The transformation of Hal, Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, from a youthfull trouble maker into a dignified King is one of the major psychological developments of Henry IV, Part 1. Hal struggles with the inablility to define his destined position in life; a responsible part of the monarch, as his father much desires, or a rogue like John Falstaff, a fat old man who steals and lies for a living. In the early stages of the play, Hal spends most of his time in taverns on the shabby side of London, hanging around with highwaymen and vagrants. Shortly thereafter, the first stages of transformation emerge as he hints of uncertainty about his role in the state and talks of abandoning his vagabond ways to behave as a royal prince should. By the end of the play he proves that he will fulfil his role and embrace his royal blood by standing with his father to fight in battle.
He had long planned to do this, as was earlier revealed in I.ii. Hal says explicitly that he is only behaving so badly in order to make his eventual reformation more impressive.
"So when this loose behavior i throw off / and pay the debt i never promised...."
In this line he refers to his relationship with
For my part, if a lie may do thee grace,
"I shall hereafter, my thrice gracious lord,
Hal talks of Falstaffs need for the recognition of having killed Hotspur. Other than attempting to prove his lie false, as he may have done at the beginning of the play, Hal accepts that Falstaff needs to lie in order to make himself look better and feel better about himself. Although Hal comes to these realizations, their friendship does not end on a bad note. Hal's transition unknowingly led them down different paths.
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