After reading Cymbeline, the idea of divinity of nobility became a prominent
problem within the play. The two stolen sons of King Cymbeline maintain their
nature of noblemen despite being raised on the false identity of being Welsh
countrymen. In this instance, the power of nature overrules the power of
nurture and the true ‘divine’ sons of the king are worthy and honorable.
In the beginning of King Henry IV Part 1, King Henry IV
proclaims his wish that his lazy son Prince Hal was more like Hotspur, a noble
boy who embodies the nobility and characteristics that a ruler should possess.
Henry even fantasizes that the boys were somehow switched, and that Hotspur was
actually his son who was destined to become king someday. This fantasy that
Henry imagines goes against the idea of divine rule and that the honorable
characteristics of rulers can be found within men who are not in line to
inherit the crown. I believe that the idea of honor and nature of nobility was
present in both plays to show there are flaws in the system and that the idea
of only royalty displaying royal qualities is a false belief.
Within King Henry IV Part 1, King Henry
exclaims, “O that it could be proved
that some night-tripping fairy had exchanged in cradle clothes our children
where they lay, and called mine Percy, his Plantagenet!” (1.1. 85-88) Though
Henry is already plagued with the idea of legitimacy of the crown due to the
recent overthrow, he can’t help but hope his son was more like Hotspur, or
rather that the two were actually switched. Henry is ashamed of what his
lineage has to show, and wants his line to succeed the reign for many years,
but worries about the succession when his son has little honorable qualities.
The idea of honorable nature ruling over the royal lineage is a false claim
that is a major problem within Cymbeline
and King Henry IV Part 1.
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