It may be difficult for the modern reader to appreciate the power struggle underlying HENRY IV, Part 1 (1H4). As the causes of the Wars of the Roses and the struggles of the House of Lancaster recede from memory, it is useful to have a lens through which to examine the political and military machinations of Henry, Harry, and Hotspur as they struggle to define both the future of England and their personal claims to leadership. The Prince provides such a goal. Written in 1513, just 83 years before the work, Machiavelli's treatise on foreign policy and leadership provides a deeper understanding of the actions of these three characters. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay At the beginning of the play, Westmorland informs Henry IV that he has received a mail from Wales which is... laden with heavy news, of whom the worst was that the noble Mortimer, leading the Herefordshire men to fight against the wild and irregular Glendower, was taken from the rude hands of that Welshman, a thousand of his people slaughtered, on whose corpse there was such abuse, such a bestial shameless transformation wrought by those Welsh women, how could it not be told or spoken without much shame (1H4 1.1.37-46). This missive was followed by "still more irregular and unwelcome news" that Percy has followed "his uncle's teaching" and "for his own use holds" all prisoners except the Earl of Fife (1H4 1.1.70-75 ). This introduces Henry's enemies and calls Hotspur's loyalty into question. The first step in applying a Machiavellian analysis to this situation is to determine whether the struggle is over a hereditary principality or a mixed principality. Given that the Welsh and Scottish forces remain distinct and separate groups over which the English maintain limited control, one is inclined to characterize it as a "mixed principality", an entity that is "not entirely new but as a newly merged graft of an old kingdom" (Machiavelli 5). Following this analysis, the loyalties of the combatants appear, at best, conflicted because the problems associated with such a state arise from "a natural difficulty... that all men are ready to changing masters in the hope of improving themselves" (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 possessor to go there and live" (Machiavelli 6). they engage in interactions that could conceivably gain the benefit that Machiavelli believes comes from such transfer – that is, “when you are on the spot, you can see problems and can solve them right away” (Machiavelli 7). Hotspur follows Worcester's advice to return to Scotland with the prisoners and "hand them over without right of ransom" (1H4 1.3.257). Furthermore, while in Scotland, he should enter into negotiations and "make Douglas' son your only means / to powers in Scotland, which /... will be easily granted" (1H4 1.3.258-261). Although not exactly Just like "going and living there", these trips could have much the same purpose as imagined by Machiavelli in that they provide first-hand information. Unfortunately, Hotspur's temperament prevents him from making the most of these trips. Although the reader does not witness Hotspur's negotiations with Douglas, the negotiations with Owen Glendower showthat Hotspur is incapable of "going to live there" - neither literally nor in the more metaphorical sense of being able to silence his own impulses long enough to learn firsthand Glendower's strengths as an ally. Instead, taking the opportunity to get a feel for Welsh territory and evaluate Glendower, Hotspur senselessly antagonizes him, insulting everything from his ability to speak English (1H4 3.1.114-117), to his history of repelling Henry IV (1H4 3.1.65-67) and his magical powers (1H4 3.1.24-34). Curiously, although Harry does not move or travel the distances he traveled from Hotspur, his behavior appears to more closely achieve the goals sought by the Machiavellian advice to "go there and live there." ". We see him travel a different distance from the seat of power and play 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 break out of his usual role and observing 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 attention to learning because “what he learns will be doubly useful; the sooner he will know his own land, and will better understand how to defend it" (Machiavelli 41). A Machiavellian analysis also sheds light on the behavior of Henry, Harry and Hotspur during the Battle of Shrewsbury. Hotspur's allies betray him and leave him on the field of battle with little support. He continues to express enthusiasm for the battle despite Douglas's calling the loss of Glendower's support "the worst news I ever heard of" (1H4 4.1.126). Hotspur begins to falter. When Blount arrives with "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 the king's offer, saying "And perhaps we will" (4.3.112). Such hesitation opens him up to the "contempt and hatred" warned against by Machiavelli who observed that "what makes a prince despicable is the be considered changeable… He should be sure that his judgment, once passed, is irrevocable” (Machiavelli 50). In this time of crisis, Hotspur was unable to win a popular base or exercise coherent judgment; had he survived, this hesitation (and his lack of reasoned responses) would have led to contempt and hatred. In offering this opportunity for peace, Henry appreciates the Machiavellian maxim that military might is the poorest way to maintain or win a mixed principality. Machiavelli notes that "the whole state is harmed when the prince drags his army with him from place to place. Everyone suffers inconveniences, every man becomes an enemy" (Machiavelli 7). Blount tries to dissuade Hotspur, saying, "thou conjurest from the bosom of civil peace / Such bold hostility, teaching his land submissive / Bold cruelty (1H4 4.3.43-45) and promises that 'you will have your wishes with interest / And pardon absolute to yourself" (1H4 4.3.49-50). Henry's unexpected offer of reconciliation shows that he understands that, in the long run, "the defense of armies is useless" compared to mixed principalities (Machiavelli 7). While Hotspur and Henry weigh war strategies and prospects, Harry goes into battle. His determined and decisive actions are consistent with Machiavelli's description of the “prince's military duties” (Machiavelli 40). defenseless makes you despicable" (Machiavelli 41) or to the accusation of "mismanagement of his clemency" (Machiavelli 45). 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