Henry IV
Act 4 Scene 1
Summary
Hotspur, Worcester, and Douglas converse at the rebel camp near Shrewsbury.
Hotspur and Douglas flatter one another for being brave, honorable warriors. A
messenger enters delivering letters from Northumberland that say he has gotten
very sick and can’t join forces with Hotspur and the rest of the rebels as planned. Still,
he cheers on their cause and reminds them there’s no backing out now because King
Henry has gotten wind of the treason plot. Worcester is worried about fighting
without Northumberland’s help and forces and fears King Henry’s side will suspect
Northumberland defected because the rebels are disorganized and fractious.
Analysis
The treason plot Worcester so carefully strategized is falling apart. Without
Northumberland’s forces, the rebels’ army is much weaker than it would have been
and will have a harder time facing the King’s troops on the battlefield. Further, the
failure of Northumberland to come makes the rebels also look bad, effective morale
and their ability to attract allies. Appearance is important to armies, too, not just to
individuals.
Summary
Hotspur dismisses Worcester’s fears, insisting that fighting without Northumberland
gives them a chance to win even greater honor and glory for themselves, since their
victory will be that much more impressive. Douglas affirms Hotspur’s point, saying
“there is not such a word spoke in Scotland as this term of fear.”
Analysis
Hotspur is, as usual, unwilling to think of war in practical terms of strategy and safety
and can only focus on further opportunities to enhance his honor in battle.
Summary
Sir Richard Vernon enters and informs them that Westmoreland and Prince
John’s are marching towards them with seven thousand troops, and that King
Henry and Prince Hal will come with even more. Vernon describes Prince Hal as
“feather’d Mercury,” magnificently outfitted for battle. Hotspur balks at Vernon’s
praise of Hal and declares that all King Henry’s troops “come like sacrifices in their
trim.” He is eager to fight Prince Hal and calls for his horse to “bear me, like a
thunderbolt, against the bosom of the Prince of Wales.” He hotly anticipates the fight
of “Harry and Harry,” and is confident he’ll emerge victorious.
Analysis
Vernon’s metaphor for Prince Hal compares him to a god—the Roman god “Mercury.”
Hotspur, unwilling to entertain the image of Prince Hal as godly, retorts that the prince
and his troops are nothing but sacrifices and implies a comparison between himself
and the Roman god Jupiter, whose weapon was a thunderbolt. Hotspur is competitive
even in being compared to gods, choosing one even more powerful than the one
compared to Hal.
Summary
Vernon explains that Glendower, who has been due to arrive shortly, will not to be
able to organize his troops in time. Douglas and Worcester are dismayed by this
news. The rebels will now have to take on King Henry’s thirty thousand troops at a
great numerical disadvantage. Hotspur, though, remains optimistic and keen to
charge into battle, calling the others to ride into the fighting with him. All exit.
Analysis
Without Glendower, Worcester’s battle strategy frays even further. Yet Hotspur
remains unperturbed by the grim facts and focuses exclusively on his dreams of glory
and self-confidence in his physical abilities.
