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Henry IV Act 4 Scene 2

In Act 4 Scene 2 of Henry IV, Falstaff reveals his selfishness as a military captain, having enlisted wealthy cowards to avoid fighting, resulting in a weak and pitiful troop. Prince Hal and Westmoreland express concern over Falstaff's soldiers, while Falstaff dismisses their worth, viewing them as mere 'food for powder.' The scene highlights the philosophical divide between Hal and Falstaff regarding the value of soldiers and the nature of war.

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20 views2 pages

Henry IV Act 4 Scene 2

In Act 4 Scene 2 of Henry IV, Falstaff reveals his selfishness as a military captain, having enlisted wealthy cowards to avoid fighting, resulting in a weak and pitiful troop. Prince Hal and Westmoreland express concern over Falstaff's soldiers, while Falstaff dismisses their worth, viewing them as mere 'food for powder.' The scene highlights the philosophical divide between Hal and Falstaff regarding the value of soldiers and the nature of war.

Uploaded by

fangtaitai.sydney
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Henry IV

Act 4 Scene 2

Summary

On a public road near Coventry, Falstaff nags Bardolph to go buy him some wine.
Bardolph exits. Falstaff reflects that he should be “ashamed of [his] soldiers,” for he
has abused his role as army captain for his own gain: he has deliberately enlisted
(“pressed”) wealthy, cowardly men he knew would never want to fight in the war, and
those men have paid-off Falstaff to let other men to take their places. Falstaff’s troops
are now full of “the cankers of a calm world and a long peace”: pitiful, old and/or
impoverished men, ex-slaves, ex-convicts, young boys, etc. A passerby told Falstaff
his troops looked like a bunch of corpses.
Analysis
Falstaff has, unsurprisingly, proved an ineffective military captain. Instead of acting
for the good of his army and cause, he has acted for the good of his wallet. Yet, rather
than owning up to his selfishness, Falstaff places much of the blame for his weak
troops on the consequences of peacetime. A peaceful England has, he claims,
softened its population and rendered them inept warriors.

Summary

Prince Hal and Westmoreland enter and Falstaff is surprised to see them, since he
thought they’d already ridden off to the battlefield. They explain that they are on their
way, and that Falstaff had better prepare to start fighting soon as well. Falstaff tells
them not to worry about him. Prince Hal and Westmoreland express dismay at the
“pitiful rascals” making up Falstaff’s troops. “Tut, tut,” Falstaff replies, “food for
powder; they’ll fill a pit as well as better….mortal men, mortal men.” Prince Hal and
Westmoreland exit, hurrying towards the battlefield. Falstaff exits after them,
remarking that “a dull fighter” always enters a war towards the war’s end.
Analysis
Falstaff’s description of his troops is uttered lightheartedly, but it reveals a grimly
profound truth about war: indeed, most soldiers are nothing but “food for powder,”
mere cogs in the bloody work of battle where the number of soldiers matters far more
than any one soldier’s individual identity or worth. Hal’s dismay again suggests an
underlying philosophical difference between him and Falstaff, and that he ultimately is
closer in his beliefs to his father than he is to Falstaff, even if he enjoys Falstaff’s
company and antics.

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