Henry IV, Part One | King Henry IV
Henry IV's role in the play is debated in these two excerpts. First, Anne Marie McNamara examines Henry IV, Part One as a history play and argues that if the work is seen as such, there can be no debate over who the protagonist is; it must be Henry IV. In the second excerpt, however, Robert J. Fehrenbach argues that Henry is not the protagonist of the play. Fehrenbach states that, unlike Hal, Hotspur, and Falstaff, the King is characterized by indirect means. He urges the reader not to take anything Henry says at face value and maintains there is much to learn about Henry by examining what he doesn't say.
Henry IV is perhaps the play's most mysterious character. A few critics, including Anne Marie McNamara, maintain that Henry is the protagonist and a hero. Most other critics view the King's claim to being the central character as weak, with most critics seeing Hal as the protagonist, and some arguing in favor of Falstaff or Hotspur. Robert J. Fehrenbach sides with the scholars who believe Henry is a secondary character in the play. He argues that Shakespeare's indirect characterization of Henry offers some insight into the King's thinking and motivation, but also inhibits the...
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