Hotspur
English II
Spring 2013
Character Analysis: Hotspur
Hotspur is seen as a one-dimensional character, a bloodthirsty warmonger. His
Loyalty to his brother-in-law and the Percy namesake outweighs his loyalty he should
have for his King (commander and Chief). This will be his ultimate downfall such as a
man who would attempt a coup. He is a formidable warrior such as Sgt York & John F.
Kennedy. These young warriors gained respect and notoriety because of courage under
fire and the lives of the men they saved. The difference between them and Hotspur is
they were humbled by their failures and they knew that going to war was what they had
to do and was not a desire.
In Act 1 Scene 1 Westmoreland mentions Hotspur while talking to the King, who
makes the statement “makest me sin, in envy that Lord Northumberland should be the
father to so a blest son, a son who is the theme of honour tounge.” With this statement
the King see’s Hotspur as an honorable and a righteous warrior.
The King is jealous that Lord Northumberland has such an honorable and valiant
son. It is truly revealed with the statement the King makes in act I scene I line 78-90 “see
riot and dishonor stain the brow of my own young Harry (Hal). O that some night
tripping fairy had exchanged in cradle-cloths our children where they lay and call’d mine
Percy.” We see that the King wishes that the Prince and Hotspur were switched at birth
and he would discover it. The King and Hal’s sir name is Plantagenet, meaning spring
of the broom bush, which is brilliant because the King is the ruler of England, the land,
the people and all its assets and while Hal is the rightful heir apparent to the crown but,
Hotspur is showing he would be a better heir apparent and become one with the land and
its people. The King further proves his preference to Hotspur than his own son in Act III
Scene II Line 93-128 “when
Spring 2013
Character Analysis: Hotspur
Hotspur is seen as a one-dimensional character, a bloodthirsty warmonger. His
Loyalty to his brother-in-law and the Percy namesake outweighs his loyalty he should
have for his King (commander and Chief). This will be his ultimate downfall such as a
man who would attempt a coup. He is a formidable warrior such as Sgt York & John F.
Kennedy. These young warriors gained respect and notoriety because of courage under
fire and the lives of the men they saved. The difference between them and Hotspur is
they were humbled by their failures and they knew that going to war was what they had
to do and was not a desire.
In Act 1 Scene 1 Westmoreland mentions Hotspur while talking to the King, who
makes the statement “makest me sin, in envy that Lord Northumberland should be the
father to so a blest son, a son who is the theme of honour tounge.” With this statement
the King see’s Hotspur as an honorable and a righteous warrior.
The King is jealous that Lord Northumberland has such an honorable and valiant
son. It is truly revealed with the statement the King makes in act I scene I line 78-90 “see
riot and dishonor stain the brow of my own young Harry (Hal). O that some night
tripping fairy had exchanged in cradle-cloths our children where they lay and call’d mine
Percy.” We see that the King wishes that the Prince and Hotspur were switched at birth
and he would discover it. The King and Hal’s sir name is Plantagenet, meaning spring
of the broom bush, which is brilliant because the King is the ruler of England, the land,
the people and all its assets and while Hal is the rightful heir apparent to the crown but,
Hotspur is showing he would be a better heir apparent and become one with the land and
its people. The King further proves his preference to Hotspur than his own son in Act III
Scene II Line 93-128 “when