It may be difficult for the modern reader to appreciate the power struggle that underlies HENRY IV, Part 1 (1H4). As the causes of the Wars of the Roses and the struggles of the House of Lancaster fade from memory, it is useful to have a prism through which to examine the political and military machinations of Henry, Harry and Hotspur then as they struggle to define both the future of England and their personal claims to leadership. The Prince offers such a lens. Written in 1513, just 83 years before the play, Machiavelli's treatise on foreign policy and leadership provides insight into the actions of these three characters. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay At the opening of the play, Westmorland informs Henry IV that he has received a message from Wales that is.. . loaded with heavy news, the worst of which was that the noble Mortimer, leading the men of Herefordshire to fight against the irregular and savage Glendower, was captured by the crude hands of this Welshman, a thousand of his people massacred, on the corpse from which there was so much abuse, so bestial and shameless. transformation By these Welsh women, which is perhaps not the case without a lot of shame recounted or mentioned (1H4 1.1.37-46). This missive was followed by "still more uneven and unwelcome news" that Percy had followed "his uncle's teaching" and "for his own use he keeps" all the prisoners except the Earl of Fife (1H4 1.1.70-75) In this way, Henry's enemies are introduced and Hotspur's loyalty called into question. The first step in applying a Machiavellian analysis to this situation is to determine whether the struggle concerns a principate. hereditary or mixed principality Since the Welsh and Scottish forces remain distinct and separate groups over which the English retain limited control, one is inclined to refer to them as a "mixed principality", an entity which "is not entirely new but like a graft freshly joined to an ancient kingdom” (Machiavelli 5). Following this analysis, the loyalties of the combatants appear conflicting at best because the problems associated with such a state arise "from a natural difficulty... which is that all men are ready to change masters in the hope of improve” (Machiavelli 5). At the beginning of the play, Hotspur and Worcester appear as examples of fighters struggling to change masters. Their loyalty to Henry conflicts with their loyalty to the Percy family. Under these circumstances, Machiavelli advises that “one of the best and most effective policies would be for the new owner to go there and live” (Machiavelli 6). While Henry remains firmly ensconced on the throne in London, Hotspur and Harry venture across the world and engage in interactions that could eventually produce the benefit Machiavelli says results from such relocation - namely "when "You're there, you can see problems getting started and I can take care of them right away" (Machiavelli 7). Hotspur follows Worcester's advice to return to Scotland with the prisoners and "deliver them directly without ransom" (Machiavelli 7). 1H4 1.3.257). Additionally, while in Scotland he should enter into negotiations and "make Douglas's son your only means / of obtaining powers in Scotland, which /... will be easily granted to him" (1H4 1.3.258-261). Just like "going and living there", these trips could have much the same purpose as that imagined by Machiavelli in that they provide first-hand information. , the temperament ofHotspur prevents him from making the most of such trips. Although the reader does not witness Hotspur's negotiations with Douglas, the negotiations with Owen Glendower show that Hotspur is incapable of "going there and living there" - either literally or in the more metaphorical sense, of being able to do silence your own impulses long enough to learn. Glendower's strengths as an ally. Instead of taking the opportunity to get a feel for the Welsh terrain and assess Glendower, Hotspur antagonizes him senseless, insulting everything from his ability to speak English (1H4 3.1.114-117), his history of repelling Henry IV (1H4 3.1 .65- 67) and its magical powers (1H4 3.1.24-34). Oddly enough, although Harry does not move or travel the distances Hotspur does, his behavior seems to further the goals sought by the Machiavellian advice to "go there and live there." ". We see him traveling a different distance from the seat of power and playing an entirely different role with his companions at the Boar's Head Tavern. Although he is only a "temporary inhabitant of Eastcheap" (1H4 39 ), his ability to step out of his usual role and observe life outside the palace makes him a more effective ruler in the long run. This is consistent with the Machiavellian adage that the prince devotes his attention to learning because. that “what he learns will be doubly useful; first, he will know his own land and understand better how to defend it” (Machiavellian 41 also sheds light on the behavior of Henry, Harry and Hotspur). the Battle of Shrewsbury Hotspur's allies betray him and leave him on the battlefield with little support. He continues to express enthusiasm for the battle despite Douglas's characterization of the loss of Glendower's support as "the worst." news that I have ever heard” (1H4 4.1.126). However, as he prepares for battle, Hotspur begins to hesitate. When Blount presents "gracious offers from the king" (1H4 4.3.30), Hotspur explodes with his list of grievances against the king. However, at the end of this scene he raises the possibility of accepting the king's offer, saying "And perhaps we will" (4.3.112). Such hesitations expose him to the "contempt and hatred" against which Machiavelli warned: "what makes a prince contemptible is considered changeable... He must be sure that his judgment, once rendered, is irrevocable » (Machiavelli 50). In this period of crisis, Hotspur was unable to gain a popular base or exercise coherent judgment; if he had survived, this hesitation (and his lack of reasoned responses) would expose him to contempt and hatred. In offering this opportunity for peace, Henry appreciates the Machiavellian maxim that military power is the poorest means of retaining or conquering a mixed principality. Machiavelli notes that “the entire state is injured when the prince drags his army with him from one place to another. Everyone feels the disadvantages, every man becomes an enemy” (Machiavelli 7). Blount attempts to dissuade Hotspur by saying, "you conjure from the bosom of civil peace / such bold hostility, teaching his subject land / bold cruelty (1H4 4.3.43-45) and promises that "you will have your desires with interest / and absolute forgiveness for yourself” (1H4 4.3.49-50). Henry's unexpected offer of reconciliation shows his understanding that in the long run, "defense by armies is useless" when it comes to mixed principalities (Machiavelli 7). While Hotspur and Henry weigh strategies and prospects for war, Harry goes into battle. His decisive and decisive actions are consistent with Machiavelli's description of the "military duties of the prince" (Machiavelli 40). His victory over Hotspur shows that despite his..