"A Candy Deal Of Courtesy"

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HOTSPUR
Why what a candy deal of courtesy
This fawning greyhound then did proffer me.
...
O the devil take such cozeners! God forgive me!
...
Hotspur's words reveal his deep-seated disdain for King Henry IV, whom he sees as duplicitous and manipulative. By describing Bolingbroke's actions as "a candy deal of courtesy," Hotspur implies that the king's politeness is sugary and insincere, merely a facade masking treachery. The metaphor of a "fawning greyhound" further underscores Bolingbroke's obsequiousness and lack of genuine loyalty. Hotspur's vehement reaction, calling for divine forgiveness for wishing ill upon such "cozeners"—those who deceive through flattery—demonstrates the intensity of his contempt. This passage highlights Hotspur's fiery disposition and his inability to mask his emotions, traits that both define his character and foreshadow his fate. It underscores the theme of appearance versus reality, a central element in the play, as characters navigate the murky waters of political intrigue and personal ambition.

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