Prince Henery

’s Transformation Essay, Research Paper

?This play is not about King Henry IV but about the future King Henry V.? The

play talks primarily about Prince Henry?s growth from a young foolish man to a mature

adult. The Prince?s growth is mainly measured by the way his father feels or would feel (if

he knew) about the Prince?s actions. At first Hals actions seem rebellious and immature.

Later Hals realizes his behaviors aren?t what his father expects. Finally Hal changes his

actions and starts behaving like the Prince he is.

Prince Hal, although in his early twenties, acts like a rebellious adolescent. He

goes out and drinks and jokes with his friend almost every night. It does not seem to

bother him that it is ruining both his and his father?s reputations.

POINS: Now, my good sweet honey lord, ride with us

to-morrow: I have a jest to execute that I cannot

manage alone. Falstaff, Bardolph, Peto and Gadshill

shall rob those men that we have already waylaid;

yourself and I will not be there; and when they have

the booty, if you and I do not rob them, cut this head

off from my shoulders.

The Prince often finds himself being coerced into doing things that deep down inside he

disagrees with. This kind of behavior is not the behavior of a future King.

I prithee, do thou stand in

some by-room, while I question my puny drawer to

what end he gave me the sugar; and do thou never

leave calling ‘Francis,’ that his tale to me may be

nothing but ‘Anon.’ Step aside, and I’ll show thee a

precedent.

Prince Hal shows his insensitivity by playing childish jokes on his friends and other

acquaintances. The Prince doesn?t realize that these tricks cause people to lose respect for

him. If he does not receive respect from the people, he will find it difficult to rule in the

future.

Prince Henry began to realize that he had to change his ways and that he could no

longer act like a child. It was now a time in his life that a change needed to take place.

FALSTAFF:?No, my good lord; banish Peto, banish

Bardolph, banish Poins: but for sweet Jack Falstaff,

kind Jack Falstaff, true Jack Falstaff, valiant Jack Falstaff,

and therefore more valiant, being, as he is, old Jack

Falstaff, banish not him thy Harry’s company, banish

not him thy Harry’s company: banish plump Jack, and

banish all the world.

PRINCE HENRY: I do, I will.

Prince Hal is coming to grips with his and his friend?s inappropriate behaviours. The

Prince?s comment to Falstaff during their play hint toward his change of mind. Falstaff

asks that he not be banished but the Prince answers ?I do, I will.? The comment ?I will?

insinuates that when Hal becomes King he will banish Falstaff. He lets Falstaff know that

the foolishness had to stop.

As thou art to this hour was Richard then

When I from France set foot at Ravenspurgh,

And even as I was then is Percy now.

The King told Hal that if he does not stop his wild behavior he would lose the throne to

his enemy Hotspur. The King feels Hotspur reputation, which is better than Hals, will

win him the throne in the future.

Prince Henry?s transformation is almost complete and he is portraying

characteristics of an adult.

And God forgive them that so much have sway’d

Your majesty’s good thoughts away from me!

will redeem all this on Percy’s head

And in the closing of some glorious day

Be bold to tell you that I am your son;

When I will wear a garment all of blood

And stain my favours in a bloody mask,

Which, wash’d away, shall scour my shame with it:

Prince Hal wants his father to love him and he knows that for it to happen he must leave

his old ways behind. Hal decides to prove his behavioural change by fighting in his

father?s army. ?O, Harry, thou hast robb’d me of my youth!/ I better brook the loss of

brittle life/ Than those proud titles thou hast won of me;? When the Prince killed

Hotspur his transformation was almost complete. Hal who was viewed as a wimp has

earned the honor he has gotten from killing his enemy, Hotspur. ?Myself and you, son

Harry, will towards Wales,/ To fight with Glendower and the Earl of March.? The King

is now proud of his son. Before the King didn?t really want his son to fight in his army but

the King know has a change of hear. The Prince is now molded into the figure the King

always wanted. The Prince is now brave, loyal and noble.

At the beginning of the transformation the Prince was rebellious and irresponsible.

He did not realize that what he did could come back to haunt him in the future. The

second stage of the transformation the Prince became aware of the problem he was

creating for himself. The King felt the Prince?s behaviours were not suitable for a man of

his status. The King also felt the continuation of this kind of behaviour could jeopardize

his son?s chances of becoming the future King. Now that Hal has been enlightened on the

effects of his conduct he can now change his ways. Hal starts this change by enrolling in

his father?s army. Hal finally earns his father?s respect by killing Hotspur, Hals threat to

the throne.