In Henry IV, Shakespeare presents a troubled England with a king whose grip on the throne is tenuous at best. Those who had supported his accession to the throne when he overthrew Richard II now turn against him. The king even doubts the loyalty of his son and heir, Prince Hal. The royal figures of this kingdom can be divided into two camps: the revolutionaries and King Henry's court. However, the characters of each faction are marked by a rebellious streak. Every character, be it a revolutionary, a supporter of the king, or even the king himself, is at heart a rebel. What differentiates the two groups of players is what they rebel against. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The revolutionaries, Worcester, his brother Northumberland and nephew Hotspur, recognize that Lord Mortimer was proclaimed heir to the throne by Richard II. At the same time, this did not stop them from offering their support to Henry in his bid for the crown. The reign of Henry IV, however, was a disappointment to them. Worcester takes his complaints to the king telling him, "Our house, my sovereign lord, little deserves to have the scourge of greatness used upon it – and that very greatness too which our own hands have helped to make corpulent" ( I, iii, 10-13). For this reminder the king banishes Worcester from his court, declaring his "presence [to be] too bold and peremptory" (17). The indignation that Worcester feels at this dismissal plants the seed of rebellion against the king in his heart. The three revolutionaries decide to side with Mortimer and overthrow Henry. “Let my soul desire mercy if I do not join him,” cried the exuberant Hotspur (131-132). While the rebels may be seen in a certain light as heroes setting out to correct a mistake they helped make, they are actually acting in their own self-interest. In fact, before joining forces with Mortimer, Hotspur and Worcester meet to divide the map of the kingdom into various parts for them once they have won. Hotspur also takes exception to the plot of land designated for him. “Look how this river elbows me and cuts me off from the best of all my land an enormous crescent, a monstrous scoop,” he laments (III, i, 95-97). His family has been treated badly by the current king, whom they helped empower, and Hotspur is determined not to repeat the mistake. Worcester also serves himself, to the point of lying to his nephew about a peace offer made by the king and prince. He knows that even if the king forgave them now for their rebellion, he would simply be waiting for another excuse to punish them for it. «With suspicion our whole life will be full of eyes» (V, ii, 8). While Hotspur's offenses may be forgotten due to his youth, Worcester knows that he and Northumberland will ultimately have to pay for their betrayal. He then tells Hotspur of the prince's challenge of single combat, but refuses the king's generous offer of pardon if the rebels lay down their arms. Familiar with his nephew's hatred of the "Prince of Wales with sword and shield", he knows that the challenge will be one that Hotspur will eagerly accept (II, i, 229). In this way he sealed both his fate and that of his grandson. While the king and his court have revolutionaries plotting against them, they themselves are no less rebellious by nature than their enemies. Prince Hal is rebelling against his father. Uncomfortable with how his father came to the throne, he shirks his royal duties and instead spends time in the Boars Head Tavern. He even joins his shady tavern buddies in a plan to ambush a.