The happy environment seen in the play is when Prince Harry is with the robbers, thief's, and whores, a unique culture, at the bar. There are many laughs shared between the criminals and the Prince of Wales. While many perceive Prince Harry as an underachiever as a leader, he secretly has a plan to become powerful. Yet, he manages to give himself happiness along the way. Meanwhile, his father King Henry has many struggle, such as being unable to invade the crusades, worrying about his son, and maintaining a good control over his kingdom. Eventually, it is seen the King Henry is not respected because of his disloyalty to many of his followers and abuse of power. Prince Harry then becomes the more powerful and well-liked leader between the two. Each had very different approaches to their time of power. Henry faces a series of serious events and deceived many of his followers, while Harry enjoyed laughs, happiness, and drinks with the criminals in the kingdom. Prince Harry lived a happier life with a unique culture, the criminals, than his Dad lived. Harry's culture taught him to be a good leader, and that power is not the goal, but instead to better what you have power over. In fact, through out the whole play Harry is the only leader in the play who never says the word "power".
Without Harry's unique cultural experience, he would not have found happiness yet also discovered how to be a good leader. King Henry, instead, lived a life full of deceit and revenge and did not experience happiness. If King Henry had not been caught up in his strive for power, he may have had the opportunity to experience a different culture. This would have opened up the opportunity for him to discover his own happiness.
Prince Harry chose Happiness.
King Henry did not.
Nice summation:
ReplyDeleteAs the play goes on, many of King Henry's followers turn against him because of his disloyalty, yet in the end it is his son who helps maintain family power over the kingdom.