"My father and Glendower being both away, The powers of us may serve so great a day. Come, let us take a muster speedily. Doomsday is near. Die all, die merrily" -Hotspur-
"Talk not of dying. I am out of fear of death or death's hand for this one half year." -Douglas-
Hotspur has the will and zeal for life that is less prevalent in the older generation. Douglas is an experienced warrior and has seen many battles, and yet he does not wish to condemn himself to death. Hotspur commits himself to his cause (even if it requires his life) while the elder generation takes more of a precautionary outlook upon the war. It was also Hotspur who was so ready to go into battle despite the absence of his allies. The youth fears not death, but for those that are nearer death, it seems much more tangible and therefore something to be afraid of. Why is this?
The idea of youth lacking fear of death is also brought out in Hotspur's speech as he is fighting/being killed by Hal: "O Harry, thou has robbed me of my youth. I better brook the loss of brittle life Than those proud titles thou hast won of me. They wound my thoughts worse than thy sword my flesh" Hotspur not only mentions youth but his annoyance that in his death Hal will gain honor. Hotspur remarks that this is worse to him than his actual death itself. Do men fear death because the affect they will have after death (legacy, winner writes history)
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"My father and Glendower being both away, The powers of us may serve so great a day. Come, let us take a muster speedily. Doomsday is near. Die all, die merrily" -Hotspur-
"Talk not of dying. I am out of fear of death or death's hand for this one half year." -Douglas-
Hotspur has the will and zeal for life that is less prevalent in the older generation. Douglas is an experienced warrior and has seen many battles, and yet he does not wish to condemn himself to death. Hotspur commits himself to his cause (even if it requires his life) while the elder generation takes more of a precautionary outlook upon the war. It was also Hotspur who was so ready to go into battle despite the absence of his allies.
The youth fears not death, but for those that are nearer death, it seems much more tangible and therefore something to be afraid of. Why is this?
The idea of youth lacking fear of death is also brought out in Hotspur's speech as he is fighting/being killed by Hal:
"O Harry, thou has robbed me of my youth. I better brook the loss of brittle life Than those proud titles thou hast won of me. They wound my thoughts worse than thy sword my flesh"
Hotspur not only mentions youth but his annoyance that in his death Hal will gain honor. Hotspur remarks that this is worse to him than his actual death itself. Do men fear death because the affect they will have after death (legacy, winner writes history)
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