Sir John Falstaff's influence on Prince Hal in "I Henry IV"

Sir John Falstaff's Influence on Prince Hal in I Henry IV         In Shakespearean histories, there is always one individual who influences the major character and considerably advances the plot. In I Henry IV by William Shakespeare, Falstaff is such a character. Sir John Falstaff is perhaps the most complex comic character ever invented. He carries a dignified presence in the mind's eye; and in him, we recognize our internal admiration and jealousy of the rebellious …

…Falstaff ultimately trains Hal and molds his reputation such that he undoubtedly becomes the most beloved king of that era. Hal's popularity enables him to consolidate power and unite the country against the older aristocracy. Hal is a man of the people through theft, wit, and exposure in the streets of London. Through Falstaff's friendship, Prince Hal rises from the gutter and overcomes familial oppression to become a hero who absorbs the spirit of London.