Prince Hal is done! In the play Henry IV, Prince Henry is the King's prodigal son, he means well but doesn't quite do well. Since Hal is the King's oldest son, he will inherit the kingship, which is a great worry to the old king, for he does not want the kingdom to fall into idle hands. Near the end of the play, Hal, when he sees his father supposedly dead, takes the crown as he would take a burden, which killed his father and which he is glad to keep, that it may poison him like it did his father. However, the old king did not die, he just fell asleep. The ensuing conversation is my favorite in all of Shakespeare's work, my paraphrasing cannot do it justice; read the play, it is worth it! In short, Hal reforms and the king dies content with his son.
"My gracious lord! my father! This sleep is sound indeed, this is a sleep That from this golden rigol hath divorc'd So many English kings. Thy due from me Is tears and heavy sorrows of the blood, Which nature, love, and filial tenderness Shall, O dear father, pay thee plenteously. My due from thee is this imperial crown, Which as immediate from thy place and blood, Derives itself to me. (Puts on crown)." Thus speaks Henry, thinking his father is dead, but he is only very ill, and sleeping soundly.
No comments:
Post a Comment