King Henry IV, Part 1 -- Act 1, Scene 2 Reading Blog
When you have finished reading Act I of King Henry IV, Part 1, please post a reading blog for each of the scenes other than the one your acting troupe is performing. Please comment only on Scene 2 of Act 1 on this post. Be sure to label the entry number that you have selected.
Later, come back to the blog and comment on at least one of your classmates' comments. Be sure to indicate which specific comment you're responding to (the person's name), and comment on the appropriate scene's post.
Please complete all three of your comments before we move on to the next act of the play (in this case, before Tuesday, September 12, 2006)
Later, come back to the blog and comment on at least one of your classmates' comments. Be sure to indicate which specific comment you're responding to (the person's name), and comment on the appropriate scene's post.
Please complete all three of your comments before we move on to the next act of the play (in this case, before Tuesday, September 12, 2006)
posted by T Sale at 3:43 PM
10 Comments:
Act 1 Scene 2:
4)
“Thou art so fat-witted with drinking of old sack, and unbuttoning thee after supper, and sleeping upon benches afternoon, that thou hast forgotten to demand that truly which thou wouldst truly know” (1.2.2-6) Price to Falstaff
I felt that this statement was incredibly rude toward Falstaff, yet he seems to take it as just a joke. I think this is a good example of the relationship between Hal and Falstaff that shows them as more than just friends, but as close friends who can play with each other’s feelings and attitudes. I think that this allows for Hal to grow as a person because it allows him to learn when certain actions are appropriate or not, which will help him as the next King.
“You will, chops” (1.2.142) Poins to Falstaff
I think that this barrage of insults to Falstaff regarding his weight and appearance, provide a great barometer for judging the character of Falstaff through his responses to these insults. He seems to play along with them, even attacking himself at some points, showing the reader that Falstaff is comfortable with who he is, which allows him to exert greater influence on those around him.
“Who, I rob? I a thief? Not I, by my faith” (1.2.144). Prince to Poins and Falstaff
I felt that this statement was a very good indicator of Prince’s moral stances and the person for whom he wishes to become, yet it also serves as the ironic cloud that overshadows the Prince. It is inferred that the Prince has robbed before since they are asking him to do it know, yet he puts on this fake air of morality, showing his indecisiveness regarding who he wants to become when he ascends to the throne.
I enjoyed all of these quotes because I believe that they provided an insider’s look at the characters of Falstaff and Hal, which will be invaluable later in the play, as we attempt to understand the actions that they take and why they took them.
7) Hal-
I am the son of King Henry IV. He wants me to be heroic and brave, always calling Hotspur better than I, which only causes me to run from the things that he wants. Yet, I feel that I can no longer always just run. One day, I will be King, and I can not run from expectations as King. Yet, in my escapes I have come to know Falstaff and others in the Tavern crew as my friends, but they only lead to me actions that are not heroic or brave, yet I still do them. Why? Possibly, if I do these things, then change myself and oppose those things, then the world and my father will think more of me because I escaped from the dreadful past that I had been caught in. When Poins asked if I wanted to steal again, I immediately said no, but then thought about the opportunity I had in doing that and then changing. This bound to work, because not only will I look great, but I will also get the riches that I stole. A perfect deal. I am still trying to figure out who I am, yet I think I may have stumbled upon the way to do that. I will just use the others around me in the tavern to accomplish the goals that I have set for myself. This can work. I just have to make sure that it does.
Act 1 Scene 2: Questions:
During their conversation, Falstaff makes an interesting statement:
(I,ii, 81-86) "O, thou hast damnable iteration, and art indeed able to/ corrupt a saint. Thou hast done much harm upon me, Hal/ God forgive the for it. Before I knew thee, Hal, I knew nothing, and now am I, if a man should speak truly,little/better than one of the wicked. I must give over this life, and I/ will give it over. By the Lord and I do not, I am a villain./ I'll be damned for never a king's son in Christendom."
-- Are Falstaff's statements prophetic for Prince Hal's reign and lifestyle?-- Will Hal be condemned and brought to justice for his actions, will he be able to redeem himself, or continue to corrupt the innocent?
-- Furthermore, at the beginning of the scene, Hal accuses Falstaff of being a drunken scoundrel, who can hardly worry about the time of day since he is too busy with his criminal endeavors. Is Shakespeare setting Falstaff up as a fool or madman who can speak words of wisdom, even if they his warnings go unheeded by the Prince?
Act I Scene 2 Robbery Motif
The justification of robbery in the world of the tavern crew is explained by Flastaff. I thought is was interesting how he considers "Purse-taking" a vocation and that no man should be punished for their vocation. He has an honor amoung theives. For example, he follows the moon and not Phoebus. He doesn't want theives hanged, evident when he says he wants to be the judge of theives when Henry is king and Henry replies that he would be a rare hangman. I also thought that Flastaff accepts his fate as a theif in the lines, "I am a villain ..." Finally, I was confused by what Henry meant in his lines, "Thous sayest well . . . as the ridge of the gallows," at the beginning of the scene. Is this Prince Henry insulting thieves?
#4
I love the banter between Falstaff and Prince Hal at the beginning of Scene II. Here is a snippet of it:
Prince- "Unless houres were cups of sack, and minutes capons, and clocks the tongues of bawds, and dials the signs of leaping-houses, and the blessed sun himself a fair hot wench in flame-coloured taffeta, I see no reason why thou...demand the time of day" Falstaff- "...for grace thou wilt have non" Prince- "What, non?" Falstaff- "No, by my troth, not so much as will serve to be prologue to an egg and butter"
Ok, that was long- but do you all understand why I already love Falstaff? He is fat, and let's face it, fat jokes are funny! But he is also clever-- I love how he almost admiringly says "God save thy grace" but then says that Hal doesn't even have enough class to say grace at the supper table! HAHA!
Falstaff: "Yea, and so used it that, were it not here apparent that thou are heir apparent..." Get it, the play on words? Here apparent vs heir apparent-- I thought that was very clever. Little details like these make reading Shakespeare much more interesting!
I'm not going to regurgitate the enirety of the dialogue when Poins enters, but I recommend reading it-- especially if you understand some of the jokes he is making. He basically pokes fun at both Prince Hal and Falstaff. I love when Poins asks Falstaff about how he sold his soul to the devil for some meat and wine. That's some pretty good humor, you have to admit!
Response to Christy’s #7:
Reading through Act 1 Scene 2, the view of Prince Henry’s mind that I saw in the play differed greatly from that of Christy’s view. It seems that Hal is not as emotionally distraught, as you mentioned, because he states that he is not a thief, by saying that “who I rob? I a thief?” (1.2.144). This shows not that he is a person confused about his moral standings and beliefs, but that he is comfortable in who he is. Hal does not give any signs of being emotionally torn between two ideals, but he actually seems to be playing them off of one another, in an attempt to gain and learn from the best that both worlds have to offer for him. This can be seen in his plot to live a life of thievery and then to break out “through the foul and ugly mists of vapors that did seem to strangle him” (1.2.209-210). Since, he is planning on using his changed life away pub-crawlers to enhance society’s opinion of him, I doubt that he would feel guilty for an action he is committing so wantonly. This does not show that Hal is weak and incapable of saying no to Poins and Falstaff, but actually that he is a fairly clever and adept individual who understands the rules of the game. This is view of Hal that I believe is shown in this scene.
3.
Prince Henry, what are you running from? It seems like you are either afraid of your responsibilty as a prince, or you are tired of that responsibility. Is it too much for you, does your father expect too much of you, or do you just want to have a good time with the benefits of having a prince's wallet?
Act I Scene 2:
5. As I read this scene, I continually asked myself questions about Prince Hal and his nature by analyzing his actions towards the others. He begins by being friendly with Falstaff, acting almost like brothers. They plan and scheme for another robbery, and converse about what it is like to be "minions of the moon" (line 26) and thieves.
Yet, as soon as Poins enters, Hal's attitude toward Falstaff changes; he contradicts what he was saying to Falstaff when he says, "Who, I rob? I a thief? Not I, by my faith....Come what will, I'll tarry at home" (lines 134-140). He had just been speaking to Falstaff about a previous robbery on a Monday night, and then as he speaks to Poins and Falstaff, he denies a robbery and says he won't take part in it, only to discuss later with Poins how they will rob the money from Falstaff and the others later. Why such deceipt and dishonesty?
Then, after Poins leaves, Hal reveals that he will use his thievery to reform into a greater man that people will admire for changing, "I know you all, and will awhile uphold/The unyoked humor of your idleness" (lines 188-189), basically displaying how he has decepted all of his thief friends. He is only using them to come out on top in the end as a better person.
What I want to know is--why? Why would Hal decieve people that he acts like friends with? And why does he want to reform into a good person after having played along with the thieves for a while? Does he just want more of a reward than any robbery will get him in the end? Is he trying to teach himself a lesson? Or is he just trying to make his father angry? I don't know...
In response to Matt...
Thanks, you kind of answered a question of mine. You said Hal is using his plan as an excuse to indulge in thievery and his desires, he is not ready to step to the throne, and he does not want to be held accountable for his actions. This all makes sense to me, except, why is he still deceiving/playing games with all of the thieves? Do you think this still has to do with his need to have fun? I also think something with his father must play into this situation. I agree with your idea, but I think there might be more to it, i.e, some underlying motive for his actions in Hal that we have not yet seen.
I also liked your word choice and your response was well organized and thought out.
I am very confused about the relationship between Falstaff and Hal. They are good friends, and enjoy eachother's company, but why? Hal is a young Prince, and Falstaff is an old drunk. Where did their relationship come from, and how why is Hal, a prince friends with the pub crawlers? I also wondered why Poins asks Hal to join him in duping Falstaff out of his robbed goods, when he knows Hal and Falstaff are so close? And if this relationship stands true, why does Hal agree?
As much as this scene confused me, I enjoyed reading of Falstaff and Hal's friendship. They joke and call eachother names, but still remain close friends. I think some of the names Hal calls Falstaff are quite amusing, like "chops" and "fat witted".
I'd like to respond to Kylee's comment. Her comment clarified some of the questions I had in my comment. I wondered why Hal would be friends with the pub crawlers, and as she explained, it was to make the King disapprove. He lies to them and says he wont partake, in another quote i was confused by, but then turns around and plans to fool them with poins.
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