Analyising King Henry IV part1

Act 1

2. Prince Hal and Falstaff are friends, but for different reasons. Falstaff is friends with Prince Hal because Hal can give him a feeling of importance. He is the Prince of Wales’ confidant, which must give Falstaff a sense of worth and pride. Prince Hal, on the other hand, is friends with Fal for the sole purpose of fulfilling his ‘prodigal son’ plan. Fal is merely the facilitator of Prince Hal’s wild forays into the lower class of England. Both men need each other, and I think they both feed off that common need.
Falstaff represents the comic relief in the play. He is the butt of every joke, but he takes it in stride. He is never lacking a quick witted rebuttal. Falstaff had a very indulgent personality; he loves to eat and drink, but his large physical appetite is representative of his large mental appetite. He has a ‘fatness’ about his ability to think, although he rarely comes off as looking too incredibly smart. His large imagination adds quite a l...