In Shakespeare’s play, King Henry IV Part 1, Hotspur’s speech to King Henry, in attempt to explain why he did not free prisoners when ordered to do so by the courtier, employs that he is an impetuous leader that is incapable of consistently obtaining respect. Hotspur says that the courtier confronted him after the battle, and that the man was, “neat, and trimly dressed, / Fresh as a bridegroom” (I.3.32-33). The man is composed and feminine, which prominently disgusts Hotspur. His repugnance of “neat” is looked down upon by King Henry, and is not respected by those Hotspur entails respect from. Hotspur is a hasty soldier that evidently contains no tolerance for weakness, fear, or even the slight details of courtly behavior.
In return, Henry is respectful when trying to appeal to his audience, formally acknowledging and complimenting “the very worthy gentleman” (line 3) at the convention. Henry repeats how important knowing “the whole truth” (line 32) is to him in lines 17, 25, and
Henry reveals from the beginning that he has admiration for other people's pieces of work. By sateing this the audience will see Henry as a respectful human being. Henry repeated says gentle men at the beginning of his speech as an effort to gain the men in the audience's respect. “...not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen...” Henry forces a respectful manner from himself to the audience from the beginning to inforse a bond.
“ Nobody can acquire honor by doing wrong,” Thomas Jefferson once declared. The people of Thomas Jefferson's time had high standards towards honor. They were more chivalrous, polite, respectful, considerate, refined, courteous, they paid more attention to morals and ethics. Even in the early days of man honor was something that was held above all else, it was coveted, something that people strove for. Julius Ceasar once stated, “ I love the name of honor, more than I fear death.”
Sir Pellinore demonstrated how dishonor can be your doom and could lead to your death, exhibiting how important honor is. Given these points, it’s fair to say that “The Wedding of King Arthur” is indeed an exemplary text trying to instruct the viewer to be honorable. In the end, the choice is yours; honor doesn’t have as much importance in our society as it did in Arthur’s, yet you could still use it as an inspiration for your own code of
In Nicholls essay, The Testing of Courtesy at Camelot and Hautdesert, the author argues that courtesy serves to mask the true desire for violence in King Arthur’s court. “ Politeness is a veneer over the violence latent in human affairs and courtesy…[it] acts as a restraining
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight In the Pearl Poet’s Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, an epic story emerges to reveal a man’s journey of honor, honesty, valor, and loyalty. Throughout Gawain’s adventures in the poem, he discovers and demonstrates his own chivalric qualities. Although he makes a few mistakes along the way he strives to be an honorable man.
William Shakespeare’s Henry V is an extraordinary , determined, and a skilled figure. Henry V has the ability to communicate with people in such a way that it gives them motivation and hope. He demonstrates this by speaking to his troops in a manner that makes them all feel valued, no matter their social class. Henry’s greatest known speech is the “band of brothers” speech. This speech captivated everyone’s attention, not only because Henry did a great job in getting his feelings across, but because Henry spoke to all his men with respect regardless of who they were, or where they came from.
The differences between the texts are very minimal and could easily be overlooked when someone would compare the two versions; yet, the difference is important to Falstaff’s message. In Q1, Falstaff questions what is contained in and associated with the word honor as well as what honor is in general. As a commoner, Falstaff does not view honor as an essential part of his life, so he does not fully understand the mass amount of importance that the noblemen place on honor. During his monologue he says, “Honor hath no skill in surgerie then? No,” (L4V).
In the past, a man’s honor meant everything. It was the most important thing to have and it determined what kind of person one would be. Commonly, a man with honor would be recorded into history and reach immortality, in a sense. With no honor, one was not much better than an animal. In modern society, honor no longer holds the same importance as it once did.
King Henry, being born of royal blood, was condition from a young age that he had to follow a certain set of moral ideals called the code of chivalry. King Henry was seen by his fellow men as the epitome of chivalry. A knight's loyalty is one aspect of chivalry that was very important during King Henry’s time. When King Henry learns of the treason of some of his closest knights he is taken aback. Henry says “Though the truth of your treachery is as plain as black on white,
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.
Hotspur is short-tempered and impatient man who is always concerned about honor. Falstaff on the other hand, is a fat, thieving old man that lives on the nasty side of England who doesn’t put much thought towards honor. These two characters are play two different roles and are quite different, like their views of honor, in Shakespeare’s play, Henry IV, Part One. Hotspur is committed to honor, and to him honor is something to seek out, to have and use. In King Henry IV, when Hotspur speaks of honor he says, “By heaven methinks it were an easy leap, To pluck bright honour from the pale-faced moon, Or
Hotspur is seen honourably through the eyes of King Henry the IV. The King’s speech to the people of his court provides a clear understanding of how Hotspur is seen as an honourable and heroic man. The King proclaims his jealousy of Lord Northumberland for having Hotspur as an honourable son, “Yea, there thou mak’st me sad and mak’st me sin / In envy that my Lord Northumberland…” (1.1.77-78).
Respect, Honor, and Truth Chivalry is a word that is not often heard today. Although chivalry has seemed to diminish in our society, it is something that must be exceedingly alive and active in everyone’s life. The code of chivalry for knights in the middle ages emphasized bravery, generosity in victory, living one’s life so that it is worthy of respect and honor, and living for freedom, justice, and all that is good. Chivalry may be a foreign concept to many, but it is exemplified in my day to day life.
