Misidentified Monarchs

I’ve been noticing mistaken identities in Cymbeline and Henry IV Part I. Obviously we’ve already gone through the frankly astounding number of confused identities in Cymbeline: Innogen as unfaithful, Innogen as Fidele, Fidele as dead, Cloten as Posthumus, Posthumus as Italian…the list goes on. It’s hard not to notice the sheer frequency with which mistaken identities occur, and how absolutely ridiculous they are at times. Mistaken identities are a little more subtle in Henry IV. The most notable misidentification, I think, is King Henry’s (honestly, everyone’s) negative evaluation of Prince Hal. Aka Harry. Aka Henry V. He has many names.

The audience is aware that little Hal will one day grow up to be perhaps the greatest king of England. They know he is brave, compassionate, inspirational, clever and kind, and yet no one else can see this in Hal, least of all Hal himself. Prince Henry has no idea he is destined for greatness, or that he has the tools to achieve it. He only identifies himself as a fun loving drunkard, and a failure of a son. In a compelling soliloquy in Act I Scene II, lines 185-207 in the Arden edition, Hal vocalizes this, and vows to change. “I’ll so offend to make offence a skill, redeeming time when men think least I will,” (I.iii.206-207). Of course there are many ways this soliloquy can be interpreted, but the interpretation that seems most true to me is succinctly described in our notes by Johnson: “…a great mind offering excuses to itself,” (Kastan 162).

As Innogen is identified as false and unfaithful, as Cloten is identified as princely and good, as the Queen is identified as kind, Prince Hal is identified as good for nothing. I think the misidentification in both plays allows for greater character development, and a fuller arc of self-discovery; it’s much more satisfying to see Hal questioning who he is and how much he is worth, and eventually realizing his full potential than have him perfect from the beginning. It makes him human, and relatable. We all have questions about who we are, we all misidentify ourselves and others. It creates room for growth.

posted on behalf of Emily Sullivan