Family Dynamics In Henry IV

Final Exam
I Henry IV
4- What is the role of family dynamics in I Henry IV?
In I Henry IV, family dynamics play a significant role, particularly between the King and his son Hal. In the beginning, the King openly states that he wishes Hotspur was his son instead, and that he envied that the Earl of Northumberland “should be father to so blest a son” (I Henry IV 1: I:77-80). Hal on the other hand, though aware of how his father and other view him, reveals to the audience that is all part of his plot to surprise everyone when he reveals himself to be just as worthy if not more so than Hotspur. Hotspur on the other hand, is pushed to turn against the King due to the latter’s refusal to free Hotspur’s brother-in-law Mortimer and even stated that

However, despite Cornelia insisting that she loved him, he cast her out, only to realize later that the real betrayal would come from his remaining daughters. Fearing Lear to be “old and reverend” (Lear 1: IV: 247), Goneril and Regan decide to rid themselves of their father and leave him to fend for himself in a fierce storm. Cornelia on the other hand, comes back to aid her father, despite how he treated her and practically disowned her. Feeling ashamed of how he treated her, but she does not rebuke him for his mistakes, instead she is worried about his current state saying that she wishes to “repair those violent harms that my two sisters have in thy reverence made” (Lear 4: VII: 32-34). Hence, Lear and Cordelia are able to reconcile, further proving the strength of Cornelia’s love for her father. Without such a reconciliation, Lear would have likely gone mad and perished at the hands of Cornelia’s treacherous

For instance, Caliban is treated rather poorly by Prospero, as seen when he calls for Ariel saying “Fine apparition, my quaint Ariel, hark in thine ear” (Tempest 1:II:319-320), but addresses Caliban by yelling saying he is a “poisonous slave, got by the devil himself” (Tempest 1: II:383). Therefore, it soon becomes clear that Ariel is the preferred servant because he does Prospero’s bidding without resisting nearly as much as Caliban does. As for the reason for resisting Prospero, Caliban states that the island belongs to him, and Prospero has “takest from me…and here you [Prospero] sty me…whiles you do keep from me the rest o’ th’ island” (Tempest 1: II:396-411). Going back to Ariel, although he is also someone who wishes for liberation, he differs form Caliban in that we at least know that Prospero “did promise to bate [Ariel] a full year” (Tempest 1:2:297-298). Therefore, while Ariel also longs for freedom from Prospero, unlike Caliban, Ariel has been given a promise of liberty. Hence, Ariel is more willing to serve Prospero until the promise is fulfilled and freedom is bestowed upon