The Death of a Thief

Within Henry IV, Part I, Prince Hal's identity is one of the most important evolutions within the play relating to a metaphorical death. Similar to that of Oedipus, Hal's evolution from a rebellious thief to an impartial king is a representation of the death of his past self. Hal's soliloquy in the first act tells the audience the truth of Hal's plan. He plans to act rebellious and disappointing until the time is right and he will look even better in the public eye for shedding his badly reputed past self and becoming the wonderful king figure. Death of Hal's past self is arguably one of the most important themes in the play, and the question of whether he will or will not fulfill his plan. Both Falstaff and Hal "fake" a death for the betterment of themselves. Hal's being the death of his thief past and Falstaff more so in a humorous and witty way to evade death itself. Either way reinvention of oneself can almost be considered as a death of one's past self.