Guys, we’re here. We have reached one of my all-time favorite plays. (And good thing, after my last post…)
Henry IV, Part 1
I could write quite a lot about this play, but I will try just to highlight a few things.
First, before we do anything else, let’s take a moment to honor the genius that is the character of Falstaff. He is one of Shakespeare’s greatest creations. (Simon Russell Beale as Falstaff in the Hollow Crown series is the performance of a lifetime.)
Second, a brief note on plot. Henry IV is Henry Bolingbroke from the fabulous Richard II. (You know, the one who overthrows Richard.) We see how much he struggles with the decisions he made in Richard II and the guilt that has plagued him ever since; we also see him struggle with his young, hotheaded, impetuous son and heir, Henry V.
Third, King Henry’s lines are absolutely incredible. They are so beautiful. He is an endlessly fascinating character to me. The guilt he wrestles with is dripping off every line and permeates everything about him. It is gorgeous language. His lines ring with power and strength and conflict. (If you want to see another performance for the ages, watch Jeremy Irons as Henry IV in the same series linked above.) If you can’t tell, I’m a fan. A big fan.
Fourth, this play has one of the most famous, one of the most beautiful, heartbreaking, adorable, and one of the most mindblowingly brilliant scenes in all of the Bard’s work: the scene between young Henry (V, also called Hal) and Falstaff. I don’t mean to hype it up too much. Except I do. It’s the one where they take it in turns to pretend to be Hal’s father. I am getting giddy and flustered and sit here beaming just thinking about it. If you’ve never read or seen it, or don’t know what I’m talking about, you should read it. Seriously. Like right now. Here.
Anyway, I’ll try and be semi-intelligible about this scene. I love it so much because it is enormously touching. By that point in the play (almost to Act 3), we have seen how strained Hal’s relationship with his father is. And we’ve come to understand that Falstaff has in many ways taken many roles in his life: father, friend, brother, advisor (of sorts). We understand how important this relationship is (really to both of these men). We have seen how irresponsible Hal is. But in this scene, things change. We see that moment when Hal realizes what he has to do, even though it means giving up something that means everything to him. And I think he knows that even doing this will not heal his broken relationship with his father. He knows it won’t really change anything, but he knows it’s what he’ll have to do. He begins to finally face the reality of who he is and what is expected of him.
The scene is perhaps not quite as pivotal for Falstaff, but it’s still an important one for him, too. He absolutely depends on Hal’s protection. He, even before the young prince, realizes that this protection is not likely to continue much longer, though, no matter what he does. I think it provides some contrast to Hal because although Falstaff understands this, he does not seem to accept this in the way that Hal does. Falstaff fights it. He fights against the inevitable split. He definitely has extremely selfish motives to do this, but I think there is a part of him that does it because he is truly loyal to Hal. I believe he truly loves this young prince who he has taken under his wing.
Moving on (or I’m liable to ramble about this for quite some time)…
Fifth, I love that in this play, we see the toll that wearing the crown truly takes. By the end of the play, it seems to have destroyed Henry IV. We see the toll of the intense pressure Hal faced as heir to the throne. But it’s not about royalty. (I mean, it is, but it’s about much more than that.) It makes me think of the line from Wicked:
“Getting your dreams, it’s strange, but it seems a little, well, complicated. There’s a kind of a sort of…cost. There’s a couple of things get…lost.”
This is part of what I get out of it. The things that we think we want? The things that we think will make us happy? They’re complicated. They come with a cost. And sometimes that cost is much more than we ever expected. It reminds me that nothing should be taken for granted. But I love that we also get to see the characters come to terms with this. It shows us that we can find grace and happiness in any situation. Always.
I could keep on going, but I don’t want to make this post even longer.
Have you read Henry IV, Part 1? Please tell me what you think about it!
If you haven’t read it, please, please, please, please rectify that. It will be more than worth it.
