Comparing the Hero in Henry IV and Dr. Faustus :: comparison compare contrast essays

Becoming a Hero in Henry IV and Dr. Faustus Hero worship has existed in this world since the outset of time, from the Jews honoring Moses, to the Germans honoring Adolf Hitler. Becoming a hero is a very difficult thing to accomplish. One must be successful in gaining the worship of ones peers while at the same time not developing to big of an ego. Two examples of men trying to become heroes are Prince Henry and Dr. Faustus. Both, in their individual plays, have the capabilities of becoming a hero, but only Prince Henry succeeds while Dr. Faustus fails. At the beginning of The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus, Faustus is a well known vivify and is looked up to by his friends. Hal, on the other hand, starts out in Henry IV, Part I, spending much of his time in a tavern tenanted in talk with robbers and hoodlums, therefore being looked down upon by the exalted society which he is supposed to live in. While it appears that Faustus seems to be headed to becoming a hero and Hal seems to be throwing away his chances, the audience can see from their soliloquies, that they both plan on changing their ways Hal for the better and Faustus for the worse. Faustus has risen to a gravid point in his life. He was born to parents base of stock (line 11), but still has managed to gain a degree from the University of Wittengberg, thus acquiring much remark from the professional world. From the onset though, Faustus has his mind set on other things such as magic and necromancy. Hal, on the other hand was born to a high society. Even though he does all of these mischievous things, he plans on repenting and returning to his father. The audience can see from Hals soliloquy at the end of bite I, scene 2, that no matter how unruly the individuals are that he hangs out with, they do not have an influence on him Yet herein lead I imitate the sun, Who doth permit the base contagious clouds To smother up his beauty from the world, That, when he pleas e again to be himself,