King Henry -- Act 2, Scene 3
Please post your comment for Scene 3 of Act 2 here.
Instructions for Act 2 blogs:
Everyone read 2.1 and 2.2, but no need to blog about these scenes.
Rebels:
• Read and think about how to perform: Scene 3.
• Blog about scene 4 (blog 1: lines 1-337 {end at Falstaff: “Ah, no more of that Hal an thou lovest me.”}; blog 2, lines 338-end {begin with Hostess: “O Jesu, my lord the Prince –“)
Pub Crawlers:
• Read and think about how to perform Scene 4, lines 1-337 (begin performance with line 115 – Poins: “Welcome, Jack, where hast thou been?”)
• Blog about scene 3 and the second half of scene 4--lines 338-end
Courtiers—There is no Court scene in Act II, so Courtiers will do a tavern scene. You’ll rehearse in the court space and perform in the tavern space. You’ll use the pub-crawlers’ costumes provided by that acting company.
• Read and think about how to perform Scene 4, lines 338-end.
• Blog about scene 3 and Scene 4, lines 1-337.
In addition, All students will comment to another person in the class on the class blog for a total of 3 comments on the Act II class blog.
Instructions for Act 2 blogs:
Everyone read 2.1 and 2.2, but no need to blog about these scenes.
Rebels:
• Read and think about how to perform: Scene 3.
• Blog about scene 4 (blog 1: lines 1-337 {end at Falstaff: “Ah, no more of that Hal an thou lovest me.”}; blog 2, lines 338-end {begin with Hostess: “O Jesu, my lord the Prince –“)
Pub Crawlers:
• Read and think about how to perform Scene 4, lines 1-337 (begin performance with line 115 – Poins: “Welcome, Jack, where hast thou been?”)
• Blog about scene 3 and the second half of scene 4--lines 338-end
Courtiers—There is no Court scene in Act II, so Courtiers will do a tavern scene. You’ll rehearse in the court space and perform in the tavern space. You’ll use the pub-crawlers’ costumes provided by that acting company.
• Read and think about how to perform Scene 4, lines 338-end.
• Blog about scene 3 and Scene 4, lines 1-337.
In addition, All students will comment to another person in the class on the class blog for a total of 3 comments on the Act II class blog.
posted by T Sale at 3:05 PM
9 Comments:
Act 2 Scene 3
7)At the beginning of this scene, Lady Percy is curious about why her husband looks faint and is out of bed (lines 36-41). She is worried because she has heard rumors of war because Hotspur speaks words such as trenches, prisoners’ ransom, and slain soldiers. Though Hotspur will not be honest with her, she suspects that it has to do with her brother, Mortimer (line 81). Because Hotspur is not honest, Lady Percy feels that he does not love her and that she does not love herself (lines 96-100). She is upset and wants Hotspur to prove that she loves him by answering the question directly, instead of acting like a, “mad-headed ape.” At the end of the scene, Hotspur does convey his love to her, but also that he does not trust enough to share his plot. Though Lady Percy is annoyed by this, she believes she must be content with his decision because of Hotspur’s force.
#7, Act II, Scene iii, Hotspur
I've finally received responses to all my letters seeking support-- we will unseat this king. He shows little respect for his advisors-- those of us who allowed him to gain the title of "King of England"! We must go to the castle and destroy him and his disloyal, pub-crawling, drunken son who dares to call himself "Prince". I may spend the remainder of my life mounted atop a horse, fighting against this pitiful man, and "that roan shall be my throne"! (65) Ah, here comes my wife again-- she's been asking all day why I must leave, why I don't act as I usually do. She doesn't understand the serious nature of this revolution-- I think that "this is no world/ To play with mammets, and to tilt with lips./ We must have bloody noses, and cracked crowns" (86-88). Cracked crowns, indeed-- the cracked crown of the King I was once willing to sacrifice myself to save. But this is my fate, a secret plot, too dangerous for even my wife to know. She says, "in faith,/ I'll know your business" (74-75), to which I can merely reply that she is "but yet a woman, and for secrecy/ No lady closer, for I well believe/ Thou wilt not utter what thou dost not know. / And so far will I trust thee" (103-107).
For our protection, she must be kept ignorant of the future, of my bloody future. This is my life, spent in peril for my fellow men, to ensure that only the rightful heir to the throne wears the royal crown upon his head.
Question:
Did Hotspur tell Lady Percy he did or didn't love her at the end? I was confused by that, and why couldn't he tell her, does he not trust her?
In response to Steph's comment, her second question, I don't think Hotspur and his gang are going to stay together through the whole rebellion. I think that one of them will step out and give up the rest of them to the king. It seems that Hotspur and his hot head may get them into trouble, with his big mouth. Worcester was the only one to get him to calm down and reason, but Worcester won't always be there to cool him down.
Act 2 Scene 3
1)In the beginning of this scene Hotspur reads a letter from a nobleman that he had asked to join the rebellion. The nobleman refused in his letter saying that the plan is not well thought out enough. Hotspur is worried that the nobleman will reveal his plan to the king, so he decides to go join his allies and start the rebellion.
Lady Percy comes in and becomes upset when Hotspur tells her he is leaving. She comments on his recent behavior and asks him to tell her what he is planning. Hotspur ignores his wife as she gets more angry and demands aswers. Hotspur bedomes angry with Lady Percy. He tells her that he does not love her, and refuses to tell her what he is planning. He tells her that he will send for her and that she can follow him the next day.
Act 2 Scene 3
Response to SOME of Steph's questions:
I think the letter that Hotspur read at the beginning was from a nobleman that refused to join the rebellion and pointed out the weaknesses in Hotspur's plan
I think Lady Percy has a vague idea of what is going on with Hotspur, but she is becoming frustrated with him, which is why she demands answers
I think Hotspur does truly love Kate. This scene is just another example of his hot-headedness. He loves her, but he quickly loses his temper with her.
I don't think that Hotspur and Kate's relationship will really develop at all. The impression that I got was that this scene was a portrayal of a typical interaction between the two. Hotspur's hot-headedness interfere's with all aspects of his life, including his relationship with his wife.
6.
Hotspur's rough and warrior character is softened by his wife, Kate.
At first, Hotspur is sarcastic to Kate; she asks what takes him away and he responds that it is his horse. In this way, it is apparent that Hotspur wants to leave his questioning wife and be on his way. He also tells her in lines 90-93 that the world is not a place for dolls but a place for bloody noses and broken skulls. His mind is on war. Even when he sleeps, Hotspur speaks of battles, with sweat on his brow. Hotspur is so anxious to leave that he tells Kate he does not love her.
However, the longer Hotspur is with Kate, the more calm and gentle he becomes. She reveals that she is hurt by his comment that he does not love her and by his anxiety to leave her. This causes him to break down his barrier toward her and reveal his care for Kate. Hotspur is still anxious to go, but he says: "when I am o' horseback, I will swear I love thee infinitely"
(100). He then goes on to describe Kate as gentle, and even expresses regret that he must leave her. Hotspur also tells Kate that "today will I set forth, tomorrow you" (115). This implies that Hotspur desires for Kate to be with him.
Although Hotspur is of rough character and driven to war, his character melts in the presence of his gentle wife.
Act 2 Scene 3
6. Hotspur and Katherine's relationship is definitely a love/hate relationship. They are back & forth, hot & cold, and in this scene, there is much tension and some sort of animosity.
There is no trust whatsoever in their relationship. Katherine does not know of any of Hotspur's affairs; she only knows what she has heard him mutter in his sleep, which cannot feel very reassuring to her as a wife. It must be hard to realize that your husband is being distant and keeping secrets. She says, "Some heavy business hath my lord in hand, And I must know it, else he loves me not" (lines 62,62). She wants Hotspur to appreciate and love her, yet he won't confide in her his life and business.
Love, also, is a very sensitive subject between these two, and the word is tossed around in circles in the scene. After just having screamed at eachother to get away Katherine says, "Do you not love me? do you not indeed? Well, do not then; for since you love me not, I will not love myself" (lines 94-95). Katherine wants her husband to love her and is frustrated with his nonaffectionate side towards her. He does not even answer her plea if he loves her. He simply says he must leave.
What a messed up marraige.
In response to Staci...
Wow! That was very creative and I connected and related to everything you were illustrating Hotspur as thinking. What an awesome job!
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