Literature entry week 7: Say What?!
This week in literature we looked at Henry IV. Admittedly, this isn't one of my favourite works by shakespeare. Actually I'm not a fan at all. I don't know why. Sure I can appreciate it as a very well written pice of work with detailed characters and a world of meaning, I just can't really get into it.
However, in saying this, we read through a passage that just really got me.
FALSTAFF: 'Tis not due yet; I would be loath to pay him before his day. What need I be so forward with him that calls not on me? Well, 'tis no matter; honour pricks me on. Yea, but how if honour prick me off [130] when I come on? how then? Can honour set to a leg? no: or an arm? no: or take away the grief of a wound? no. Honour hath no skill in surgery, then? no. What is honour? a word. What is in that word honour? what is that honour? air. A trim reckoning! Who [135] hath it? he that died o' Wednesday. Doth he feel it? no. Doth he hear it? no. 'Tis insensible, then? Yea, to the dead. But will it not live with the living? no. Why? detraction will not suffer it. Therefore I'll none of it. Honour is a mere scutcheon: and so ends [140] my catechism
Ok. So basically, and correct me if I'm wrong, Falstaff is saying here that honour has no purpose other than being air, insensible. I'm sorry MG but I can't agree with him on this one.
To say that Honour is "just a word" is saying the same thing about any word. Love, Hate, Truth, Respect. But we all no these things are more than that. Not just "air"... Honour is a part of building someone's character. Are they trustworthy? Do they respect all people? Are they strong in fighting for what they believe?
It is only because here it is put into a military context that it is condemned, But we all know a war does not provide you with honour, not by how many people you kill. Maybe then, but now.
I'm kinda shocked that Falstaff could have said such a thing. Isn't he meant to be the wise fool? To show Shakespeare's true thoughts.
To say that is like saying a painting is just paint and a song is made up of air, which can't be any use.