Scan barcode
A review by richardleis
1 Henry IV by William Shakespeare
5.0
Reviewing the play, but the preface, genealogy, and footnotes were very helpful.
I did not know what to make of the play at first. It moves between three realms: the court of King Henry IV, the conspiracy of the Percys and other rebels, and the tavern where Prince Hal and Falstaff are up to no good. The tone is so different in each realm, that at first I had no idea how it was all connected. Of course, this is Shakespeare and his marvelous craft at work, slowly bringing the realms together while exploring and questioning each one, the people there, and their values.
Instead of going into analysis, I will say instead that the characters really worked for me. Prince Hal and Falstaff were my favorite characters and their witty and insulting banter was highly entertaining. Women play only minor roles in this plays, but Lady Percy was especially entertaining as she bickered with her husband, Henry "Hotspur" Percy, a character with truly epic rants and anger management issues.
I have no idea how closely Shakespeare adhered to the history of these people. The footnotes suggest he merged some historical figures, he changed Hotspur's age to be the same age as Prince Hal, and other tweaks of history for the purpose of drama. Shakespeare, as always, has a wonderful ability to merge various classes together in one play, and here it becomes almost a conceit, as he deftly enters and leaves one realm for the next, while allowing Prince Hal to cross boundaries.
Henry IV Part 1 is fast-paced; switches between scenes of nothing happening to scenes of great action, especially in the battle at the end; has colorful characters and dialogue; and hides a great deal of complexity underneath its entertainment.
I did not know what to make of the play at first. It moves between three realms: the court of King Henry IV, the conspiracy of the Percys and other rebels, and the tavern where Prince Hal and Falstaff are up to no good. The tone is so different in each realm, that at first I had no idea how it was all connected. Of course, this is Shakespeare and his marvelous craft at work, slowly bringing the realms together while exploring and questioning each one, the people there, and their values.
Instead of going into analysis, I will say instead that the characters really worked for me. Prince Hal and Falstaff were my favorite characters and their witty and insulting banter was highly entertaining. Women play only minor roles in this plays, but Lady Percy was especially entertaining as she bickered with her husband, Henry "Hotspur" Percy, a character with truly epic rants and anger management issues.
I have no idea how closely Shakespeare adhered to the history of these people. The footnotes suggest he merged some historical figures, he changed Hotspur's age to be the same age as Prince Hal, and other tweaks of history for the purpose of drama. Shakespeare, as always, has a wonderful ability to merge various classes together in one play, and here it becomes almost a conceit, as he deftly enters and leaves one realm for the next, while allowing Prince Hal to cross boundaries.
Henry IV Part 1 is fast-paced; switches between scenes of nothing happening to scenes of great action, especially in the battle at the end; has colorful characters and dialogue; and hides a great deal of complexity underneath its entertainment.