ipl-logo

Power Struggle In Henry IV And Much Ado About Nothing

1533 Words7 Pages

Shakespeare's history plays are known for their power struggles, but they are the driving force within his comedies as well. The way people seek and wield their power are important themes in Henry IV and Much Ado About Nothing. Prince Hal seems to start off as an ineffectual leader, but is quickly revealed to be an adept and powerful prince. His cunning mind and and relaxed attitude make him well-liked by all. Don Pedro is introduced after having won a war, which shows his strength. However, he is also a fun-loving and observant leader. Prince Hal and Don Pedro are both clever, popular, capable rulers who are able to lead their people while still having fun of their own. As Henry IV opens, the king introduces his son by saying that “riot and …show more content…

When King Henry IV scold's Prince Hal for spending too much time with the commoners, he uses a similar analogy to the prince's own line of thought. Prince Hal is compared to the sun, that should only shine so often to be better appreciated. While Prince Hal sees his goodness and virtue and the light from the sun, the king sees it as the royal presence. He condemns the prince for being too seen, “For thou has lost thy princely privilege With vile participation: not an eye But is a-weary of thy common sight” (3.2.86-88). This difference in their rationalism shows who has the superior viewpoint on public perception. Not only are the people still enamoured by Prince Hal, even his enemy is in awe. Sir Vernon describe his siting of the prince with a certain reverence. “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” (4.1.103-107) For Prince Hal to not only have such powerful foresight on public image, but also for his battle with Hotspur, indicates that he will become a wise

Show More
Related

  • A Rhetorical Analysis Essay On Patrick Henry

    459 Words  | 2 Pages

    He uses ethos to persuade the audience by saying "sir were not ewak", reference to God, the credibility when he talks about God. God is a more credible person than the king. Patrick henry uses questions towards the audience like "are fleets and armies necessary to work of love and reconciliation?" He gets the audience to believe that his decision is a good decision, and that he can bring any fight or war and win like it was nothng.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Honor In Henry IV

    1245 Words  | 5 Pages

    Honor in Shakespeare’s Play Henry IV, Act One (The View of Honor in the Eyes of Falstaff and Hotspur in Shakespeare’s Play Henry IV, Act One) In Shakespeare’s play, Henry IV, Part One, two characters define what honor is to them. Hotspur and Falstaff are two different characters completely, one is a son of a nobleman and the other is a thief. Hotspur is son to Earl of Northumberland, making him the heir as well, the nephew of Earl of Worcester, and a good warrior too. The real name of Hotspur is Harry Percy, a member of the Percy family, which helped King Henry IV gain his power.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death

    1000 Words  | 4 Pages

    Henry tries to show the audience a different viewpoint, rather than discrediting their own. During his speech, Henry made biblical references such as “ Different men often see the same subject

    Read More

  • Henry V And Henry V Comparison

    1093 Words  | 5 Pages

    Shakespeare’s play, Henry V, portrays the newly crowned king of England, King Henry V, as a committed, fearless, and relentless leader. France is England’s archenemy and their relationship only worsens after the Dauphin delivers a mocking message to England’s new king. The Dauphin frequently ridicules the English and King Henry, whereas, the King of France, Charles VI, does not underestimate Henry and his people as his son does. (Source B) Throughout the play, the two leaders display their differences in terms of personality, leadership, communication skills, and ethics.

    Read More

  • Logos And Ethos In Henry David's Civil Disobedience

    610 Words  | 3 Pages

    But they put themselves in a level with wood and earth and stones [...] than men of straw or a lump of dirt’’. Henry’s ethos shows the audience of his strategy of going against the government corruption. Henry’s speech was well-planned out to shows his audience of his experience when rebelling the government; in addition, receiving forced punishment for not paying his poll-tax. He thought out things that made himself to commit this disobedience against the government and wanted to express his experience of his ideas and strategy to disobey the government.

    Read More

  • The Red Badge Of Courage: A Soldier's Dilemma

    802 Words  | 4 Pages

    Henry’s flawed nature and inner desire to be morally upright are revealed as he escapes the battle and as he justifies himself

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Devices In Patrick Henry's Speech

    800 Words  | 4 Pages

    His choice of language is effective at evoking emotion. Through rhetorical questions, Henry was able to emphasize his points, and grab the audience’s attention, creating an emotional effect on the listeners. “Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?” These statements prove the speaker’s argument and stir the audience’s emotions.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Patrick Henry And Thomas Jefferson

    854 Words  | 4 Pages

    The implication is that the people are being ruled. Henry used his skills in speech to persuade the Council or Parliament that trying to rule over others was wrong. He spoke out against the way things had always been done and

    Read More

  • Historical Inaccuracies In Julius Caesar

    1050 Words  | 5 Pages

    Some playwrights choose to write plays about historical events, among them there is The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, a play that describes the downfall of the rule of Julius Caesar, but is also a play that is not as truthful as it first impressionably is, a complete truthful account of Julius Caesar’s assassination and the events leading up to it. In order to greater attract the audience, Shakespeare, along with other playwrights, relied on adding historical inaccuracies to add the necessary suspense. Thus, Shakespeare strayed away from historical events occurring during Caesar’s lifetime, implementing inaccuracy into the story. Shakespeare based one of his most well-known plays, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, on historical events that includes

    Read More

  • Richard III Is Evil Essay

    1571 Words  | 7 Pages

    Was Richard III Evil? Richard III was a power hungry king in the play of William Shakespeare. During the beginning of the play Richard III represents himself as a self-made criminal; he makes his malicious intention known in every speech to the audience. Richard works his way up to the throne by murdering his rivals. Was Richard III evil?

    Read More

  • Literary Devices Used In 'Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death' By Patrick Henry's Speech

    1044 Words  | 5 Pages

    This shows that Henry is patriotic, yet still his own character. Henry is trying to grant the audience a diverse viewpoint, rather than discrediting their

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Hamlet And Machiavelli

    910 Words  | 4 Pages

    Through all these conflicting characteristics, a side of Hamlet is seen in a new light; a Machiavellian prince. This aspect of Hamlet is the ruthless and cunning tactician who is open to using deceit for his own ends. Machiavelli, in his book 'The Prince ', shows a set of guidelines and philosophical arguments for a ruler to embody. He states that a ruler cannot always be virtuous and good as different situations could lead him to evil and inhumane acts as shown in his statement "learn how not to be good"(Machiavelli, Ch. XV). Machiavelli also stakes his point on a ruler been versatile with his analogy of the fox and lion.

    Read More

  • Prince Henry's Speech Analysis

    705 Words  | 3 Pages

    In addition to showing the serious side of Prince Henry, the speech foreshadows events to come while referencing Hal’s previous commitment to his ‘reformation’. Prince Henry’s vow to kill Percy predicts Hal’s victory over Hotspur and restoration of honor, which take place in V.4. The outcome of the play mirror Hal’s dramatic speech, as his honor was restored and Hotspur was killed. However, Hal’s speech in III.2 was presupposed by his monologue in the end of act I.2, where Hal states “And, like bright metal on a sullen ground, /

    Read More

  • Othello Power Analysis

    1029 Words  | 5 Pages

    Power is often the root at which conflicts begin. As those on the bottom attempt to gain power and those at the top of the power dynamic attempt to consistently degrade those below them to prevent them from gaining influence. In William Shakespeare’s Othello, the surprise, seemingly societally transcendent, ability for Othello to gain power and Othello to be able to marry Desdemona, is immediately followed by those in power trying to relieve Othello of his role in society, leading Othello to even attempt to exert his own power. The powerful men of Othello attempt to destroy and subjugate the lives of others to prevent them from advancing and maintaining power.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Duality In Shakespeare's Henry V

    538 Words  | 3 Pages

    Henry’s temper is hard for him to control because he is sometimes faced with situations when he cannot distinguish between King Henry and friend Henry. This duality, paired with the duality that is being a king is an obvious cause for confusion and rage. Henry had such a strong bond with his old friends, that when his new friends were so quick to betray him he was deeply hurt. Another time Henry exhibits incomplete control of his temper is during the battle of Agincourt. Throughout the battle, Henry’s soldiers have taken many French soldiers prisoner and seem to have the advantage.

    Read More

More about Power Struggle In Henry IV And Much Ado About Nothing

Open Document