The Passing of the Crown by Shakespeares Henries Essay -- Henry IV He

The Passing of the Crown by Shakespeares Henries In his histories from Richard II through Henry V to Richard III, Shakespeare depicts the English monarchy as a game in the midst of family and friends of vying for a luxurious ring -- the crown. Shakespeare gives his reader a central allegory through which to see this equation in poof Henry IV part one. The comedy Prince Hal, later index Henry V, and his friend, Poins, mutant on their friends, particularly Falstaff, parallels the plots focal passing of the crown. In the first act, Poins outlines his plan to institute a prank on Falstaff and their other friends to Prince Hal, They Falstaff and others will adventure upon the knead of stealing money from travelers themselves, which they shall have no sooner achieved but well adjust upon them (I.ii.169-71). This exactly represents the larger action that takes place in this same piece. King Henry IV, previously Bolingbroke, usurped the crown from King Richard II in Shakespeares play of that title, and now, in this King Henry Hotspur is trying to take from Bolingbroke, the name he contemptuously insists on using for the king, the crown which the king rightfully stole already. Hals prank can, in fact, be seen as the sum totalmarizing play within the play so popular in Elizabethan drama. Not only does Hals light-hearted game sum up the events of this history, it also works as a microcosm of the events in King Richard III, a tragedy wherein Richard steals the throne from his brothers, Edward and George, who, in turn, stole it from Henry VI. The metaphor becomes even more obviously applicable when we hear Falstaffs self-defense for grown up the stolen money so easily, Was it for me to kill the heir apparent?... ...taining the put down and participating in its ceremonies is a game. However, I dont think this means that the theatrical role is an impossible one to actually possess, that its always simply an unreachable fix that eve ryone pretends at. I think it just means that Shakespeare sees the crown as non being as serious a thing to possess as is commonly thought. Its a joke, a gag, a prank, always a gold ring made of cardboard. Where theres a kingdom for a stage, so in addition can there be a stage for a kingdom (Henry V, prologue line 3). world King means playing. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Henry IV part one. Ed. P. H. Davison, tonic York Penguin Books, 1996. Shakespeare, William. Henry IV part two. Ed. P. H. Davison, New York Penguin Books, 1997. Shakespeare, William. Henry V. Ed. A. R. Humphreys, New York Penguin Books, 1996.