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Henry IV, Part One | Who is the more admirable character, Hal or Hotspur?
In the play's opening scene, King Henry IV speaks of Hotspur as "a son who is the theme of honor's tongue" and wishes that he could exchange his own "Harry," the prince Hal for Hotspur given the dissolute lifestyle that Hal has pursued. Nevertheless, while Hotspur's star as an English hero has risen sharply, it is also highly incandescent. Right after he makes his wish, the King learns that Hotspur refuses to turn over prisoners of war to the king. In due course we find that Hotspur is literally a hot-head who always wants to force the issue at hand, insisting that he and the other...
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