Free Henry IV Essays: The Reign of a Tyrant :: Henry IV Henry V Essays

total heat IV The Reign of a Tyrant Although the blame for the fall of Richard II and the rise of total heat IV can be shared by them both, Henry IV having established the precedence of prehendation finds England wracked with civil skirmish after only one year on the throne. Henry IV discovers the impossible situation of a monarch who in ma exponent some(prenominal) choice or decision must face the opposition of those who take issue with him and support the other side of the issue. Henry IV has desired to glide by a Crusade perhaps as penance for the death of Richard. However, civil problems prevent his actions at every turn. The Percys with young Hotspurs recent victory against the Scots find themselves with many nobles among the prisoners. They refuse to surrender these prisoners to Henry IV simply elect to use them for their own purposes. Amongst themselves the Percys reveal their desire to be dispense with of Henry and their sorrow that they ever turned from Richa rd. One of their relatives should be king instead of Henry since Richard II had named Mor seasonr as his heir. All their discontent, ambition to be possessed of a king in their family, and doubts about Henry IVs right to be king combine to bring them to a point of uniting the diverse centers of rebellion against Henry IV into one united effort to usurp the throne and restore it to Mortimer, Richards heir. Perhaps even more distressing for Henry IV is the behavior of Prince Hal. Henry desires a son who will reflect all his strengths. Instead he finds in Hal a mirror of his weaknesses. Hal is consorting with thieves acquirement to steal even as his father stole a crown. unspoiled as his father courted the affections of the common people before he became king, Hal spends his time with common people and the low pursuits of drinking, whoring, and stealing.