Henry IV, Part 1

Act III is the calm before the storm, as alliances are finalized and Prince Hal begins to repair his reputation by exhibiting The Qualities of a King. King Henry and Hal meet for the first time in the play, and Hal is given his first opportunity to redeem himself by reforming his behavior after a lecture from his father. While Hal’s transgressions have been alluded to throughout the play, Henry clearly lays them out: Hal’s behavior mirrors that of Richard II, which destroyed his kingdom. The king’s contrast between Hal and Hotspur inspires Hal to act. Henry laments that, based on action rather than lineage, Hotspur has more of a claim to the throne than Hal. This is a bitter pill for both father and son, given that Hotspur’s martial virtues might well win him the crown. Killing Hotspur is not only a way for Hal to redeem himself—it is also necessary to retain the kingship for family.

As Hotspur and his allies gather to discuss their plans, cracks begin to form in the rebellion, foreshadowing the failure of their cause. Scene 1 introduces Glendower, leader of the Welsh rebels. Glendower has a fearsome reputation due to his prowess as a military commander and association with Welsh paganism and witchcraft. In Act II, Falstaff describes him as “he of Wales that gave Amamon the / bastinado, and made Lucifer cuckold, and swore / the devil his true liegeman upon the cross of a / Welsh hook” (2.4.348-51). In other words, Glendower beat the demon Amamon and made himself master of the devil by cuckolding him and threatening him with a sword. Glendower himself claims to be able to summon spirits and control the devil. He claims to Hotspur that when he was born, the sky filled with flames and the earth shook. Though they are allies, Hotspur cannot stand such superstitious exaggerations, and his temper threatens their alliance when he essentially accuses Glendower of lying. This exchange segues into the two quarreling over the proposed division of Henry’s kingdom and may be the cause of Glendower abandoning the rebels at a crucial moment later in the play.

Scene 1 ends with the touching goodbye between Mortimer and his wife contrasted with the blunt parting of Hotspur and Lady Percy. Mortimer and his wife do not speak the same language, but their actions convey their feelings (with a bit of help of Glendower as translator). In contrast to Hotspur, who previously used Welsh as a synonym for nonsense, Mortimer vows to study the language until he can converse with his wife. Lady Mortimer is so devoted to her husband she wishes to follow him into battler. By contrast, Hotspur and Lady Percy’s final exchange is teasing and marked with sexual innuendo; however, even though they are not as romantic as Mortimer and his wife, they express affection in their own way. Hotspur is a man of action and not given to sentimentalism; therefore, he cuts his goodbye short, assuming he will see his wife again.