Falstaffs Influence on Prince Hal in I Henry IV :: Henry IV Henry V Essays

Falstaffs modulate on Prince Hal in I Henry IV In Shakespearian histories, there is always one individual who influences the major character and intimately advances the plot. In I Henry IV by William Shakespeare, Falstaff is such a character. Sir John Falstaff is perhaps the most daedal comic character of all time invented. He carries a dignified presence in the minds eye and in him, we recognize our internal admiration and jealousy of the rebellious dual spirit that we all secretly wish for. The multi-faceted Falstaff, in comic revolt against righteousness and order, in his role as father figure to Prince Hal, and ultimately, in his natural ability to discern and adapt to any situation, emerges as the most complex and paradoxical character in drama. Frequently, in literature, the sun represents royalty, or in this case the king, who strives to uphold law and order. Rhetorically, the corn liquor, symbolizes instability, not only because it does not confront the same size to ones eyes as time passes, but because it reigns the ebbing and flow of the tides. Therefore, as a knight guided by moonlight, Falstaff is a dissenter against law and order. This conclusion finds support in his witty tautologies and epithets. Falstaff is constantly aware that Hal will one day become king, and when that happens, robbers will be honored in England by Letting us be indulgence Dianas foresters, gentlemen of the shade, monions of the moon and letting men say we be men of good government, being governed as the sea is, by our novle and chaste mistress the moon, under whose countenance we deal (I, ii, 25-30). Falstaffs final dismissal of law and order culminates with a comic acknowledgment to the prince, urging him to have nothing to do with old father charade the law? Do not thou, when thou art King, hang a thief (I, ii, 62-63). We see a similar epithet in the future(a) act, send him packing (II, iv, 301), in which Falstaff again denounces respo nsibility, law, and order. Despite his lack of portion out for order and responsibility, the rebel dormant in readers applauds Falstaffs defiance of the establishment of his defense. Falstaff seems to magical spell to the average reader, for he relates to them, just as a twentieth-century American