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heliza24 · 8 months

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Shakespeare Comparisons: Young Royals and the Henriad

I saw this post comparing Young Royals to Julius Caesar the other day, and I actually don’t think Young Royals is that closely connected to Julius Caesar. Sure, August betrays Wilhelm. But there are lots of things that don’t match up at all: Brutus, not Caesar, is the protagonist of that play, Caesar is not a contemporary of Brutus but something of a father figure, and Brutus and Cassius decide to kill Caesar because Caesar is threatening to become king and end the Roman Republic. None of those things are actually very similar to August and Wilhelm’s characters or relationship.

There is, however, a glaringly obvious Shakespeare comparison available to us in the form of the Henriad, or the plays Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 and Henry V. The protagonist of Henry IV Parts 1 and 2 is actually Prince Hal, the prince that will go on to become King Henry V in the final play. At the beginning of the first play, he spends most of his time shirking all royal duties, drinking in a tavern in Eastcheap with his perpetually drunk and broke friend Falstaff. Over the course of Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, Hal has to wrestle with the idea that he will soon inherit the crown, and decide how and when to step up to this responsibility. These plays are literally about the coming of age of a young and erstwhile prince just like Young Royals.

There are few similarities and differences between the stories that I think are interesting to explore. In the Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, Henry IV struggles to maintain control of the crown. He took the throne as a usurper, defeating Richard II, and throughout the course of these two plays he fights to defend his position from rebels who would in turn usurp him. Because of this precarity, he’s aware of the fact that Hal will have a hard job as his successor, and that currently he’s showing no signs of being up to the task. He instead sings the praises of Harry Percy, also known as Hotspur, the young rebel who is Hal’s age currently vying for the throne. Despite Percy being his enemy, Henry IV recognizes all of the qualities of leadership that Percy displays, and wishes that he were his son instead of Hal (“In envy that my Lord Northumberland/Should be the father to so blest a son/A son who is the theme of honour’s tongue”- Henry IV Part 1, Act 1, Scene 1). But Percy is also hot-tempered and impetuous and possessed by toxic masculinity, and it becomes clear to the audience that he would not be a good king. When he learns that the reinforcements he expected are not going to arrive, he rushes into battle against Henry IV’s forces anyway, allowing Prince Hal to kill him.

In Young Royals, there is a similar precarity to the monarchy, not because someone is threatening to overthrow Kristina, but because modernity threatens to make all contemporary monarchy obsolete. Because of this, Kristina puts a lot of pressure on Wilhelm to maintain the image of the crown. In addition, August becomes a pretty neat parallel to Percy. August succeeds at fulfilling the expectations of a nobel placed upon him: he is straight, feels comfortable wielding authority, and actively wants power where Wilhelm rejects it. August is in some ways the favored son of the royal court, and his promotion into the line of succession feels reminiscent of the way that Henry wishes Percy could be his heir instead of Hal. Similar to Percy, August’s hamartias also revolve around his impetuousness, anger, and complicated relationship with masculinity.

There’s an incredible scene in Henry IV Part 2, where Prince Hal is called to his father’s deathbed. Mistakenly thinking that Henry has already died, Hal tearfully takes the crown from his father’s pillow and places it on his own head. Henry later comes to and rails at his son, accusing Hal of wishing him dead and of being too impatient to assume Henry’s power. Hal protests; he meant only to wrestle with, and lay blame upon, the crown which he assumed had already killed his father. Hal speaks of the crown as a metaphor here, as something that sucks the life from those that are forced to wear it:

Coming to look on you, thinking you dead, And dead almost, my liege, to think you were, I spake unto this crown as having sense, And thus upbraided it: “The care on thee depending Hath fed upon the body of my father; Therefore thou best of gold art worst of gold. Other, less fine in carat, is more precious, Preserving life in med’cine potable; But thou, most fine, most honored, most renowned, Hast eat thy bearer up. (Henry IV Part 2, Act 4, Scene 3)

Hal putting on the crown in this scene is a significant step towards his ultimate acceptance of his responsibility to rule. Even though he believes the crown to be a kind of poison, he knows he must wear it. It points to the self-sacrificing, humble king he will become in Henry V.

There’s no direct allegory to this scene in Young Royals, but the discussion of the crown as a kind of poison feels very apt for the themes of the show. As Lisa is fond of saying, Wilhelm being queer would not be an issue if it weren’t for the spectral crown hanging over his family and his destiny. This scene also makes me think of how Wilhelm asks Kristina to just be his mother and not the queen for once in season 2. Even though the crown has not literally affected Kristina’s health, it has killed off the part of her that is Wilhelm’s mother first. The crown has permanently altered their relationship.

I think if we’re drawing parallels between Young Royals and the Henriad, there’s a couple of different ways we can find connections between Prince Hal’s days of frivolous drinking at a tavern in Eastcheap and Wilhelm’s time at Hillerska. Eastcheap was a market street in the City of London (by which I mean the historic city/The Square Mile, not what we think of now as the entire city of London.), far away from any palace, which would have been populated by working class folks. The tavern is a place where Hal can be with his friends, away from the pressure of royal life. So in some ways, Hillerska works as Wilhelm’s Eastcheap. Or maybe I should say Erik’s– Erik’s description of sowing his wild oats and enjoying his time at school before things got serious seems very similar to Prince Hal’s attitude. Or perhaps more accurately we could say that Wilhelm’s adventures in Bjarstad are analogous to Prince Hal’s time in Eastcheap. This is Wilhelm’s predominant exposure to working class people, and he forms a close connection with Simon much like Hal does with Falstaff. (This however, is where the similarities between Falstaff and Simon end).

At the end of Henry IV Part 2, Hal is crowned King Henry V, and willingly renounces his old way of life. When he sees Falstaff at his coronation, he tells him that he should “presume not that I am the thing I was” (Act 5 Scene 5) and banishes him. To me this feels reminiscent of the way Wilhelm renounces Simon publicly at the end of season 1. The difference here is that by the time Prince Hal renounces Falstaff, his transformation into King Henry V is complete. But Wilhelm’s rejection of Simon only occurs at the end of his first act, while he still has all of seasons 2 and 3 to continue to grow and make different decisions. Because of this I think it’s important to keep in mind that we don’t need to draw one-to-one comparisons between Young Royals and the Henriad, or any other classic text, in order to acknowledge that the two works are playing with the same themes. Lisa and the writers of Young Royals didn’t set out to create an updated version of Prince Hal in Wilhelm, but I think it’s impossible to write about the coming of age of a young prince in the Western World without being influenced, at least indirectly, by Shakespeare’s work.

On a personal note, I think it’s amusing that I've been obsessed with the Henriad for about a decade, but it took me writing this post to realize that this long standing interest probably primed me to love Young Royals. I really am consistent if nothing else.

Thanks to @bluedalahorse for helping me organize my thoughts on this as always. If there are any other Shakespeare/Hal lovers in the Young Royals tag I would love to hear your thoughts on these comparisons. And if this has you interested in the Henriad and you want to check out a production, I highly recommend the recorded Globe productions starring Jamie Parker as Prince Hal/Henry V.

#young royals #the henriad #shakespeare #my meta

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smolvenger · 1 year

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Used Goods, Part Two

Summary: You are betrothed to marry your dear Prince Hal. But you are informed of a law that says that the woman who marries the prince or king must be chaste or else you are committing treason. That is unless someone tells the Prince before the marriage. This forces you to go to your beloved and confess how you were sexually assaulted as a child. How will he react? Is your engagement now over?

Warnings: Discussions of Past Sexual Abuse, Some Angst around the middle but lots of Fluffy and Hurt/Comfort Moments. . Discussions of marriage, and a bit of mild violence at the end. Spoiler Alert: Hal respects women.

A/N: Hi guys! The inspiration for this was that I was reading about Catherine Howard, the fifth of the six wives of Henry VIII, and how it was because of the Law of Contract, that she was not a virgin when she married the king (in addition to her allegedly wanting to commit adultery) that she was executed. So it gets...cathartic and dramatic. The actual assault is never portrayed but discussed.

In case you couldn't tell, I'm on a huge Tom Hiddleston kick so I HAVE to write something with my personal favorite (non-Loki) character of his, my boy/Babygirl Prince Hal. This is super indulgent hurt/comfort and fluff, so enjoy!

“Y/N, are you in danger? Are you being threatened?” he asked, placing a hand on your shoulder.

“No, I am not…” you responded.

“Are you sick?”

“No, it’s only…I just…I just found out…your father’s advisor, Warwick, he just visited me.”

“Oh, Warwick! The wisest, good fellow. He always defends me before father when I need it most,” Hal commented.

You sat down on a chair in front of the crackling fire. Hal looked back at you.

“What is it, my love- you’re trembling!”

Looking down, your hands were shaking. Your lips were quivering yet no sound came out.

“ And what about the…the Law of Contract. Did he…what did he say to you?”

He sat down on the chair near you. His brows furrowed and there was a darkness in his eyes. Dear God, he was going to get angry, you feared. But it had to be over with. You crossed your arms over, slumping in your chair.

“He only reminded me of it. He said I cannot be an unchaste woman and marry you. But…Henry…Henry, Hal, Harry I…”

The words wanted to come out of you…but it was not quite there. You saw his grip on his knee begin to clutch.

“Y/N…we are alone. You are safe, you can tell me.” He assured you.

“Henry…I won’t be entering this marriage a virgin…” you confessed.

You saw the expression on his face had only changed with his eyebrows raising.

“So you”

The words came out of you, the most important detail of it all.

“But it wasn’t my choice!” you cried.

He froze. There was silence except for the fire. You put a hand over your mouth and backed deeper into the chair.

“You mean…”

Then it went alight, his blue eyes blinked and then went big. His beautiful face turned stark white. He walked up to you. You wondered what he would do- strike you? Chide you? Break you off at the spot.

You flinched a little when his hand went up, but you realized it was to touch yours. He knelt to you as you sat on the chair, in front of the fire.

“My lady…when did this happen?” he asked kindly.

So, his anger earlier was not at you, thank goodness! But there was a seriousness in him.

“I…I was a child. Nine years old, I think…I don’t remember my age exactly…”

“What do you remember? Can you tell me?” he asked.

“I can…I remember…some…”

You looked into the fire. Maybe not looking at him would make talking about it easier.

“It was an Easter gathering. My family was around. So many cousins and children and grandchildren…so many in such a big house, no one would notice if two grandchildren slipped away to play…”

Your heart began to pick up speed. The words couldn’t be formed. Yet Henry’s squeeze of hands gave you strength. It made you turn, look him in the eye, and recount what happened.

“He…my cousin he…he was then a youth, an adolescent…he took me to one of the guest rooms. Then he asked me…asked me to take off my clothes. At first, I said no and then I stopped. I was curious. I wanted to know what would happen. He made me feel special, chosen, lucky- so I said I changed my mind and yes. So, I did. And then he took off his clothes…he took me on the bed and…”

They were stuttering out of you, like a babbling brook trying to ease its way from a crack in the wall.

“I didn’t…I didn’t know what was going on. Finally, I remember crying at the end. I felt his…his…his manhood, you know. Then I begged him at last, crying, to stop…and he stopped. We redressed. He ordered me not to tell anyone…”

“And did you?” he asked.

You felt the touch of his hand on your face, and you turned to look at him. Now tears were welting in your eyes.

“I told my parents and my brother…”

“And what did they do?” Hal asked.

“He was banned from the house for a few months…then all continued as normal. They said he cried and felt guilty and that relieved him of the guilt apparently. He enters our house and prances freely like any other guest. He is married now- the most beautiful, kind, bright lady. I don’t have the heart to tell her. IF anyone else in the family knew, they pretend like it never happened…”

Hal got up; he paced the room briefly. Then with great force he went to the wall and slammed a fist against it, huffing out in frustration. The noise made you jump. You dropped your head into your hands to cry, steadying your breath. He returned to you.

“Which cousin of yours did it?” he asked.

You cupped his ear and whispered a name. You looked up a few of his golden curls were undone. His eyes were large and he ungritted his teeth when he looked at you.

“Henry…go ahead. Let me go. Set me free. That’s the law.”

With ragged breathing, you began to slip the ring off your finger.

“I am not fit to be your wife, princess, much less your queen. That’s what it says. I committed treason against you- you, my dearest gift from heaven, the love of my life- long before I even met you. And I will not be the one who betrays or ruins you.”

Tears went down your cheeks and you did your best to stay still, somewhat calm. You held the ring and offered it to him. His face was white and his jaw was tight.

“So go ahead, Henry- I won’t mind. It is what it is. End the betrothal.”

There was a pause. Silence again.

Then he went up to you and embraced you. He smelled of the horses he liked to ride in the mornings, but you didn’t mind at all. It was all-encompassing and warm. You let yourself relax into it.

“I won’t,” you heard him say.

He then knelt again and put the ring back onto your finger.

You let out a little gasp and then with it let the tears break into your voice. Your face scrunched. You leaned into him. You buried it into the redness of his leather jacket. He didn’t care for any stains it got despite its beauty. You hugged him tight, and he even rocked you a little. You let yourself cry heavier into him, and you felt his hand on his back.

Hal knew of rape, especially from war stories. He was raised to be a warrior as well as a prince. Once he even told his Eastcheap friends one night that during those wars, virginities could be purchased cheaply. That the threat of rape to village women would motivate any defiant town to surrender its gates to an army in a second.

You might as well be one of those village women.

Yet, how little did he think! How foolish he was! Guilt tightened his throat as he felt you shake with crying in his embrace.

How he had yet to not only gain his lady’s trust…but to hear of this. He didn’t think of those “virginities” as real women, real people. He didn’t think what they would go through and live beyond that hour of terror. That it would haunt them all their lives and torment them if they did not die that moment. That every day there were wars being fought and raged over women’s bodies…and that even the most beloved, respected, and treasured, wonderful woman in the world, you…

Those women were just more of you, and more to cry in front of fireplaces in their fiancé’s arms. And that was if they survived! To think if only he had been around to protect you! Had he failed you already?

God Above, he would not fail you again. Not now or ever.

“You won’t?” you repeated his words.

“I won’t. Y/N, I’m going to marry you, no matter what.”

You blinked rapidly.

“But the law…”

“Fie the law- I am the Prince of Wales, and soon the King of England…”

He released the hug, clutching both of your hands.

“Why must we submit to strict, unnecessary laws when we are kings? Rulers? Why should we be old-fashioned when we can make rules of our own? I say…when we are on the throne, we shall make our own laws, our own rules as we want them…” he boasted.

He swallowed. You wiped a few tears with your sleeve.

“I’m a traitor according to the law…” you pointed out.

“It wasn’t your own decision…how can an innocent child know?! All the more reason…I will make sure the law doesn’t touch you. And anyone who says otherwise…I’ll take care of him. Exile at least sounds wise,” Hal pointed out.

He released your hands. You folded them in front of you, eyes dipping to the stone floor beneath you.

“But Hal…I’m spoiled goods…”

He shook his head.

“No! Don’t you dare call that about yourself! There is nothing spoiled or damaged about you…”

He touched your chin and then pressed his forehead to yours.

“You’re a brave woman, Y/N…” he praised quietly.

“I’m not a soldier or a knight, I don’t fight with swords like you…” you denied.

“You just told The Prince of Wales a dark secret that in the wrong hands could have gotten you arrested or worse! And…when we are married, that blessed, blessed day…we will have to learn all about each other. What is good…and what is bad, what is secret, shameful. You gave me your weakness, your shame and…chose to confide in me…and Y/N…”

His own eyes began blinking with tears.

“It makes me even prouder that I’ll be your husband…”

You smiled, the tears starting to dry. You even held onto his arms. Then you began to shake, looking at him.

“Oh, my dear Hal…I was so terrified!” you confessed.

You broke again into sobs, sinking onto the floor. He went down and embraced you again, putting a light touch on your back and whispering assurances.

“It’s alright, you’re safe, my beautiful girl, you’ll always be safe with me…you’re safe, my lamb, you’re safe...”

You pulled away to wipe your tears. He again clutched your hands. His nostrils flared and his eyes steeled.

“I swear to you…I will never hurt or betray you. I will never force you into my bed or lay a hand on you when you do not want It or know of it. I will never take advantage of you as my wife to inflict my will on you…spurn me from your bed, tell me no, lie that you are sick- strike me hard and scream, even! And I will go away…” he promised.

You began to blink.

“But…you’re the-“

“Yet here when you are with me, I am your servant, Y/N! Make me your servant and I will be content.”

He reached down to kiss your hand, just as he did when you agreed to marry him. He looked back up at you. He then cupped your cheek.

“My poor, brave lady…where your family once spurned and hurt you, here- in my family, you will be the most loved. Where once you were the most ignored, here the most listened to. And once the most hurt, here the safest and respected of all.”

You cupped his face, smooth and cold. Sweetly, you gave him a small kiss on his lips and the last embrace after.

“Hal…thank you. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

He led you to stand up. You cleared up what tears you had left and smoothed your gown.

“I have this meeting for another hour. I’ll ask the servants to bring you a drink…you could live here in the palace with us from now on if you would like. I’m sure as long as we’re in separate rooms until the wedding, your family and mine would approve.”

You nodded.

“Yes, I would.”

“My father adores you. He will be thrilled.”

He took your hand again and then began to walk you to the door.

“You must dine with me and my brothers tonight. They’ll make you smile. And I must tell you- my father and brothers plan on playing their little game of dice and this later afternoon. Usually, I’d be away but today…we both will join them. Though I must warn you- my brother, John, is far too good at it and wins every time. I’ll ask him to go easy on you.”

You smiled.

“I would love that,” you said.

“I must finish this meeting, but I will make sure there is always a guard by you and a servant to bring you anything you could want from the kitchen…”

He led you out. Thankfully, no snooping lord was at the door minus the guarding knights. Those lords were chatting among themselves in that large stone hallway.

“I shall look forward to it, my lord” you answered demurely, aware that you were now not alone.

He gestured for a knight to step by.

“Stay by the lady. Attend to her today. And bring one of the castle maids to fetch a cup of sack for her today…see she is not left alone until I am with her in an hours’ time.”

He turned to you.

“When I return, would you like to visit the gardens, my lady?” he offered.

“I would, my lord. I will see you then,” you said.

You exchanged polite bows and curtsies as goodbye.

Gesturing the lords to return, Hal vanished behind the doors with the other lords. But little did they know that beneath the chair, their prince had his hands curled into fists.

“One more thing gentleman, I must know of the address of a certain gentleman…” The Prince announced.

“How come?” asked one.

“He hasn’t paid his taxes” the Hal lied.

When the worries of the crown got too much to him, the King could not sleep. That night was no different. He paced about the hall, his footsteps echoing the halls away from the peaceful lute music. Letting out a sigh, he decided the best way to pass the time of night and to get his mind off, was to begin to pick and prepare for the room where you, his dear future daughter-in-law would be staying. It would be a pleasant change perhaps. Since Hal suggested it at dinner with approval, he might as well begin the work. He arose a few servants to pick a place, have blankets cleaned, and to pick a rug perhaps you would like.

He didn’t notice his rebellious son sneak out of the castle, cloaked and armed with a dagger, and march into the stables. The white stallion was his usual favorite, but the prince Hal chose the black horse. That would not stick out in the night. He wanted no warning.

He galloped straight there. His high status permitting a smooth ride with no stops from any guards.

Hal arrived right at the address he knew of. Keeping the cloak over his face, he knocked on the door.

“Who is it?” a female voice asked from inside.

“Stay there, I shall see to them…” a male voice replied near her.

The door opened and the man inside- the cousin Y/N spoke of- looked up to see the cloaked figure.

“Who goes there at this late hour at night? Are you a messenger?” he asked.

“Step outside. Close the door.”

The cousin did.

“What do you want, eh?” he asked, head tilting.

Two hands reached from the cloak and pulled down the hood. It was the red, fuming face of England’s Prince, Lord, and Sovereign.

The Cousin’s jaw dropped. He backed a step, arms in front of him to keep from falling.

“Why- it’s…your grace!”

As he stepped back one foot to attempt to bow, it was interrupted as The Prince’s fist reached forward, grabbing his collar and the other went over his mouth.

Hal dragged the Cousin to the shadow of the house, pinned him to the wall, and punched him right in the face. He let out an “AHH!”

“Did you assault her grace, The Princess of Wales?”

“She…she isn’t married yet…she’s not a princess…” The Cousin replied.

Hal slammed him against the wall with his fists, he then curled him closer to his face.

“She is to me and now tell me!”

The cousin’s face turned white except for the blood from his lip.

“You forced the young Princess of Wales- my wife- to unspeakable acts reserved between man and wife- did you not?” Hal asked.

Blubbering, the man trembled out a weak “…yes…but I was a youth!”

“You were old enough to know better!” Hal retorted.

“I’ve repented-“

It was interrupted by another punch to his ear.

“Do not speak of your repentance as you walk about guiltless!”

Hal caught his breath. He should kill the man as he stood, perhaps. But not without great consequences for himself. Perhaps he could deal with some angry in-laws, but if the Chief Justice could throw him in prison once, perhaps he would do it again.

He didn’t think if he saw this man again that he could restrain himself as much as here.

“From now on, you are not allowed in this kingdom. And if you are ever seen within ten feet of her person, I will order you to be executed on the spot…” Hal threatened.

“Jesu, beheaded!?” the cousin cried.

“No- noblemen are beheaded. You deserve to be shot at with my arrows and have them dragged across your stomach until your intestines spill about!” Hal raged.

The Cousin began to shake.

“Gather your things and flee before I lose what mercy I have in my heart. This is your Prince’s command- do you understand!” he barked.

“Yes!”

The prince threw him into the mud. He then placed a boot onto the cousin’s chest and spoke from above like an avenging male fury.

“I will see you tomorrow at this hour and see if it is done, and if not…”

He opened his cloak to flash the dagger.

“I will slit your throat. I will tell other thieves did it…” he hissed.

The cousin nodded.

“I will report this!”

“And then I’ll tell your wife what you did!” Hal argued.

The Cousin let out a gasp, his air making fog into the coldness of that wintry air of the night.

“Now leave- I never wish to see your disgusting face again!” Hal spat, removing his boot.

The cousin scrambled back into the house. The prince returned to his horse and rode back home.

That morning, you returned with a few royal servants and your family to bring some of your possessions. There was already word that a room for you was ready and that it was time already.

“It’s here, I have been told” a knight explained as he escorted you through.

As you were allowed into the room, you noticed two sights- one was Prince Hal with some wildflowers. The second was more extraordinary. Hal’s father, King Henry, was curled up asleep on the bed, in a fetal position. His gray robes around him. Your jaw dropped.

“My lord, wha-“

He raised a finger to his lips.

“He hasn’t slept this well in ages…let him…”

He gently led everyone out.

He greeted you by kneeling down and pecking your hand politely. A gesture usually reserved for servants to royalty, but the most powerful young man in the country reserved it for you.

“My lord, your skin beneath your eyes seems dark…have you not been sleeping well too? Were you up late as your father?” you asked.

He shrugged it off and grinned.

“I had some business to take care of. But my lady, here- a gift for you. I ask you to accept it!”

He handed you the flowers. With a little gasp, you accepted, bringing them to your nose for their fresh scent.

“They’re lovely, thank you dearly, my lord!” you cooed.

“Anything for my darling lady.”

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