Henry IV Acts 4-5

The act that I found the most interesting was act 5. Act four was just leading up to the battle, but I believe that the battle is where people's true characters come out and I especially think everyone's true character comes out int act 5 scene four. Where King Henry, Hal, John of Lancaster, and Westmorland are resting and Douglas arrives and sees the king, says, "What art thou/ That counterfeit'st the person of a king?" (5.4 26-27). Because so many others have been dressed like the King that no one is sure who the real King is. However, King Henry replies that he is the king himself, and that he will challenge Douglas directly. Prince Harry challenges Douglas in order to save his father, saying "It is the Prince of Wales that threatens thee/ Who never promiseth but he means to pay" (5.4 41-42). This is interesting that Hal is coming to the Kings defense even after he's mistreated Hal from the beginning. After Douglas flees, Hotspur arrives to fight Hal. Hal succeeds in killing Hotspur and believes his friend Falstaff to be killed by Douglas. After Hal leaves Falstaff gets up and seeing Hotspur dead on the ground stabs the body and picks him up and starts to carry him away. Hal and Lancaster see Falstaff leaving and Hal remarks that he's the one who killed Hotspur, but Falstaff being as cunning as ever immeditaley makes up a story about how both of them leapt to their feet and Falstaff killed him. He points out the wound he made in Hotspur's thigh. Hal tells him that if lying is the way he wants to be rewarded, then he will not challenge him. 

The fundamental difference between Hal and Hotspur emerges when Hotspur tries to rally his troops. The speech is a disaster, with Hotspur even admitting his inability to speak, "That I, that have not well the gift of tongue" (5.2.77). Not only are his words poorly chosen, but he is interrupted twice by messengers, making the speech a complete disaster with news of King Henry's imminent arrival. Hal would never have had this problem because he has a way with words and is able to command attention. I believe that is why Hal won in the end because he can be a ruler whereas Hotspur may be good at war could never rule as king.

The relationship between Falstaff and Hal comes to a breaking point while on the battlefield. Hal orders Falstaff to draw his sword and fight, an order which Falstaff refuses to obey. He instead pulls out a bottle of sack, at which Hal cries out, "What, is it a time to jest and dally now?" (5.3.54). The inability of Falstaff to realize the serious of the situation is marked by Hal throwing the bottle at his former friend. Which is why Hal is making extreme progress at becoming King because he is cutting ties with the friends that are holding him back and are a bad influence on him, such as Falstaff. All this shows is that Hal is ready to be King. 

Hal's pardon of Douglas at the end of the play marks a shift in the way he will rule as king versus how Henry rules. Henry orders Vernon and Worcester to be put to death for their crimes, Hal instead chooses to take a risk and pardon his enemy. This relates to the fact that Hal is a redeemer of England, a role he can only play by creating peace. In pardoning Douglas, Hal shows not only great statesmanship, but also confidence in his own abilities to win Douglas' support in the future. And this reiterates that Hal will make a better king than Henry and can handle uniting England instead of splitting it like Henry seems to be doing. That is probably why Hal will become a legend whereas Henry will be forgot. 

Henry IV Act 3

Scene 1 has Glyndwr, Hotspur, Worcest, and Mortimer are talking about going to war and discussing the plans for strategy. Glyndwr believes strongly in the pagan traditions of prophecies, omens, magic, and demons. He claims to be able to call spirits from hell, and he says that at his birth the earth shook and the sky was full of fire. Hotspur makes fun of the Glyndwr's claims of magical power. Despite his best efforts, Mortimer cannot get his tactless brother-in-law to shut up. Hotspur mocks Glyndwr’s claim to be able to command the devil; Glyndwr then asserts that he has repelled Henry’s invasions three times. By the time the four actually get down to discussing strategy, Glyndwr is none too pleased with his youngest guest. They then go and say goodbye to their wives in different forms, some affectionately and some mockingly. It is pretty humorous. 

Scene 2 is between King Henry and Prince Harry.Prince Harry is speaking with his father after a long absence. King Henry is both sad and angry and rebukes his son for his disgraceful behavior. He says he would like to be able to forgive Harry but he can't tolerate Harry’s recent behavior. Henry asserts that if Harry continues to hang around with commoners, he will never command the respect a king must have. Henry feels that only things that are rare are respected. When he himself was waging the war that made him a king, he adds, he didn't slum around London the way Harry does. Rather, when he made his occasional appearances, he was very courteous and regal. That way, the common people respected and loved him in a way that they do not respect or love Harry. Henry then tells Harry that he is behaving just like Richard II (the king whom Henry overthrew): the common people scorned and hated Richard, who spent too much time indulging in pleasures and who made friends and counselors out of fools. In Henry’s opinion, such dissolute behavior will make the people hate Harry too. Prince Henry says that he's going to try harder and be the person the king wishes to see however King Henry is wary of this, as he should be. He tells Harry that he can lead the upcoming war to prove himself. 

Scene 3 takes place in a tavern in London, where Falstaff complains to Bardolph about how thin and weak he has gotten of late. Then the hostess of the tavern, Mistress Quickly, appears and demands payment from Falstaff for the food and drink he has consumed, as well as for some clothing she has recently bought for him. Falstaff responds that his pocket was picked the previous night while he was asleep, and he accuses her of having done it. He claims to have had money and a valuable ring in the pocket. The hostess accuses Falstaff of trying to get out of paying his bill, but their argument is interrupted by the entrance of Prince Harry and Peto. Harry tells of the war that is at hand, and all must go off to fight. But first, the group must settle the matter of Falstaff’s picked pocket. After some teasing at the expense of the dumb hostess, Harry reveals that he himself emptied -Falstaff’s pockets the night before (Act II, scene v) and that he found nothing in them but tavern bills, receipts from whorehouses, and a handful of candy. Falstaff, with his usual quick--wittedness, promptly weasels out of admitting wrongdoing once again, tells the hostess that he forgives her, and orders breakfast. Harry informs Falstaff that he has bailed him out yet again: he has paid back the money that Falstaff and the others had stolen and lost the day before. He assigns the war commissions to his friends. He sends Bardolph off to deliver letters on horseback to King Henry’s troops and to Harry’s younger brother, John, Lord of Lancaster and another to the Earl of Westmoreland. He orders Peto to come on a different errand with him, and he tells Falstaff that he has put him in charge of a brigade of foot soldiers, commanding him to meet him the following afternoon to get the details of the commission.

All three of these scenes are quite different, but they do share war in common. All three scenes are the preparation for the upcoming war and everyone's responsibilities when it comes to the war. It's also setting up what's at stake for all the participants in the war. I mean Prince Harry has quite a bit to prove to his father if he ever wishes to be king. I just feel like Prince Harry's friends are going to screw something up like Falstaff since he is a coward and he's going to war. It'll be interesting to see how this supposed war is going to play out or if it even will play out.  

Henry IV Act 2 Prose vs. Verse

The passage of prose that I find particularly interesting in act 2 is in scene 5 lines 246-257. Falstaff has spent most of the passage explaining how he has fought off 100 men when they know it was only two and and he cried for mercy as he ran away. However, after Falstaff knows that they know he changes his story without even missing a beat which is first off hilarious and secondly shows how quick witted and cunning Falstaff is. It definitely shows his character more than people describing it to us.The most obvious imagery in this passage is of the lion knowing not to hurt the true prince, and this seems to play into the end of the scene when Hal is preparing to be examined by his father to discover if he is the true prince, if he has been loyal. It also plays into Henry IV legitimacy as king, because if he is not a legitimate king, Hal is not the true prince. Always love the family drama in Shakespeare! 

A passage of verse that interested me was in 2.4 lines 92 to 104. In this passage Hotspur is reassuring his wife that he does love her, after jokingly saying he didn't, but explains that he can't discuss with her where he is going or why he is going there, because she is still woman, but he does trust her not to tell anyone what she doesn't know. Dramatically this is an important passage and an important scene because it shows Hotspur going to join with the forces against Henry IV, and also because it shows a somewhat more personal side to Hotspur. With language the most interesting line from this passage is when Hotspur states, his wife is the most secretive woman he knows and that he believes she well not talk about what she does not know. I found this line interesting because I could not tell if he meant that he could only trust her not to talk about what she does not know about, or if he was saying that where he is going is implied enough for her to know whats going on and that he trust her not to tell anyone. And this also leaves open the question of whether or not she will tell anyone where he is, will she be responsible for him being found out or will she keep the secret that she desperately wanted to know. 
  
2.5 lines 395 to 439 would be tough to stage because you have characters switch who they are impersonating. But I would show this by having Hal switch to the stool that Falstaff was sitting on when he was impersonating the king as well as give him Falstaff's fake scepter. To show that Hal is now the king and Falstaff is the prince. And as usual Falstaff and Hal having a joking/mocking relationship, demonstrated in this passage by Hal describing Falstaff as fat, and Falstaff acting like he doesn't know who he is describing, and just heaping more and more praise on old Falstaff.

Henry IV Act 1

My first impressions of the king are of a man who wishes to go to war. He wishes to send his troops to fight in the crusades, but there is a despite in Wales so he is not able to do that and that is very disappointing for him. I also found it very weird that he kind of hates his son. He wishes that some fairy had actually switched his son harry with Hotspur so that he could have Hotspur as his son. I would not like my father wanting to trade me for another daughter. It'll be interesting to see how their relationship develops throughout the play.

In scene 2 we find out a lot about Prince Harry and maybe why his father wishes to switch him with another boy. Harry doesn't have a good reputation. Beginning at line 70 through line 86 there is a lot revealed about Harry's character. Falstaff says that someone came up to him in the streets and was talking to him about Harry and lecturing him about Harry's bad reputation. Then Harry proceeds to quote scripture at Falstaff incorrect. This gives me the impression that Harry might actually have some intelligence because he can quote scripture and has a talent for using it in wrong places or he is actually ignorant. And it is revealed to us that Falstaff has been corrupted by the Prince and he wants to change his life around. It's very interesting to see the Prince doing the corrupting. I find it interesting that Harry plans to put this wild behavior behind him when he becomes King so that he'll look even better when he's king, but if he's acting wild will he ever actually become King or will his father think him too irresponsible?

In scene 3 there is this big dispute over prisoners and Mortimer, Hotspur's brother-in-law. The king wants the prisoner's Hotspur has and Hotspur wants the ransom for Mortimer but neither will budge. It is interesting to see the King turn on his beloved Hotspur when just two scenes ago the King loved Hotspur. Also interesting to find out that Mortimer is the heir to the throne so I think that's going to add a little drama to this history play! Also Hotspur wishes to poison Harry if he knew it would hurt the king.

Romeo and Juliet Act 4-5

In Acts 4 through 5 the supernatural aspects of the play definitely become very apparent. Dreams are talked about a lot more and ghosts are seen such as when Juliet sees Tybalt's ghost before she drinks her potion to fall asleep. However, in act 1 when we see Romeo's dream is brushed off is no longer now that we are coming to the end of the play. In act 5 Romeo tells us about his dream and what it seems to mean to him. It also foreshadows things to come.
 If I may trust the flattering truth of sleep,

My dreams presage some joyful news at hand.

My bosom’s lord sits lightly in his throne,

And all this day an unaccustomed spirit

Lifts me above the ground with cheerful thoughts.

I dreamt my lady came and found me dead—

Strange dream, that gives a dead man leave to think—

And breathed such life with kisses in my lips

That I revived and was an emperor.

Ah me! How sweet is love itself possessed

When but love’s shadows are so rich in joy!

He has predicted that Juliet will find him dead but her kisses will not bring him back to life. He should've heeded the warnings of his dreams in both act 1 and act 5. This makes me wonder why the supernatural is sometimes ignored and brushed off. Had Romeo listened to his dreams then him and Juliet might have ended up together and been happy. But we will never know because the supernatural went unnoticed. 

Romeo and Juliet Act 2-3

Act 2 scene 2 is the famous balcony scene where Romeo and Juliet confess their love for each other and arrange to get married. This scene is one of my favorite scenes in the play as I am sure it is the favorite of many others. I love this scene in part because of the language that Shakespeare uses. Such as "O, that I were a glove upon that hand,/ That I might touch that cheek!". Shakespeare finds such great ways to express things, however since this is my second time reading this play I am finding things I didn't notice the first time that I am starting to really like. Friar Lawrence is now one of my favorite characters. He is very much down to earth and humorous. In Act 2 scene 3 l. 65-80, he mocks Romeo for falling in love with another girl so quickly and claims that since he's so young he doesn't know what true lasting love is and I found this so true and refreshing that it was put into the play because as the audience we are all thinking it.

Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here!

Is Rosaline, whom thou didst love so dear,

So soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies

Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.

Jesu Maria, what a deal of brine

Hath washed thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline!

How much salt water thrown away in waste

To season love that of it doth not taste!

The sun not yet thy sighs from heaven clears,

Thy old groans ring yet in my ancient ears.

Lo, here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit

Of an old tear that is not washed off yet.

If e'er thou wast thyself and these woes thine,

Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline.

And art thou changed? Pronounce this sentence then:

Women may fall when there’s no strength in men.

I also find myself loving Mercutio because of how absolutely vulgar he is. I didn't get his jokes the first time I read this play and it makes me wonder why we are allowed to read this in the 9th grade. In Act 2 scene 4 l. 39-48 he is absolutely vulgar when talking about Rosaline and Romeo. I just found it so humorous and can't believe I missed it the first time. I also found the nurse humorous when she was coming back to Juliet to tell her the news of the marriage plans. Juliet was so impatient it seemed as if the nurse were making her wait on purpose which was nice to see. I also love the loyalty the nurse has to Juliet and Juliet's happiness. However, that love for the nurse that Juliet has disappears quite quickly. 

Act 3 for me was a much less exciting act. It still had its intriguing parts. Such as how Juliet's father takes back him claim that he wants Juliet to be happy and marry who she wants to marry. How Juliet turns on the nurse when she was just trying to help Juliet out of an impossible situation. I find the sword fight scene a little strange. Mercutio is very humorous but he also has a temper on him and had he been a little less hot headed than he might not have died because Romeo was being claim about the insults Tybalt was throwing at him. However, it would not be a tragedy without some casualties. Although as bad as this is I am glad Romeo and Juliet were able to consummate their marriage before they eventually die. I know we have to assume that's what happened. Although, I think I've heard that there was speculation that they had sex out of wedlock. Is that true or am I imagining things? I feel like I've heard it somewhere.