≡Essays on Henry Iv. Free Examples of Research Paper Topics, Titles GradesFixer

Hal Becoming a King: Honor, Democracy and Appearance

The most intriguing character of Henry IV Part I is Prince Harry. This troubled young man struggles with his father’s expectations, his destiny to assume the throne, and his wild friends. Initially he seems little more than a rebellious youth, but he ends the play...

Henry Iv 5 Pages

The Struggle for the Crown

In his histories from Richard II through Henry V to Richard III, Shakespeare depicts the English monarchy as a game between family and friends of vying for a gold ring — the crown. Shakespeare gives his reader a central metaphor through which to see this...

Henry Iv 4 Pages

Analyzing the Construction of the Character of Prince Hal

In the 16th century, Niccolo Machiavelli stated on “The Prince” that leadership came mostly from theatrics. That is to say, to be a good leader one must first be a good actor, or at the very least be convincing enough to get the loyalty of...

Henry Iv 3 Pages

Honorable Rebellion and Dualistic Characters

In Henry IV, Part One, Shakespeare tackles the subject of honorable rebellion, primarily through the duality of the two characters of Prince Hal and Hotspur. Hal is the offspring of King Henry IV, who attained the throne of England through a rebellion against King Richard...

Henry Iv Rebellion 4 Pages

Interpretation of the Significance of Prince Hal’s “Act of Becoming”

One of the main themes in Shakespeare’s King Henry IV, Part 1, is Prince Hal’s “act of becoming” as he moves from Falstaff’s “sweet wag” (I.ii.23) to King Henry’s “fair rescuer” (V.iii.48). The significance of the scenes at Boar’s-Head Tavern, Hal’s role-playing with Falstaff, his...

Henry Iv 2 Pages

The Portrayal and Complexity of Falstaff's Character

Though Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part One is ostensibly about the titular character and his son, the future King Henry V, both Henry’s are constantly upstaged by Sir John Falstaff. Falstaff is one of Shakespeare’s most beloved and enduring characters for a reason; his character contains...

Henry Iv 3 Pages

The Rebellion and Power in Troubled Times

In Henry IV, Shakespeare presents a troubled England with a king whose grip on the throne is tenuous at best. Those who had supported his rise to the throne when he overthrew Richard II are now turning against him. The king even doubts the loyalty...

Henry Iv Rebellion 3 Pages

The Transformation of Harry's Character

Between the events of Shakespeare’s Henry IV and Henry V, King Harry evolves from a playful and wayward son into a celebrated political adept. He forfeits a life of tavern-hopping and petty larceny in favor of becoming one of the most revered kings and military...

Henry Iv 4 Pages

The Charismatic Scoundrel Falstaff

Sir John Falstaff in Henry IV is one of the most outrageous and memorable characters in the entire Shakespearean Canon. His charisma that ensnared even Queen Elizabeth. In fact, the character of Falstaff inspired Shakespeare to write another play, The Merry Wives of Windsor, at...

Henry Iv 3 Pages

Reading Henry V as Part of Tetralogy

Though Henry V can be read and appreciated as a stand alone piece, it is most valuable when considered as part of a tetralogy. The two parts of Henry IV depict the characters and present the initial stages of the conflict in a way that...

Henry Iv 5 Pages

The Undesirable Fate of Falstaff

The world of Shakespeare has many beloved heros and loathed villains, but never so beloved a villain as Sir John Falstaff. Through his comic appearance and endless witticisms, this incorrigible rouge has won the affection of audiences for centuries. Falstaff first appears as the intimate...

Henry Iv 5 Pages

The Significance of Truth and its Depiction

It is good to be the king, they say. What is perhaps not so good is being close enough to the king that you are presented with the opportunity to speak the truth when you clearly see somebody needs and nobody will. Kings, of course,...

Henry Iv 3 Pages

A Multidimensional Story of Making a King

In spite of its title, Henry IV, Part 1 is, without question, the story of a prince as he stands, however uncertainly, on the threshold of kingship. Yet Shakespeare’s literary account of this historical figure is not merely a diary of a royal progeny engaged...

Henry Iv 8 Pages