Kyle Coons
ERH-321WX-01
Short Assignment on Henry IV Part 1
9/7/17
Help Received: Henry IV Part 1, Microsoft Word, Class Hand-Outs
Part 1:
Culture in Early Modern England during the time that Shakespeare created his play Henry IV Part 1 was based around a medieval notion labeled as “natural law” (Hodgdon 170) along with the ongoing balance of civic order and rebellions that ensued. The law was directly between the King whose power was divine and the people he ruled over. The people were represented through an organized government called Parliament. The majority of rule and order came from religious outlooks on law. According to Hodgdon recite of An Homily Against Disobedience and Willful Rebellion “Wherefore good people, let us, as the children of obedience, fear the dreadful execution of GOD, and live in quiet obedience, to be the children of everlasting Salvation” (Hodgdon 179). The word of the Lord was that of law to the people living during this time in Early Modern England, therefore this excerpt from the Homily tells the people to be obedient to the figure held closest to God (the King). This Homily is a reminder to the people that God can and will punish those disobedient and is a big reason why Shakespeare revisits past histories of England to remind his audience.
England at this time was a place of rebellion, in particular that of the Northern rebellion in 1596. “The government’s deeply anxious, even hysterical response…” (Hodgdon 172) was this Homily to try to return to balance of civic order throughout the country. The culture resulting from this was that of a population that needed to be reminded of its past which Shakespeare provided. According to Hodgdon “Although religious dissidence figured more prominently in the 1569 rebellion than in that represented in Henry IV, Part 1, a number of likenesses draw the two together, leading scholars to conjecture that the Elizabethan rebellion served as a pattern for Shakespeare’s play” (Hodgdon 171). Shakespeare not only provided a sense of entertainment through his work but also hindered the culture of the time that was greatly impacted by religion.
Part 2:
The redemption of civic order and hindering of rebellion as faced by England during the time of Shakespeare’s existence can be closely related to the Prince’s journey to redeem his father’s approval and end of mischievous and rebellious ways. Just as I wrote about in Part 1, the leaders of England were in a struggle to bring order back after rebellions against their rule ravaged the country. Likewise, Prince Harry had his own similar conflict with his personal status. As the leaders in England planned to use the word of God as their tactic to redeem order, Prince Harry planned to have a great and unexpecting redemption. “My reformation, glittering o’er my fault, Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes Than that which hath no foil to set it off. I’ll so offend to make offense a skill, Redeeming time when men think least I will” (I. iii. 166-170). Although Prince Harry’s redemption to gain approval in his father’s eyes had more of a theatrical tone to it than that of England’s attempt through God’s vengeance and punishment, both had an intended overall theme of good defeating bad. In the case of the Prince, he was this character that wanted to have fun and be around ‘normal’ people in the Boars Head Tavern and was to defeat the man that threatened to take his place on the thrown (Hotspur). The same goes for England and it’s battle to defeat the rebellions that threatened to disturb order in the county. The Prince was able to defeat Hotspur at the conclusion of the play, thus allowing the audience to witness his journey in full.
The traits of determination and the similar goals connect the culture of England to the Prince. Although Shakespeare does not touch on a religious motive behind many of the happenings in this play, the connection to that of power during his time of existence and the stories being told in the play is evident. What motives did Shakespeare have for not including that much religion in his play writes is uncertain, but the connections can be made throughout the play.

Bibliography

Shakespeare, William. Henry IV, Part 1. Ed. Barba Hodgdon. New York: Bedford, 1997. Print.

Hodgdon, Barba, ed.. Henry IV, Part 1. By William Shakespeare. New York: Bedford, 1997.
Print