This Is Shakespeare

by Emma Smith

comes. Like the sun – a traditional symbol of monarchy – he allows clouds to obscure his majesty so that he shines more brightly when people are eager to see him. Like precious metal set off against a dull background or foil to make it look more desirable, his ‘reformation’ will be all the more attractive. Like a holiday, or other rare occurrence, new Hal will be the more desirable because unusual. The language is part religious: ‘reformation’, ‘redeeming’, ‘fault’, offence’ – Hal is thinking about the prodigal son narrative. It is also part mercantile: ‘debt’, ‘promised’, ‘foil’, ‘attract’; Hal thinks of himself as a commodity needing its value inflating. It’s a masterclass in manipulation. He is stage-managing his reformation for maximum effect, a self-conscious prodigal who knows that the worse his behaviour is now, the greater the sense of welcome when he turns over that new leaf.