What Art Thou Mad? Art Thou Mad? Is Not the Truth the Truth?

Human action ii, scene iv

Table of Contents

1. I am now of all humours
2. I am non yet of Percy's listen
3. A plague of all cowards
4. What are thou mad? Is non the truth the truth?
5. Marking how a evidently tale shall put you downwardly
6. I was a coward upon instinct
7. Choler, my lord, if rightly taken
8. Exercise m correspond my begetter
9. Depose me?
10. Blackball Peto
11. I do. I will.

I am at present of all humours

He does this equally a whim, to engage one of his humours. He realizes that once he is male monarch, he volition not exist able to indulge himself this way.  Hal is the most circuitous character he will be here; every bit he gets closer to being king, he by necessity will become simpler equally he takes on the role of king.

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I am not yet of Percy'south mind

Hal has not bad insight into Hotspur, satirizing his character and making us come across the previous scene from his comic view.  And, of class, since Falstaff volition as well exaggerate how many he has killed, he is associated with Hotspur.

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A plague of all cowards

Falstaff must come into the scene with his clothes ragged, his sword notched, and claret on his clothes from tickling his nose with speargrass.

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What art m mad?  Is non the truth the truth?

Coming from Falstaff, who cannot tell the truth, the irony is obvious.  The question of truth, especially the reality of character is a very of import theme of this play.  No character other than Hal ever actually understands another character.  Hal, on the other manus, always understands each of the other characters.  They tend to project their ain personality on him and then believe their own "truth" which is non the real Truth.

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Mark how a patently tale shall put you down

Hal speaks manifestly not in an exaggerated manner as do Falstaff and Hotspur.  Both exaggerate their own courage, though Hotspur at least is honorable enough to earn his and Falstaff simply claims a bravery he does not accept.

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I was a coward upon instinct

Falstaff at least has a groovy capacity for wit.  He besides raises the question of the "truthful prince" which has been raised equally an issue by Henry wondering if his son might have been changed with Percy'due south at nascency.  But by instinctively not turning on Hal, he elevates himself into like a lion, only also he validates Hal.

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Choler, my lord, if rightly taken

Choler meaning acrimony, is understood properly, Bardolph says, but Hal comes back to say, "No, if rightly taken, halter" significant if he were arrested which would be merely, he would be hanged, and accept a noose collar.  This is a prediction of how Bardolph will end, hanged on the order of Henry V (Hal when he is male monarch) for theivery.

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Do thou stand for my father

Here Hal tin show how well he knows his own father.  It also advances the comparison between Falstaff as a pseudo-father, and Henry, as a reluctant father for Hal.

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Depose me ?

This is a reference to the fact that Henry IV deposed Richard Two (encounter Deed 4 if Richard Ii).  It as well shows how quick witted Falstaff is, to selection up on Hal'due south request to replace him and play his begetter himself as a deposition.

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Banish Peto

Falstaff shows not only his willingness to abandon his old acquaintances simply shows his reliance on Hal's friendship.  This sets up the emotional moment at the end of Henry IV, part 2, when Hal does banish Falstaff.

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I do. I will.

Like the Reformation Spoken communication at the end of Act 1, scene 2, Hal shows his awareness of the changes he will have to make when he takes on the responsibleness of authorities as Male monarch.

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Source: https://www2.palomar.edu/users/cbarkley/e250/henry41/henry2-4com.htm

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