the text carefully to glean clues on how to play the speech. It is important to note that Hal uses words with typically positive connotations to describe his enemy, Hotspur: “honor,” “renown,” “gallant,” and “all-praised.” Hal could spit the words out with contempt or draw them out exaggeratedly. He might choke up on one of the words. King Henry has not only compared his son Hal unfavorably to Hotspur, but he has also insinuated that Hal might actually join Hotspur in a fight against the King “to show how much thou art degenerate.” Would this not hurt a son’s feelings? Experiment by performing some of Hal’s lines with emotions such as contrite, hurt, angry, or bold.
The hurt might turn to anger and willfulness as Hal predicts that he will exchange Hotspur’s “glorious deeds” for his “indignities.” Thus the monologue can have several phases, moving from contrition through anger, boldness, and finally to the promise of loyalty. Hal’s words and phrases in the final lines of the speech portray assurance—“This in the name of God I promise here . . . I do beseech your Majesty”—and end with the strong pledge, “And I will die a hundred thousand deaths/Ere break the smallest parcel of this vow.”
These are the words of a Prince Hal quite changed from the carousing Hal of the tavern. They are the oaths of a prince ready to redeem his past transgressions and willing to die for King and country. Portray Hal’s dramatic personal transformation in your performance of Shakespeare’s moving words.
SUGGESTED VIEWING
THE HOLLOW CROWN
Season 1, Episode 2, 2012
Director: Richard Eyre
Starring: Jeremy Irons, Tom Hiddleston
HENRY IV, PART 1
Royal Shakespeare Company, 2014
Director: Gregory Doran
Starring: Jasper Britton, Alex Hassell
CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
The following is a list of characters that appear in this scene of Julius Caesar.
SET AND PROP LIST
SET PIECES:
Chair
PROPS:
Swords
Rome. BRUTUS’S orchard.
Enter NARRATOR from stage rear, coming downstage center.
NARRATOR
Brutus and the other conspirators decide to kill Caesar but spare Antony. Portia begs Brutus, her husband, to explain his change in mood. Storm clouds gather.
Exit NARRATOR stage left.
STAGE LEFT CHORUS make sounds of thunder; STAGE RIGHT CHORUS make sounds of rain.
Enter BRUTUS from stage right.
BRUTUS
It must be by his death: And for my part,
I know no personal cause to spurn at him,
But for the general. He would be crown’d:
It is the bright day that brings forth the adder;
STAGE RIGHT CHORUS gesture upward; STAGE LEFT CHORUS gesture downward.
Therefore think him as a serpent’s egg
Which, hatch’d, would, as his kind, grow mischievous,
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