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Shaw's Saint Joan And Shakespeare's Henry IV: Honor And Valor - Papers Online

Shaw's Saint Joan And Shakespeare's Henry IV: Honor And Valor

In Shakespeare’s play Henry IV, Part 1 Shakespeare takes the different attitudes of Falstaff and Prince Hal to show the danger and rewards of honor and valor. In a similar but different fashion the play Saint Joan, written by Bernard Shaw, uses a single character, Joan or the Maid, to show the perils and merit one can receive with honor and valor.
Shakespeare satirizes honor and valor with the use of Falstaff, one of his characters known for his comical relief. Falstaff exploits the dangers of being to heroic to the point it may bring about the death of thy ownself. In a soliloquy at the end of Act V scene I Falstaff is describing his view of honor, “What is honour? a word…he that died ...

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their own honor was their downfall. Lastly Falstaff believes a man with honor will not or cannot be remembered forever for distractions will fade the memory of the fallen hero in every man’s mind. Falstaff defies the image of a hero simply because he doesn’t believe in honor and would save himself rather than give own life to save another. Falstaff exposes this in a conversation with his trusted friend Prince Hal:
“Prince--I prithee, lend me thy sword.
Falstaff—Nay, before God, if Percy be alive, thou get’st not my sword…”
Falstaff is hesitant to give up his sword for fear he might be slain without it.

Bernard Shaw explores how Joan’s arrogance becomes an obstacle in her quest for heroism. Whoever Joan speaks to throughout with the entire play, she proclaims she is correct and never wrong, “But I do know better than any of you seem to. And I am not proud; I never speak unless I know I am right,” which defines arrogance. Joan thinks she is better than everyone else because she ...

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Shaw's Saint Joan And Shakespeare's Henry IV: Honor And Valor. (2007, April 19). Retrieved January 11, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Shaws-Saint-Joan-Shakespeares-Henry-IV/63600

"Shaw's Saint Joan And Shakespeare's Henry IV: Honor And Valor." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 19 Apr. 2007. Web. 11 Jan. 2026. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Shaws-Saint-Joan-Shakespeares-Henry-IV/63600>

"Shaw's Saint Joan And Shakespeare's Henry IV: Honor And Valor." Essayworld.com. April 19, 2007. Accessed January 11, 2026. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Shaws-Saint-Joan-Shakespeares-Henry-IV/63600.

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 4/19/2007 09:20:41 PM
Category: Arts
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 910
Pages: 4

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