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Hal And The King In William Shakespeare's Henry IV

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Often an individual's actions overshadow their words. What we do when no one is looking has a larger impact on a person’s character than what we do under scrutiny. In Henry IV, Hal emphasizes that rarity and inconsistency is the key to deceiving and emerging as a respectable leader. In Act 1 Scene 2 Hal proclaims his plan of self betterment, by tricking others into believing that he is a disappointment, in order to look more heroic when he steps up as king. Hal spends his time with commoners drinking and acting un-royal to project a poor perspective of himself. He plans to step up and emerge from his false facade when called upon. Hal claims: “If all the year were playing holidays,/ To sport would be as tedious as to work.” Hal states that if he acts royal and of standard at all times, no one would see him as a great ruler. …show more content…

In contrast to Hal’s views, the King claims that association and communication with commoners leaves no space for intrigue. The King States: “That, being daily swallow’d by men’s eyes,/ They surfeited with honey and began/ To loathe the taste of sweetness, whereof a little/ More than a little is by much too much.” The King makes a similar metaphor to Hal’s quote but rather the King claims the commoners will lose respect of Hal because he is always present contrasting Hal’s plan to lay low and suddenly emerge a

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