Sir John Falstaff 🔒 Members

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Age and build

Portly and corpulent in middle age

“A goodly portly man, i’faith, and a corpulent; of a cheerful look, a pleasing eye, and a most noble carriage; and, as I think, his age some fifty, or, by’r Lady, inclining to threescore” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 7)

Notably fat and heavy

“Falstaff sweats to death, And lards the lean earth as he walks along” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 5)

Skin hangs loose from weight loss

“my skin hangs about me like an old lady’s loose gown. I am withered like an old apple-john” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 10)

Face and hair

White-bearded and aged

“that old white-bearded Satan” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 7)

Companion has a notably red nose

“the red-nose innkeeper of Daventry” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 12)

Dress

Wears a buff jerkin

“What a plague have I to do with a buff jerkin” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 2)

Wears a doublet that is torn in battle

“I am eight times thrust through the doublet, four through the hose, my buckler cut through and through, my sword hacked like a handsaw” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 7)

Voice and speech

Speaks in elaborate, flowery language with classical allusions

“we that take purses go by the moon and the seven stars, and not by Phœbus, he, that wand’ring knight so fair” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 2)

Uses oaths and exclamations frequently

“By the Lord, thou say’st true, lad” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 2)

Speaks in long, rambling sentences with digressions

“I am accursed to rob in that thief’s company. The rascal hath removed my horse and tied him I know not where. If I travel but four foot by the square further afoot, I shall break my wind” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 5)

Signature words

Plague

“A plague of all cowards, I say, and a vengeance too” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 7)

Zounds (God's wounds)

“Zounds, where thou wilt, lad, I’ll make one” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 2)

'Sblood (God's blood)

“Sblood, you starveling, you eel-skin, you dried neat’s-tongue” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 7)

Marry (mild oath)

“Marry then, sweet wag, when thou art king” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 2)

Sweet wag (term of address for Prince)

“I prithee, sweet wag, when thou art king, as God save thy Grace” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 2)

Vocation

“Why, Hal, ’tis my vocation, Hal, ’tis no sin for a man to labour in his vocation” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 2)

Gait and mannerisms

Moves slowly and heavily when on foot

“If I travel but four foot by the square further afoot, I shall break my wind” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 5)

Sweats profusely during exertion

“Falstaff sweats to death, And lards the lean earth as he walks along” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 5)

Falls down as if dead to escape danger

“He fights with Falstaff, who falls down as if he were dead” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 18)

Gestures theatrically when speaking

“Here I lay, and thus I bore my point” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 7)

Strengths

Quick wit and verbal dexterity

“Thou hast the most unsavoury similes, and art indeed the most comparative, rascalliest, sweet young prince” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 2)

Ability to improvise and perform

“Shall we have a play extempore” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 7)

Charm and persuasiveness

“Well, God give thee the spirit of persuasion, and him the ears of profiting” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 2)

Practical cunning and self-preservation

“The better part of valour is discretion, in the which better part I have saved my life” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 18)

Flaws

Cowardly and avoids real danger

“I was now a coward on instinct” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 7)

Gluttonous and drinks excessively

“Give me a cup of sack, boy. Ere I lead this life long, I’ll sew nether-stocks” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 7)

Corrupts youth and leads them into vice

“O, thou hast damnable iteration, and art indeed able to corrupt a saint” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 2)

Financially irresponsible and in debt

“I have lost a seal-ring of my grandfather’s worth forty mark” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 10)

Traits

Irreverent toward authority and law

“Do not thou, when thou art king, hang a thief” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 2)

Philosophically cynical about honour

“What is honour? A word. What is in that word, “honour”? What is that “honour”? Air” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 15)

Affectionate toward Prince Henry despite their differences

“Banish plump Jack, and banish all the world” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 7)

Self-aware about his moral failings

“I must give over this life, and I will give it over. By the Lord, an I do not, I am a villain” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 2)

Enjoys company and fellowship

“Gallants, lads, boys, hearts of gold, all the titles of good fellowship come to you” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 7)

Lines in their own words

Opening question to Prince

“Now, Hal, what time of day is it, lad” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 2)

Defending his thievery as vocation

“Why, Hal, ’tis my vocation, Hal, ’tis no sin for a man to labour in his vocation” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 2)

Complaining about exhaustion after robbery

“I’ll starve ere I’ll rob a foot further. An ’twere not as good a deed as drink, to turn true man, and to leave these rogues, I am the veriest varlet that ever chewed with a tooth” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 5)

Excusing his cowardice with wit

“By the Lord, I knew ye as well as he that made ye. Why, hear you, my masters, was it for me to kill the heir-apparent” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 7)

Philosophical rejection of honour

“Therefore I’ll none of it. Honour is a mere scutcheon. And so ends my catechism” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 15)

Rising after feigning death

“Embowell’d! If thou embowel me today, I’ll give you leave to powder me and eat me too tomorrow” (Henry Iv Part 1, part 18)