Falstaff's Role In Henry IV, Part One

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Falstaff's frivolity from the play
and it can exist for its own sake apart from the major theme of the drama.
3. That the play is really about the fate of the kingdom, and that you
(the reader) do not connect Falstaff's scenes with the main action. This
means that the play has no real unity.
Starting with Johnson's first assumption, I do agree with this. Any
discussion of Falstaff is bound to include a judgement about his moral
character. Is he a coward, a thief, a glutton? No one can deny that he is
in fact a glutton and a thief. A coward is debatable. I choose to think he
is. He is self centered and cares only for his own profit and enjoyment. He
will protect himself at all costs including playing " possum" if necessary
to avoid injury. When he misuses the money intended to buy troops and
weapons, he turns it into profit for himself. Once again, with no concern
for anyone else, he potentially jeopardizes the troops, the battle and the
kingdom with substandard men and ...

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