History is written by the winners, so with this logic, Shakespeare wins. Although frequently forgotten as the writer’s third genre, Shakespeare’s histories reveal insights on human action and reasoning. His other plays, such as the comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream, include allusions to political powers of his time, but his histories always contain relevant reminders to play attendees: history has and always will repeat itself. From the battle fields of England and France, all the way to Ancient Rome, leaders of the state will take any action necessary to protect the state, other than place themselves in harm’s way, as without them, no state exists. King Henry IV fascinated Shakespeare; the author tells the man’s achievements over the course of two plays. In 1 Henry IV, the monarch faces rebellion from both Scottish …show more content…
At the start of the play, Henry has Hotspur, a mighty warrior, on his side, but once Hotspur feels jilted by the monarch, he teams up with the rebel camp. The action builds up to the Battle of Shrewsbury; Henry’s victory seems apparent, as the rebel supports abandon Hotspur to fight the battle with little support, but the royal leaves nothing to chance. He sends his trusted ally Sir Walter Blunt on to the battlefield dressed in royal garb, who deceives the Earl of Douglas. The rebel slays who he believes to be the king and shares his victory with Hotspur, “All’s done, all’s won: here breathless lies the King” (Shakespeare V.ii.16). Hotspur breaks the news to the Scottish army, “This, Douglas? No, I know this face full well. A gallant knight he was; his name was Blunt” (V.ii.19-20). Even with an almost certain win, King Henry IV protects himself at all costs. The rebel force acts against him; if he dies, so does the point of the battle and all lives previously lost between both