¶ … Shakespearre Contruction the Different Beliefs of Honor Between Falstaff and Hotspur
The two characters in Shakespeare's play Henry IV are in obvious opposition, regarding their ideas about honor and courage. Of the two, Falstaff is a much more complex and deep character, both comic and dramatic, and one of the most famous in Shakespeare's plays. He is a punster and a very witty character, who, in the Shakespearian manner makes us doubt the already established moral values or ways of looking at the world, through his famous attitude in front of death, which seems to be the outcome of cowardice, but which obviously betrays a much deeper view of life.
Whereas Hotspur is the valiant soldier, admired by everyone, even by king Henry IV himself, who prefers him to his own son, Falstaff seems only a jester who is irresponsible and coward, and who takes nothing seriously.
However, the complexity of the character suggest actually a generally human attitude in front of death by questioning the value of honor when the price is death itself:
For Falstaff, on the other hand, the language of moral reformation in I and 2 Henry IV carries economic, not political or spiritual ambiguities. Hal, ironically amused, notes the rapidity with which Falstaff transforms his pledge to "give over this life,... And I do not, I am a villain, I'll be damned for never a king's son in Christendom" (IH4 I. ii. 95-97) into a plan to take purses at Gadshill: "I see a good amendment of life in thee, from praying to pursetaking" (102-103). Falstaff's instant moral defense is that it is "no sin for a man to labor in his vocation" (104-105). His pun on vocation as profession and religious conversion is echoed at Shrewsbury when Hal tells Falstaff to prepare for battle and say his prayers, for he "owest God a death" (V. i. 126)." (Bloom, 248)
While Hotspur never hesitates in his the question of honor, Falstaff always waver and changes his point a view in seemingly unprincipled way. Actually, the point that Shakespeare is trying to make with this character is that human nature is much more complex than Hotspur, for example, and honor is not of such value when faced with the question of " to be or not to be."
Works Cited
Bloom, Harold Falstaff New York: Chelsea House, 1992
Shakespeare, William Henry IV http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/henryIV1
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