Immediately after Henry IV puts the crown he seized from Richard II on his head he inherits a kingdom's worth of troubles: threats to his legitimacy, Welsh blades itching to find themselves down his throat, and all the weights of statecraft and reputation hanging heavy on his shoulders. The play opens with a speech to this effect: "So shaken as we are, so wan with care/ Find we a time for frighted peace to pant/ And breathe short-winded accents of new broils..." (1.1 1-3) One wonders what this Henry Bolingbroke wants with the powers of Kingship, since the only thing Henry IV seems be be doing with his royal privilege is scrambling to maintain his power from threats internal (Mortimer and Northumberland) and external (the Scots and the Welsh led by Owain Glyndwr). This and his heir-apparent is a constant drag on his reputation.
It is easy to see why the Eastcheap lifestyle of raucous and bawdy merrymaking appeals so much to Prince Harry, considering what his father goes through on a daily basis. Knowingly, Falstaff, his drinking buddy, comments "when thou art a king, as God save thy grace- majesty/ I should say, for grace thou wilt have none-" (1.2 14-15) to suggest that the Prince would no longer be able to enjoy himself when he assumes the throne; he would lose his 'grace'. Prince Harry himself seems to believe he can readily assume the throne when the time comes, looking even better shining against a filthy background: "My reformation, glittering o'er my fault/ Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes/Than that which hath no foil to set it off" (1.2 191-3). On the surface he seems to believe he will be an excellent king, rising like a glorious sun, yet he idles about with thieves rather than practicing statecraft. One wonders if he is ignorant to all of the responsibilities that come with the crown like his beleaguered father as Duke of Lancaster before ascension.
While his son fools around in the underworld King Henry is under assault from all sides. "That great magician, damned Glyndwr" is Henry's known threat, but Hotspur and Northumberland also plot behind his back for the sake of Edmund Mortimer, Hotspur's brother. This is going on while Prince Harry and Poins conspire to play a prank on the fat knight Falstaff. The juxtaposition is marvelous: conspirators in jest with the Prince, and conspirators in warfare within the court. Prince Harry in disguise scares Falstaff away after he robs a fat purse and then goes to return it. In a sense, Prince Harry is governing much more effectively than the titled ruler, who is so consumed with protecting his position that he may as well not even exist to his subjects. Harry is much more real to the people (and more likable) than veiled hell of the court.
4 comments:
Mark, I think that you bring up an interesting point when you write in reference to Prince Harry,that, "on the surface he seems to believe he will be an excellent King". I agree with this statement, as I believe that Prince's Harry's speech in 1.3 is reminiscent of Richard's speech in Scene 3.2 of Richard II where he self-consciously attempts to validate his right to remain King in lieu of Bolingbroke's almost certain usurpation of the throne. By attempting to place blame on Bloingbroke for having committed treason, he attempts to divert attention, both external and subconscious, from his own guilt regarding the murder of the Duke of Gloucester. When in Scene 1.3., Prince Harry then states,"Yet herein will I imitate the sun/ Who doth permit the base contagious clouds/To smother up his beauty from the world," (1.3. 175-177)it seems that he is attempting to redirect the blame for his actions away from himself and onto those he surrounds himself with. By using the word "permit" he makes it seem as though he is performing a charitable act by allowing himself to intermingle with the commoners, when in fact, it is he that chooses to do this, not for the sake of others, but to fulfill his own base desires.
What I find so intriguing about this blog post is the point you bring up regarding these two men thinking that throwing a crown on is all it takes to become king. It is ludacris logic if you really think about it. It is about as irresponsible as it would be for me to throw on a Yankees uniform and hit the field. It would not be a pretty sight, nor is the leading skills of either of the men you speak about. King Henry, I believe, got all caught up in the pursuit to become king that somewhere along the way he got lost in the thrill of the chase. Prince Harry becoming the king is about the equivalent to Charlie Sheen becoming President....crazy!
Sheen for President! ha! Great comment, Meaghan! There's a point there, too, I think. Sometimes I wonder of Charlie Sheen is playing a role--if there's a "method to his madness," to quote from Hamlet. I do think one of the central points of the history plays is that to be a good king, you need to do some acting.
The moment Henry IV puts on the crown, the phrase "with great power, comes great responsibility" comes to mind. It couldn't be more true especially when examining the responsibilities that go with being a king in Shakespeare's world. The troubles he inherits go hand in hand with the immense power that the role of "King" possesses.
Post a Comment