HENRY IV Selfie from Marian P-S

Henry IV, Part 1 is a historical tale filled with mischief, comedy, and battle. King Henry IV and his son, Prince Hal, have a complicated relationship. King Henry IV wants his son to mature, as he is next in line for the throne, but Prince Hal is more interested in causing trouble with his best friends, Poins and Falstaff. Throughout the play, however, Hal evolves. He takes more responsibility for himself and his life at the request of his father. He goes from acting like a child to acting like a man.

As the play begins to unfold, the audience sees Hal’s daily life. He spends his days with thieves and vagabonds leading a very hedonistic lifestyle. This is a source of tension between Hal and his father, King Henry, because his father wants him to act in a way that is more suited for royalty. Namely, he wants Hal to stop playing around and take his role as heir to the throne seriously. Because Hal and his father do not see eye-to-eye, Hal looks towards Falstaff, his friend and perhaps the closest thing he has to a father-like figure. Falstaff is not the best role model, however. He is a thief and expert exaggerator, but he knows how to have fun.  Hal does not have a well-balanced male example in his life. His father wants him to take on too much responsibility. He forgets that Hal is still young. However, Falstaff encourages Hal to take no responsibility. He does not acknowledge that Hal is prince who needs to have some form of accountability. His father is too strict, but Falstaff is too lax.

The thrust stage set up for Henry IV, Part 1 really placed the audience inside the action. There was more intimacy between the actors and the audience, and the audience was able to grow and evolve with the characters, especially Hal. The actors relied on audience involvement for a few of the scenes. This helped the audience believe that we were part of the plot.  When Hal decides to defend Falstaff, he hands the evidence—a chest containing loot—to an audience member. The audience member is hiding the chest in order to help Hal defend Falstaff. Hal gradually gains the audience’s trust by telling us things he tells neither his father nor Falstaff. The audience becomes Hal’s middle ground between his too strict father and his too lax friend. He allows us to see a side of himself that he does not show anyone else, helping us realize his true nature, and allowing us to see just how much he matures throughout the play.

Hal seems to take part in mischief purely for the fun of it, rather than because he wants to stir up real trouble. When Poins suggests that Hal and he go and steal the loot that Falstaff and friends have stolen, Hal joins in simply so he can listen to the wild fabrications that Falstaff is sure to come up with later. Hal knows where his responsibilities lie. He is under no illusion that he will be able to carry on his hedonistic lifestyle throughout his whole life. Rather, Hal seems to be exorcising his wild ways out of his system before he can no longer participate in any of this. At the beginning of the play, he mentions how he plans to suddenly get rid of his immaturity and wild youth in order to become what the people needs. He says this directly to audience, i.e. the people. Hal knows who he needs to convince of his trustworthiness, and he plays it up, speaking sincerely and directly to his people. He believes that his change of heart will impress the people and get them to trust him more easily once he takes the crown. Hal is calculating and smart; he is just not quite mature.

Falstaff and Hal role-play a meeting with Hal’s father in order to get Hal ready. Falstaff plays King Henry and tells Hal that he should never get rid of Falstaff as a friend. Hal interrupts him, saying that his father would never give him that sort of advice, so Hal and Falstaff switch roles.  Hal as King Henry reprimands Falstaff as Hal for hanging around such bad company. Falstaff tries to defend himself but finds that he cannot win an argument against Hal. This scene is very eye-opening in that the audience realizes that Falstaff is afraid of losing Hal as a friend. However, it also gives Hal a chance to prove himself again. He is a loyal friend. When the sheriff interrupts their “court” looking for Falstaff, Hal tells him to hide, and defends him—a truly honorable act.

When King Henry calls on his son to help him calm the rebels who want to overthrow him, Hal jumps into the action. He commits to fighting with his father in order to overthrow their most determined enemy, Hotspur. Hal does just that. He evolves from a tavern dweller into a warrior, a prince ready to lead a kingdom when the time calls for it. Hal steps up the plate whenever his father most needs him and prevails.  

Henry IV, Part 1 is a historical drama, but, truly, it is also a coming of age story of a young prince on his journey to becoming king material. Hal, although seemingly careless and shallow at first, proves himself to be an intelligent, brave man. He does nothing without intention. Hal does not seek praise or fame, but, rather seems to have the best intentions for his father and his father’s kingdom. He proves his heart to be true and righteous in the end. The way the play was set up—including the audience involvement and staging choices—helped the audience really entangle themselves in what was happening. It also gave them a chance to know things that no characters in the play knew. This makes Hal’s transformation all the more significant. Hal’s evolution has a great outcome—he is finally deserving of the title “Prince of Wales.”