Henry IV was gravely ill in his later years, one the reasons his reign was only about 9 years. Among those diseases he suffered from was a serious skin condition with symptoms like leprosy. Without this background on Henry, the fidgeting merely serves as a distraction but, in reality, the constant picking and rubbing represents not only the literal disease but, as critics have noted, the curse upon himself and England for usurping Richard. So, he is trying to get the blood off his hands.
One of my favourite parts in the play: The rage of the young hotspur; a brilliant dialogue of this charming character; Shakespeare has quite a talent to draw such eccentric folks and let them shine in his plays.
@GreatGrumbledook That too, restraining their glory to but that of another fellow, not stealing light from the tale itself to sprinkle it upon some that may more to be favored and more to be remembered.
@BlahLalaification: Difficult to say; you should give an example or two that I can see to what plays and the portrait of historical figures you are referring to.
@GreatGrumbledook I'm referring to Shakespeare's talent of not limiting the scope of a play to one or two unforgettable characters, but including a myriad spectrum of personalities in the backdrop of one story, with the focus being on the story and not just one particular character's view of it.
@BlahLalaification: In many plays he does so indeed but he has also quite a lot of plays (like Henry VI Part I-III or Julius Caesar), which are centred around one character: Hamlet, Henry V or Richard III are such examples; sure, other figures have there place in them too but the main character drives them to their actions, in some lesser extent this is found in other plays as well, Othello for example; but in general you are right about this aspect of his work.
Henry IV was gravely ill in his later years, one the reasons his reign was only about 9 years. Among those diseases he suffered from was a serious skin condition with symptoms like leprosy. Without this background on Henry, the fidgeting merely serves as a distraction but, in reality, the constant picking and rubbing represents not only the literal disease but, as critics have noted, the curse upon himself and England for usurping Richard. So, he is trying to get the blood off his hands.
Dandewine89 10 months ago
Is it just me or is Henry continuously fidgeting with his fingers and hands throughout the whole play?
0718Sherry 10 months ago
IS THAT RICHARD FOR KEEPING UP APPEARANCES??!!!
AznRawkstarx3 1 year ago
One of my favourite parts in the play: The rage of the young hotspur; a brilliant dialogue of this charming character; Shakespeare has quite a talent to draw such eccentric folks and let them shine in his plays.
GreatGrumbledook 1 year ago
@GreatGrumbledook That too, restraining their glory to but that of another fellow, not stealing light from the tale itself to sprinkle it upon some that may more to be favored and more to be remembered.
BlahLalaification 1 year ago
@BlahLalaification: Difficult to say; you should give an example or two that I can see to what plays and the portrait of historical figures you are referring to.
GreatGrumbledook 1 year ago
@GreatGrumbledook I'm referring to Shakespeare's talent of not limiting the scope of a play to one or two unforgettable characters, but including a myriad spectrum of personalities in the backdrop of one story, with the focus being on the story and not just one particular character's view of it.
BlahLalaification 1 year ago
@BlahLalaification: In many plays he does so indeed but he has also quite a lot of plays (like Henry VI Part I-III or Julius Caesar), which are centred around one character: Hamlet, Henry V or Richard III are such examples; sure, other figures have there place in them too but the main character drives them to their actions, in some lesser extent this is found in other plays as well, Othello for example; but in general you are right about this aspect of his work.
GreatGrumbledook 1 year ago