Many tragic heroes had honor which was either their downfall or their
positive 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 praised
him, he led a rebellion against him. In Julius Caesar Brutus, a honor driven
conspirator, believes too much in honor and uses nor as a way to justify his
action. He is admired by the Roman people, but was easily manipulated into
joining a conspiracy and immediately took as the leader to killing Caesar. Both of
these characters are very similar in how they perceived and lived their lives.
Shakespeare creates Brutus and Hotspur as characters whose principle concern
is for themselves and honor which ironically causes them to make unprincipled
decisions 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 not
give the prisoners that he had captured to the king, it is treason because he
defies against the king. Hotspur says that he did not want to hand over the
prisoners because his army had just fought a hard battle and were very proud of
what they had done. When the servant came looking very clean and trimly
dressed, they felt that if they gives the prisoners to him then Hotspur and his
army would be giving away everything they had worked and fought for. Hotspur
feels that the king attacks his honor when he orders those prisoner be sent to
him. The king becomes angry because Hotspur had time to think about his
decision and Hotspur still had not given the soldiers to him. The king says, "
Send us your prisoners, or you will hear of it" (Henry IV Part 1, I, iii, 126). Brutus
also believes that honor is what makes a man. He says, " For let the gods so
speed me as I love the name of honor more ...