Open AccessThe Rejection of Falstaff
Author(s) -
Juan José Torres Núñez
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
odisea
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2174-1611
pISSN - 1578-3820
DOI - 10.25115/odisea.v0i1.9
Subject(s) - victory , henry iv, holy roman emperor , power (physics) , order (exchange) , economic justice , history , law , philosophy , literature , political science , art , art history , performance art , economics , politics , physics , finance , quantum mechanics
This article discusses the rejection of Falstaff comparing Act 5, scene 5 of 2 Henry IV, with Act 1, scene 2 of 1 Henry IV. The rejection is inevitable because Falstaff represents disorder. His triumph would mean the victory of anarchy over order, stability and justice. But we become so involved with him that we even tolerate his conspiracies. He is clever, funny and one of the most fascinating characters in English literature. The two plays show the Prince as a good student of Machiavelli; we could consider them as a practical guide to instruct the Prince in his road to power.