Comparing Prince Hal And Henry’s Models Of Statescraft Essay, Research Paper

Comparing Prince Hal and Henry’s Models of Statescraft

To compare the difference between King Henry and Prince Hal’s style of

statecraft, first we have to understand the basic philosophy of each. The King

belives that to effectively lead the country one needs to lead by example.

According to the King’s philosophy the best man is the one who lives a pure life

and garners respect and honor from all men. To the King’s way of thinking

Hotspur is more fit to be a King than Prince Hal, a comparison the King makes

several times. In Act I, scene i King Henry makes his first comparison of

Hotspur to his son saying that Lord Northumberland’s son, Hotspur, was “A son

who is the theme of honour’s tounge…” while Prince Hal was stained by “…riot

and dishonor….” In fact the King goes so far as to wish that Hotspur was his

his son and not Prince Henry. Later in Act III, scene ii King Henry tells the

Prince that Hal reminds him of the way King Richard acted before Henry took the

throne and that Hotspur reminds the King of himself. This is the King’s not so

subtle way oftelling Hal that the King doesn’t think he is fit to suceed him to

the throne.

Prince Hal on the other hand has a different idea of statecraft. He expresses

his ideas in his speech in Act I, scene ii when he says “If all the year were

playing holidays, To sport would be as tedious as to work; But when they seldom

come, they wish’d-for come,…My reformation glitt’ring o’er my fault, Shall

show more goodly and attract more eyes than that which hath no foil to set it

off.” He is saying that he may be acting like a common ruffian now but when he

does take up his duties as heir to the throne and begin to act like a prince he

will shine more in the eyes of men because his actions now will provide a

contrast by which they can judge him. It is important to note that Hal does not

plan to spend the rest of his life acting in this manner. He does plan to leave

this life behind and take on the role of heir apparent to the throne of England.

In Act III, scene ii when the King confronts Hal about his delinquencies Hal is

quick to agree with the King. He admits that he has not acted the part of a

prince and humbled by the condemnation of the King swears a vow to redeem

himself or die trying. He so impresses the King that he is given command of an

army and then goes on to preform heroically on the field of battle, saving the

King’s life and ultimately defeating Hotspur in single combat.

At first it would seem that the King’s idea of proper statecraft and the proper

way for a prince to act won out since Hal put aside his old ways and became the

ideal the King had wished for. I think that Hal’s position and the King’s

position were not that different at all. As shown in the previous quote from Act

I, scene ii it was always Hal’s plan to leave the life he was leaving and return

to the ‘ideal’ that the King wanted. The Kings speech in Act III, scene ii might

have been the catylst but if Hal had never valued the ideals of the King the

speech alone would never have pushed him to the actions which he later preformed.

I think the King’s speech simply served to show Hal that now was the time to put

the old ways behind him.

There are at least two good reasons for Hal to have behaved the way he did. The

first is that by consorting with men like Falstaff he was able to learn how

things really were in the kingdom. It is very hard for a King living in luxury,

removed from the everyday life of the people to know how the populous feels and

to do a good job of governing them. King Henry, ruling from afar was an

impressive figure to the common man in England but it must have been hard for

him to relate to that common man. Prince Hal is going to become an impressive

figure to the common man but because of the way he lived previously he will also

be able to relate to the common man and thus better govern.

The second reason why it was good for Hal to behave the way he did is one of

self-preservation. King Henry complained that Hal was not like Hotspur, always

seeking glory in battle and commanding respect from men twice his age but if Hal

had been like Hotspur I think King Henry would have felt threatened. I think

that most Kings must fear thier successors to some degree. If Hal had been like

Hotspur I believe King Henry would have always been looking over his shoulder

worried that Hal might try to speed Henry’s demise so that he could assume the

throne. To protect himself Henry might have made Hal’s life miserable perhaps

had him placed effectively under house arrest or even killed if the paranoia

went far enough. Because Hal played the errant prince he posed no threat to the

King, indeed he showed no care for courtly duties at all. It was wise for Hal to

put himself in a non-threatening position until such a time as the King needed

him to take a stronger role. Because Hal took up his role as heir apparentat the

King’s request the King had no reason to feel threatened by it.

The differences between Hal’s model of statecraft and that of the King are not

great. Hal’s model is merely a refined version of the King’s and in its slight

differences it is a better version because they allow him to make himself into a

person better fit to govern and at the same time allow his father to continue in

his duties without spending time and effort to make sure his position is secure

from his own son.

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