Act 3 of Henry the 4th
seems to be about the emergence the Prince and his feeling of justification as
heir. It seems like a shift in action is taking place at this point. This
change or shift is centered on the emergence of Hal as we see how he sees
himself in the system or order. Another noteworthy point of interest could be
the relationship between honor, as ones duty to, or simply honor as a virtue.
In these scenes we also see a meshing of cultures and language between the
Welsh and the locals.
When the King and Henry
meet for the first time and Henry responds to the King’s accusations by
suggesting that the stories about him are told about all great men—“Which oft
the ear of greatness needs must hear,” it seems Henry is in disbelief as to his
demise.
Another odd choice of
words is when Henry replies to the King’s tale of himself by saying—“from now on
I going to behave more like myself.” Here we see Henry trying to buttress
himself with the King or to place himself into a better light.
So my response to Act
three and its position in the play and its function is more of the opinion that
is short and like the relationship between the King and Harry. This shift or
point seems to call attention to the moral side of the King and the contrast
between the father and son or King and Heir.
Thinking about honor in the context of the third act reveals differing definitions of honor. Each scene then adds another definition of what honor is and what honor is not. For example, the treachery of Hotspur and the rebellion is an example of what the King thinks or says is honorable, but their actions are not loyal. Thus, the morality of each character is determined by what side of honor they find themselves on.
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