PRINCE HAL : THE MACHIAVEL, THE MADCAP PRINCE OR THE IDEAL KING?

Assessing the character of the Prince - Henry IV Part 1

ObjectivesAt the end of the class you should be able

to: 1. Know the three main critical

perspectives on the character of Prince Hal

2. Identify and select appropriate textual support for each perspective

3. Evaluate the merits of each perspective and defend your perspective to the class

Synthesize information to determine whether it has changed their view of the play’s wider issues

Who was Prince Hal? The historical figure of Harry Monmouth,

the heir of Henry Bolingbroke was to become one of the most successful British rulers during the years of chaos and civil war before the Tudor reign

As King, the historical Henry V was a warlord and a staunch Christian who disapproved of his father’s illegitimate kingship and led England to war against Wales when he was a teenager

Who was Prince Hal (cont’d) He successfully brought a brief end to

civil war that Britain had known for many years.

There is no historical proof that Hal was a dissolute son who frequented taverns but there is adequate evidence to show the estrangement between Hal and his father

The Historical Henry V

Shakespeare’s Hal Despite his historical image,

Shakespeare’s Hal seems to be a combination of a mischievous youth, a wayward son, an astute politician, a brave warrior, and an entertaining friend

His youth is always emphasized The Henriad in fact traces Hal’s

development from a boy to a man/king.

Shakespeare’s Hal

Statue of Hal at Stratford-on-Avon

Critical Perspectives There are three most common

interpretations of the motivations for Hal’s actions in the play:

1. He is cold calculating and politically motivated and thus uses his tavern associates for his own ends;

2. He is a wayward youth who learns better and accepts responsibility;

3. He is a messianic, ideal figure whose meteoric transformation saves England

Impact of Perspective Hal can be seen as one of the

barometers of the play; the perspective with which one sees Hal can determine how one reads the entire work.

The Machiavel

What is the Machiavel? The term Machiavel is derived from the

name of Nicholas Machiavelli, one of the first great modern voices in political and moral theory.

His handbook for rulers called ‘The Prince’ detailed the mindset necessary for successful rulers:

The Machiavel (cont’d) A ruler should forget about notions of virtue and

morality. The essential quality of a ruler was the effective use of power to guarantee his own survival

The ruler was not above lying cheating etc to maintain power

He was not bound by Christians notions of virtue but could wrap himself in the appearance of virtue if it would further his cause

He is an actor, and a hypocrite, who can adjust his looks and his talk to meet any particular situation.

The Machiavel (cont’d) Machiavels are, first and foremost,

experts at adopting a language suitable for any situation. 

Because Machiavels are committed to using language deceitfully, it is often very  hard for us to figure out what they really mean

The essential nature of the Machiavel is often very difficult, if not impossible to discern

Let’s Talk..Does this description remind you of any

characters in the play?

Give your reasons…

Let’s Look and Listen… Look at a performance of Hal’s crucial

soliloquy in Act I scene 2 Make notes on how this soliloquy may

contribute to the reading of Hal as a Machiavel

Is there anything in the tone or delivery that disproves this reading?

How does this reading impact on the way you now view the play?

The Madcap Prodigal Prince

The Madcap Prodigal (cont’d) This perspective sees Hal as harmless,

mischievous, reckless and childish. It shows this as an inalienable part of his

character that is not totally lost despite his transformation at the end of the play

It sees his time in the tavern as a desire for the fun and affection that he cannot receive at court, a place incompatible with his personality

The Madcap Prodigal (cont’d) The mad cap is eccentric, does not

follow established rules of order and behaviour,

Is principally concerned with pleasure and enjoyment and shuns responsibility

Puts emotional attachments before responsibility

In this reading Hal’s change is only partial and as a result of chastisement by his father

His transformation is the inevitable return to the fold of one who has lived out his boyhood fantasies

The Mapcap Prodigal (cont’d) This reading focuses on his youthful

energy and emotional attachment to Falstaff.

It examines Hal’s protection of Falstaff at the end of the play and the lack of a clean break between them

How plausible is this reading? At the end of the play do we see a fully transformed Prince or a transformation that has only just begun?

Let’s Look and Listen… Let us look at this scene from the play.

Do you think they validate this reading of the Prince’s character?

Does this reading change your perspective on the play?

The Ideal King

What is Shakespeare's Ideal King? In Prince Hal, Shakespeare is offering us

mature modern political leadership - a king with the "common touch.”

In this reading Hal provides the balance between the world of the tavern and the world of the court and as a result is Shakespeare’s ideal ruler

Hal as the Ideal Hal is construction as having the

makings of the ideal rule:1. He has innate nobility through his blood

and has not himself transgressed political authority like his father

2. He has received a liberal education in the tavern (language, values etc) that allows him to be a true leader of all Britain

3. He chooses to accept responsibility and is the only character that develops and changes

Hal as the Ideal (cont’d) He has the combined skill of multiple

‘languages’, martial ability, character development and the added blush of a fairy-tale transformation and redemption

He is associated with allusions to Christian sacrifice and images i.e. blood as purifier, self sacrifice, prodigal son etc

While his transformation is not complete at the end of the play, it is well under way

Lets Look and Listen… Let us look at Hal’s tributes to Hotspur

and Falstaff in the final battle…

Do they contribute to this reading of Hal’s character?

How has this impacted on your view on the entire play?

Your Turn! Having examined three readings of Hal’s

character, get into three groups and search the play for a few instances of detailed textual support (illustrations and quotations) for one of the perspectives

Share them with the class and defend the validity of your interpretation

Review The character of Hal can be viewed as:1. The Machiavel- an astute political

leader who uses his time in the tavern to make his transformation for politically valuable;

2. A Mad Cap Prodigal- a mischievous, youthful boy whose transgressions were harmless rebellion. He learns responsibility an comes back to the fold of his father

3. Ideal King – represents the balance between the worlds and develops and grows during the play