Harry/Henry Potter and Harry/Henry V

[Caius Marcius]

No: HPFGUIDX 20320

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., rja.carnegie at e... wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., catherine at c... wrote:

>> > I am not sure that the parrallel works  though.  I just can't 
see our 
> > Harry as the irresponsible, fun loving Prince Hal which is 
portrayed 
> > in Henry IV Part 1.  Harry, for me, has a great sense of 
> > responsibility.  He also doesn't have the father/son issues of 
Prince 
> > Hal.  I also don't see Harry having the kind of friends such as 
> > Falstaff, Bardolph et al.

I agree - in so far as Harry resembles any Shakespeare character, I 
think it would be Hamlet.  Both have had a dreadful destiny thrust 
upon them. Both tend to be brooding and introspective, with perhaps 
more than a touch of self-pity, yet both can be galvanized into 
violent action. Harry's celebrity status is a good contemporary 
parallel for Hamlet's royalty. There is something of the eternal 
student about Hamlet (despite his 30 years). They both skilled 
athletes (Quidditch vs. fencing). They both tend to be highly 
restricted in their friends, but are completely open and trusting 
with them (Hamlet with Horatio, Harry with Ron and Hermione).  Their 
fathers have both been murdered, and their quest is to avenge that 
murder (with Hamlet, exclusively; with Harry, not entirely, but more 
than he may now think). Of course, the differences are as strong as 
the similarities: Harry's mother died heroically to save her son, 
while Gertrude is corrupted by her spouse's murderer; Hamlet lacks 
the guiding father figures which so often mentor Harry (Dumbledore, 
Black, Lupin, etc); Harry is untroubled by a complicated love-life 
(so far, at least); in spite of Rita Skeeter claims, Harry has no 
need to feign madness; Hamlet is more openly intellectual and 
philosphical than Harry, and much more sarcastic to boot; etc.

   - CMC