The fact that he disrupted the social order in his grab for power constantly plagues the king who seeks to rationalise and justify his actions, especially by going on the crusade. As a “thief”, Henry struggles to gain the support of the disunified band of rebels. Falstaff often puns on stealing “crowns” to symbolically capture the source of the King’s anxiety. Motif of thief: – parallels between Falstaff, the King and the rebelsĪs the “king of misrule”, Sir John Falstaff is depicted as a contrast to Henry but one that sheds light on the flaws in his leadership.
“I saw young Harry, with his beaver on, His cuisses on his thighs, gallantly arm’d, Rise from the ground like feather’d Mercury, And vaulted with such ease into his seat, As if an angel dropp’d down from the clouds, To turn and wind a fiery Pegasus, And witch the world with noble horsemanship Note once again the celestial image of a noble warrior and the true intentions of Hal. It is the rebel spy, Sir Richard Vernon, who pays Hal a most worthy compliment when he remarks on the remarkable transformation, as earlier predicted by the scheming prince. I shall hereafter, my thrice gracious lord, be more myself Intending to cast off his pretence of idleness, Hal will presumably burn through the clouds and shine radiantly and regally. By breaking through the foul and ugly mists” (I.ii.175–180). While Henry alludes to the lack of “sun-like majesty” of the previous king, Richard II (III.ii.79), who lowers the prestigious nature of royalty, Harry (Henry, Prince of Wales) earlier states that he will “imitate the sun, /. King Henry believes he outshone the “crowned King” because of a royal image, wherein pride and honour were camouflaged by an appearance of humility: “I stole all courtesy from heaven, And dressed myself in such humility, That I did pluck allegiance from men’s hearts, Loud shouts and salutations from their mouths, Even in the presence of the crowned King.” Henry criticises the former leader for being the “skipping king” for his association with the proletariat, and dismisses the pleasures of such classes as “barren” and “lewd acts”. Throughout the play, there is an understated comparison between Henry and Richard II, who unlike King Duncan in Macbeth, is no virtuous king.
Tapping into the celestial motif which Shakespeare uses repeatedly to refer to royalty, King Henry states, “by being seldom seen, I could not stir, But, like a comet, I was wond’red at”. Make sure you refer to strategic comparisons throughout the play …
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