Shakespeare’ “King Henry IV, Part One” looks at the theme of the relationship that exists between a father and his son. The two major characters in the play, Prince Hal and Hotspur, are youthful characters and future leaders in their own right. Both characters encounter father-figures who influence their future actions. Prince Hal’s relationship with his father, Henry IV and Falstaff relationship with the Earl of Worchester and the Earl of Northumberland reflect the different ways that these father-figures impact on the lives of these youthful characters. Throughout the play, Falstaff’s reveling and drinking shows that he is a poor influence the future King. The Earl of Worcester shares Falstaff’s temper and he encourages him to make unsound decisions. The entire play surrounds the impact of the relationship between father-figures and their sons, and these relationships contributed largely to the way the characters behave throughout the play.
Critics point out that the psychological progress of Shakespeare’s characters is similar to a modern flawed human as they possess human characteristics and weaknesses. Both Prince Hal and Falstaff draw scrutiny because of Falstaff’s and Prince Hal’s egos that lead them to carry out much of their frivolous actions. The “id” is Falstaff and the character sees that he has an unrestrained enthusiasm and response to the events in his life. King Henry represents the superego who is a hypercritical and restrictive father who expects perfection in his child. Prince Hal does not live up to his expectations, but instead Prince Hal shows that he eventually becomes the heroic son who embodies the ego. Nonetheless, Shakespeare shows that Hal deceives the other characters through the restrain, impulse and his wild escapades, but the readers are aware that this is just an act of pretence.
Shakespeare reveals the perception of having "two fathers" through the character of Prince Hal. King Henry, Hal’s natural father, does not see him as a good heir to the throne. Hal’s actions go against the traditional views of how the future king should behave. No one can therefore blame King Henry for the distaste he shows towards Hal. Conversely, Hal’s actions are questionable as the readers realize that he makes no effort to stay at court to help his father or to learn from his father. Instead, he cavorts around the world and constantly visits the taverns at Eastcheap. The readers can sympathize with Hal as his actions suggest that he wants to escape his duties as the future king, and the strained relationship with his father. On the other hand, one could say that Hal visits the taverns in an effort to better understand the people he will govern one day. Either way, Hal’s headstrong and frivolous actions leave much to be desired in his father’s eyes.
While King Henry IV is Hal’s birth father, Falstaff represents Hal's ethical or moral father. Whether or not Falstaff is a better father than Henry IV is a question that the reader asks constantly. Falstaff allows Hal to run wild across the streets of England and does nothing to guide Hal into a behavior pattern that befits the future king. Arguably, Falstaff makes a poor representation of a father figure as he tries to change Hal into a lowlife scoundrel who lies, steals, and cheats, but one sees that Hal knows what he wants. He learnt early in his life his duties as a king, but his father is quick to judge his way of life as he shows that he does not understand his son. One can easily conclude that the strained relationship between Hal and his father forces Hal to see Falstaff as a close father-figure. The lines of communication between the future king and the current king in the play show what happens when parents do not communicate with their children. King Henry IV mistakenly believes that Hal lacks honor and is unworthy of becoming king, and Hal allows him to continue to hold on to his belief.
Consequently, this lack of communication and understanding leads Hal to another character that appears to have his best interest at heart. One can easily identify with Hal’s rejection of his relationship with his father as the reader sees King Henry distaste for his son’s action becomes clear when he notes “Yea, there thou makest me sad and makest me sin,” (King Henry IV, I.i.p.4). Henry V is quick to the faults of his son and sees his son in a negative light. In addition, he points out that “I know not whether God will have it so,/For some displeasing service I have done,/That, in his secret doom, out of my blood” (“King Henry IV,” III.ii.p.1), and the reader sees that Hal’s actions leads Henry IV to see his so as a punishment from God. There is no question then that he envies Lord Northumberland, “In envy that my Lord Northumberland/Should be the father to so blest a son,/A son who is the theme of honour's tongue;/Amongst a grove, the very straightest plant;/Who is sweet Fortune's minion and her pride:/Whilst I, by looking on the praise of him,/See riot and dishonour stain the brow/Of my young Harry,” (King Henry V, I.i.p.4). Here, Henry presents his perception of the way both characters are different. But, his blind perception of his son leads him to create a false perception of Hotspur.
The truth is that a bond between a father and his son is very important. Shakespeare creates the perfect parallel between these two relationships even though Hal and Hotspur are the complete opposites. Both fathers express displeasure with their sons and wish that their roles were reversed. Henry IV is embarrassed by Hal’s actions and Northumberland dislikes the impulsiveness in his son. It is therefore no surprise that the Earl abandons his son when he needs him most and Henry openly criticizes his son and says that Hal is his punishment from God. Neither Hal nor Hotspur share a close relationship with his father, but the bond or duty to fathers is stronger in the relationship between Hal and Henry IV.
In concluding, parents are not always the right persons to trust and care for their children. Hal’s father does not care much for him because he shows the highest form of disloyalty when he associates with the local. He shows his feelings to those around him and Hal is quite aware of his father’s feelings. Nonetheless, makes no effort to change his father’s perception of him, but instead, he carves a path that will make him a perfect king. He learns about the people he will one day govern through his moral father, Falstaff, but his father does not see these as life lessons as he is swift to meet out judgment on his son.
