"Ellen Schoeters is a member of Actorama + where actors can upload a monologue or scene performance for peer review. What do you think of Ellen Schoeters's performance?"
(0 votes)
| Character | Hotspur | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Male | |
| Age Range(s) | Young Adult (20-35), Adult (36-50), Senior (>50) | |
| Type of monologue / Character is | Angry, Persuasive, Descriptive, Complaining, Reminiscing life story/Telling a story | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Period | Renaissance | |
| Genre | Historical | |
| Description | Hotspur explains why he didn't obey the King's orders | |
| Location | ACT I, Scene 3 | |
Summary
The play has two main storylines that come together at the end in the battle of Shrewsbury. One storyline is about King Henry dealing with his son Prince Henry who has forsaken the royal court to spend his time in taverns with shady characters. The other storyline concerns the rebellion by a group of noblemen, led by Harry Percy "Hotspur", against King Henry.
As the play opens we learn that King Henry is dealing with rebellions against the English army by the Scots and Welsh. His army, led by Harry Percy "Hotspur" has managed to defeat the Scots at Holmedon but he refuses to send his prisoners to the king. The king is furious and orders them to the court to explain his behavior. In this monologue, in ACT I, Scene 3, Hotspur explains to the king why he refused to send him his prisoners. He tells the king that his messenger arrived right after he had finished fighting and didn't show any respect for him and his soldiers. Exhausted and wounded from the battle, he felt insulted and refused his requests.
As the play opens we learn that King Henry is dealing with rebellions against the English army by the Scots and Welsh. His army, led by Harry Percy "Hotspur" has managed to defeat the Scots at Holmedon but he refuses to send his prisoners to the king. The king is furious and orders them to the court to explain his behavior. In this monologue, in ACT I, Scene 3, Hotspur explains to the king why he refused to send him his prisoners. He tells the king that his messenger arrived right after he had finished fighting and didn't show any respect for him and his soldiers. Exhausted and wounded from the battle, he felt insulted and refused his requests.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
|---|
| HOTSPUR My liege, I did deny no prisoners. But I remember, when the fight was done, When I was dry with rage and extreme toil, Breathless and faint, leaning upon my sword, Came there a certain lord, neat, and trimly dress'd, Fresh as a bridegroom; and his chin new reap'd Show'd like a stubble-land at harvest-home; He was perfumed like a milliner; And 'twixt his finger and his thumb he held A pouncet-box, which ever and anon He gave his nose and took't away again; Who therewith angry, when it next came there, Took it in snuff; and still he smiled and talk'd, And as the soldiers bore dead bodies by, He call'd them untaught knaves, unmannerly, To bring a slovenly unhandsome corse Betwixt the wind and his nobility. With many holiday and lady terms He question'd me; amongst the rest, demanded My prisoners in your majesty's behalf. I then, all smarting with my wounds being cold, To be so pester'd with a popinjay, Out of my grief and my impatience, Answer'd neglectingly I know not what, He should or he should not; for he made me mad To see him shine so brisk and smell so sweet And talk so like a waiting-gentlewoman Of guns and drums and wounds,--God save the mark!-- And telling me the sovereign'st thing on earth Was parmaceti for an inward bruise; And that it was great pity, so it was, This villanous salt-petre should be digg'd Out of the bowels of the harmless earth, Which many a good tall fellow had destroy'd So cowardly; and but for these vile guns, He would himself have been a soldier. This bald unjointed chat of his, my lord, I answer'd indirectly, as I said; And I beseech you, let not his report Come current for an accusation Betwixt my love and your high majesty. |
