one of the ultimate acts of heroism in Shakespeare’s Henry IV occurs in Act V, Scene IV of the play when Prince Hal rushes onto the battlefield to save his father, King Henry, from being killed by rebels. The rebellious Douglas is standing over Henry and is about to kill the king just as Hal bursts onto the scene and challenges Douglas: “Hold up thy head, vile Scot, or thou art like / Never to hold it up again!” (41-42). In risking his life for his father, Hal reveals his true courage and nobility in this moment, as previously the prince had been intentionally hiding his noble qualities during the beginning of the play to further his strategies. Hotspur’s arc, on the other hand, is the

In the first scene of the Act I King Henry is proud of Hotspur for playing a pivotal role in an early battle. He claims that it is as if “some night-tripping fairy had exchang’d / In cradle clothes our children,” because the king sees Hotspur more as a son than his own Prince Hal (87-88). But in the end, it turns out that Hotspur is King Henry’s biggest traitor. Hotpsur and his family were responsible for helping Henry IV come to power, but they felt the favor was never repaid, so a rebellion is started in Act II Scene IV against the king in which Hotspur is a leader: “that roan shall be my throne” (74). This reality is a great example of Hotspur’s unheroic self-centeredness. He did not help King Henry become king in the first place because he thought Henry was a good man or would make a good king; he only did it because he wanted something in return. And when he helped to start the rebellion against Henry, he did not do so because he thought Henry was a bad man or a bad king; he rebelled only because he stood to gain power and wealth if he succeeded. Hotspur’s self-centeredness prevents him from being a true

Hotspur constantly acts impulsively throughout the entire play and is never able to see the potential consequences of his actions beyond how he wants the future to play out. For instance, in Act II Scene III Hotpsur is reading a letter from a friend he has recently written too. Hotspur requested for this friend to join him in the rebellion against the king, but the friend states that “The purpose you undertake is dangerous” (12). There is no indication in this letter that the friend was trying to say anything but that the plot was too risky for their participation, but Hotspur immediately jumps to the conclusion that they are going to betray Hotspur’s treason to the king. He leaves at once to join the rebel’s camp, even though it cannot be demonstrated that he was in any real danger at that point at all. Hotpsur is much too rash to be the hero of the play, as heroes are traditionally analytical and