This week, we studied William Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part One. It is a history play, meant to depict the life of both Henry IV, King of England, and his son, Prince Hal (soon to become Henry V). Due to the growing prominence of drama, and the increasing normalcy of theatres, it is a play with a grand scope and multiple settings. In this post, I will be discussing how such settings affect character – particularly in regard to Prince Hal, who crosses social boundaries when he wanders into different scenes.
FALSTAFF: Indeed you come near me now, Hal, for we
that take purses go by the moon and the seven stars,
and not by Phoebus, he, ‘that wand’ring knight so fair’.
And I prithee, sweet wag, when thou art a king, as God
save thy grace – ‘majesty’ , I should say, for grace thou
wilt have none –PRINCE: What, none?
Shakespeare, William. Henry IV Part One. London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2002. aCT oNE, sCENE TWO. lINES 12-18
When Hal is first introduced, it is in a tavern. He has made himself at home there. His social standing is indicated to the audience only through the words of Falstaff (a roguish Knight and thief), who refers directly to the future, “when thou art a king”. This would be a shock to the audience, as the previous scene showed King Henry IV in the majesty of his court, surrounded by noblemen. Hal, in contrast, has chosen to surround himself with the lower classes, in vulgarity and poverty – he has become one of them, and his father no longer wholly recognizes him as his son.
In this way, setting is vitally important to Hal’s character. He can move between settings fluidly, appearing both in the royal court and in the lower class tavern, and in this way, he is given mastery over the stage. However, this is also shown to be a temporary stage for him – a period of childishness, allowing him a modicum of freedom before he chooses his path. This choice is depicted as unavoidable. Hal must decide which setting he shall ‘settle’ in; he must put away childish things, and take on the responsibilities of a royal.