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Module B How does Shakespeare’s construction of Henry IV Part One help drive his central concerns? The effective manipulation of the dramatic form allows composers to embody the distinctive qualities in the text and values that can be communicated and received universally. Shakespeare is able to manipulate the textual form of the historical play, Henry IV Part One (1597) to drive his views of the characteristics that make an ideal leader. Shakespeare delves into the perspective nature of morality and how actions can be perceived as noble and courageous or selfish and inconsiderate. Through the differing paradigms, Shakespeare offers a pessimistic outlook on how leaders gain their power and exploring how wisdom dictates how a leader is perceived in honour. He also explores the desire for power through the colonialist ideal and the need for self preservation. This, therefore enables Shakespeare’s construction of the historical play to achieve a timeless nature and textual integrity exploring what makes an ideal leader. Shakespeare’s employs Hal as a tool to construct a manipulative character with questionable morality in its perception to responders. Hal associates himself with the lawless underworld of the tavern which portrays him as descending into ethical depravity seemingly ignoring the concerns of the country. Falstaff reflects the opinions of the country when he questions Hal’s nobility in “the true prince may - for recreations sake - prove a false thief!” The exclamatory statement places emphasis on how he is perceived by the lower class to be inconsiderate in regards to the country choosing to be a thief rather than a prince. However, this is juxtaposed with Hal’s soliloquy, in which the contrast between “beauty” of the “sun” and the “foul and ugly mists” creates dramatic irony and highlights his manipulative nature. This is paralleled to Queen Elizabeth and her intentional choice not to name a successor or produce an heir. As Hal chooses to ignore the concerns of his country but it is assured that he has a plan to improve the state of his country allowing Shakespeare to reassure the people of his Queens intentions. As Hal begins to drop his act, it is widely recognised for his newly found nobility as identified by Vernon, a member of the opposition court “as if an angel dropped down from the clouds to turn and wind a fiery pegasus”. The biblical allusion symbolises Hal’s nobility and how it can be paralleled to be godly as represented by the presence of the angel. As a result, Hal’s characterisation showcases himself as immoral, however, through manipulation he was able to rise and become an admirable and noble leader. Shakespeare consequently presents seemingly immoral actions such as manipulation as being integral to becoming an effective leader.

Shakespeare offers his view on the ideal leader through the significance of paradigms in generating wisdom and exemplifying the dichotomy in honour portrayed in Hal and Hotspur as a result. Towards the beginning of the play, Hotspur is praised through personification as “a son who is the theme of honour’s tongue”, demonstrating his values of purely having high regard for honour as seen by other characters in the play. However, this unbalanced view of honour results in Hotspurs’ death revealing that Shakespeare sees a high value for honour to be meaningless in an ideal leader without suitable wisdom. On the other hand, juxtaposition is used in “see riot and dishonour stain the brow” of Hal providing contrast in the nature of honour embedded within Hal’s and Hotspurs’ honour where Hal was seen to not be honourable due to his Machiavellian ideology of constant manipulation. Unlike Hotspur, Hal remains alive and well due to his use of wise manipulation for the duration of the play after defeating his counterpart in battle “This earth that bears thee dead. Bears not alive so stout a gentleman” highlighting through symbolism that Shakespeare considers figures like Hotspur to be honourable however they will amount to nothing significant without the right values. The character foils act as a tool for Shakespeare to portray Hal as the preferred leader through his deliberate survival at the end, unlike his counterpart. In doing so, Shakespeare defies the expectations of responders suggesting that the ideal leader must not purely value honour but must also be wise and adhere to the right paradigm to create an effective rule. Shakespeare offers deep insight into the desire for power and wealth through the colonialist way of thinking and the need to remove others of wealth and power to benefit themselves. In the duologue between Hal and Henry in Act 3, Henry states that he would rather “be seldom seen, I could not stir,'' representing his disconnection with his people for his safety due to his belief that it was pivotal in his predecessor's death. This consequently allows audiences to question Henry’s care for England and his people, therefore losing his credibility as an ideal leader. Furthermore, Falstaff is seen to offer a way out of conscription in return for money, “I have misused the king’s press damnably”, highlights through the use of hyperbole, Falstaff’s values of attaining wealth at the expense of England’s security. Shakespeare, through stage directions, depicts the ‘fight’ between Falstaff and Douglas where Falstaff “falls down as if he were dead”. In doing so, Falstaff saves himself from participating in the war, thus depriving England of manpower and motivation as a leader is seen to have fallen in a selfish attempt to avoid battle. Acts of self preservation are then modelled through King Henry and Falstaff’s attempt to retain power and attain wealth respectively an attempt to sustain themselves. Thus the characterisation of the two is used to challenge responders to question the relationship a leader must have with their followers. Ultimately through Shakespeare’s exploration of what makes an ideal leader, he was able to highlight the role that morality, wisdom and Colonialist paradigms play in making an ideal

leader. Thus enabling Shakespeare to influence and educate responders of different contexts to consider a new perspective regarding leadership using the dramatic form....