"Henry IV" and "The Taming of the Shrew differ in that one .
is a historical drama, the other a comedy.
very major similarity: how the main characters, Prince Hal and .
Katherine, relate to their fathers. They both seem to reject .
their social roles. Hal immature and heedless of his .
proper place in the world as a respectable prince. Katherine, in .
"The Taming of the Shrew", is contemptuous and repellent towards .
her suitors.
In "Henry IV", the King believes that to effectively lead .
the country one needs to lead by example. According to the King's .
philosophy the best man is the one who lives a pure life and in .
doing so, attains respect and honor from other men. To the King's .
way of thinking Hotspur is more fit to be a king than Prince Hal, .
a comparison that the King makes several times. In Act I, Scene I .
King Henry makes his first comparison of Hotspur to his son .
saying that Lord Northumberland's son, Hotspur was "A son who is .
the theme of honor's tounge." while Prince Hal was marked by .
".riot and dishonor." In fact the King goes so far as to wish .
that Hotspur was his son and not Prince Hal. The reason for this .
being Hal is a party boy and given to carousing around. In his .
father's view, he has done nothing to prove him worthy of being .
the heir to the crown and is a disgrace to the honor and legacy .
of his principality, ".And art almost an alien to the hearts of .
all the court and princes of my blood. The hope and expectation .
of they time is ruined." (III.ii.36-39). Also Henry does not .
approve of the company in which is son keeps, namely Falstaff .
whom he thinks is a bad influence, ".Mingled his royalty with .
cap"ring fools, had his great name profaned with their .
scorns.grew a companion to the common streets." (III.ii.65-.
70) We see this is probably true when at the end, Prince Hal .
comes storming into battle like the valiant prince his father .
always wanted him to be , goes against his friend and saves .
his father and crown.
