Probably one of the most aggressive characters to play within Shakespeare’s King Henry IV Part 1, Hotspur’s “hot headed” demeanor is one of the most intriguing and entertaining factors of the entire play. It is almost like a New Year’s Eve countdown reading a scene with him in it, as the audience just waits for the inevitable moment when the soldier would lose his temper and lash out at who is within a 5-mile radius of him. Maybe that is the characteristic the drew King Henry towards him in the first place. While his son Hal had more of a laid back and intellectual savant type of personality, Hotspur’s aggressive nature was an attractive character trait for the King who knew that in order to rule you must have the will to act at all times.
Yet, what if King Henry did have Hotspur as a son? I believe that Hotspur would not have had the lazy and relaxed type nature of Hal, but would have been a very hyper and willing soldier who’d jump into action at the very first sign of disturbance or an altercation. At first I believe that King Henry would have appreciated Hotspur’s dedication to be the best, and probably would have promoted him to the highest rank of military order. But there is a down side to this alternative scenario; as I believe that while the King would have been proud of his soldier-like son; his life span would have also been shortened. Hotspur’s lust for power would have eventually boiled over to the point in which he would take action towards King Henry and take over the throne. It is a situation in which a character’s position does not change his personality, but only reveals it to a hire degree. Though King Henry did kill his uncle Richard in order to take over the throne himself; so therefore I guess he and Hotspur would’ve have still obtained that “like father, like son” quality.
As the play works out, of course, Hal fulfills precisely the role that Christopher describes here, except that he kills the leader of the rebellion and not the king himself. Note that while Henry had wished out loud that Richard II were dead, he did not personally order anyone to kill him and certainly did not murder him himself. Hotspur’s hotheadedness is not a family trait of the reigning king and his son.
I feel if Hotspur was the complete opposite of who he is he would be a character like Falstaff, old and cowardly. Your analysis of Hotspur points to that. I like Hotspur rushing in to fights, just because he has a hero’s mentality and never gives up despite his disadvantage. I think every King need’s someone who is charistmatic enough to boost morale.