Reviews

Henry IV, Part 1, by William Shakespeare

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katherine_kelley's review against another edition

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Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

bstephens's review against another edition

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4.0

One of Willy's better plays. Great characters and the action moves along without a lot of complication often found in his histories.

megmro's review against another edition

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5.0

Again, full disclosure: I'm reading the text while watching "The Hollow Crown."

I loved this play. I loved King Henry's rumination about wanting to swap his unruly, disgraceful son with Hotspur. I couldn't help but remember that the King had been precisely in Hotspur's shoes just a generation prior, when he had been wronged by Richard. Perhaps that is why Hotspur is a natural rival for Hal's place in Henry's heart?

I felt a lot of sympathy for the northern rebels, probably because Shakespeare intended it. Hotspur's death was a tragic event to me -- especially being in part due to misinformation and misrepresentation on the part of Mortimer and others! What a waste!

Falstaff is just splendid. At once hilarious and stern, hapless and spry, doting and selfish, I found him to be an instantly sympathetic character, albeit at times exasperating.

Prince Hal. I'm just not sure how I feel about him. When I realized what Hal was planning -- to essentially discard his friends when it suits him, for his own aggrandizement -- I chaffed at it. Is this a case of Shakespeare throwing in a subtle criticism of the monarch under the guise (and protection) of patron-misinterpretation? It's such an unjust move from my modern societal and ethical standpoint. Here also, I wonder if this is one of the disadvantages of seeing a rendition of the play before reading it first, completely independently. In "The Hollow Crown," Prince Hal is played by Tom Hiddleston, whose mannerisms and interpretation really make the character inherently likable, regardless of his actions. I'm super torn on Hal. It'll be interesting to see where Shakespeare takes the characters.