The First Part of Henry IV
My favorite character in the first part of Henry IV is Prince Hal. He seems to be caught in a certain stage in life that I think everyone faces to some degree. The Prince is expected to act a certain way and uphold his duties as future King, but he just isn't ready to commit. The Prince is still trying to figure out who he is. His situation reminds me of when I graduated high school and went to college for the first time and got a job. I would much rather have spent time partying with my friends than go to class. I even called off work to do this occasionally, something I, or any responsible adult, would never dream of doing now. Eventually, I had to get serious about what direction I wanted my life to go in and I had to say goodbye to friends who I cared for and enjoyed spending time with, but who were ultimately holding me back. Do you think that Falstaff is this kind of friend to Hal, one that drags him down, or do you think that he helps the Prince live life to the fullest, keeping him from losing himself in his serious position as future king?
