Honor in Shakespeare
Many tragic heroes had honor which was either their downfall or theirpositive trait. In Shakespeare's Henry IV Part 1, Hotspur, a hot tempered traitor,makes honor his first priority for him and his family . Although the king praisedhim, he led a rebellion against him. In Julius Caesar Brutus, a honor drivenconspirator, believes too much in honor and uses nor as a way to justify hisaction. He is admired by the Roman people, but was easily manipulated intojoining a conspiracy and immediately took as the leader to killing Caesar. Both ofthese characters are very similar in how they perceived and lived their lives. Shakespeare creates Brutus and Hotspur as characters whose principle concernis for themselves and honor which ironically causes them to make unprincipleddecisions which eventually causes their downfall. Hotspur lives his life by the code of honor. Henry IV, the king at that time,honors and respects Hotspur more than his own son. When Hotspur does notgive the prisoners that he had captured to the king, it is treason because hedefies against the king. Hotspur says that he did not want to hand over theprisoners because his army had just fought a hard battle a
In addition, Hotspur and Brutus are both arrogant and egotistical. First, Cassius fawns towards Brutus tomanipulate him for his own purposes. The king says, "Send us your prisoners, or you will hear of it" (Henry IV Part 1, I, iii, 126). Cassius explains to Brutus that Caesar isno better than any other Roman, the Romans do not want an emperor, and thathe has a duty to his family to bring down an emperor. Hotspur andBrutus think of themselves and are very selfish. He says, " There was a Brutus once that would have brooked th' eternaldevil to keep his state in Rome as easily as a king" (Julius Caesar, I, ii, 167-170). First,Hotspur believes that the king will ransom Mortimer from captivity in Wales for theprisoners. New York: Washington Square Press, Pocket Books, 1994. Then when allthe conspirators meet in Wales to make final the terms of their plot against kingHenry and to determine how they will divide up the conquered kingdom, Hotspurridicules Glendower to his face because he believes the he is better thanGlendower. Their egos and their struggles for power makes themsusceptible to manipulation and corruption. Cassius flatters Brutusand provokes Brutus by telling him that it is his duty for his family is to kill theking. Equally, Brutus is also a poordecision maker. Leaders should take into account other factors when theymake decisions.
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Acceptance Essays
