How do composers represent political perspectives and motivations? The innate agendas of composers manifest in their texts, influencing the political perspectives and motivations that are represented in their characterisation of people and politics. In his 16thCentury play,’Henry IV’,Shakespeare imparts his political commentary regarding the uncertain future of the Elizabethan monarchy. By portraying the significance of political expediency in acquiring power and the social stratification in an authoritarian society, he advocates the perceived traits necessary in ideal leadership. Thus, Composers in their respective mediums represent the different political ethos of their times to offer a heightened understanding of human motivations. Composers represent how power-motivated individuals forgo morality for political expediency, ultimately revealing the varying traits necessary in effective leadership. Responding to the political instability of England’s future, Shakespeare’s Henry IV advocates that Machiavellian pragmatism is required in astute diplomacy. These motivations are revealed in the play extempore, as the metatheatrical form provides profoundinsight to the characters’ viewpoints. The public’sanxiety is portrayed by the commoner Falstaff, in his rhetorical question,“shall the sun of England prove a thief?” where the double entendreof the virtuous “sun” the people look to, infers the necessity for a righteous leader. However, to fulfil the duties associated with his right of primogeniture, Hal, the future of England, manipulates the public as political strategy to ensure their loyalty. This expedient motivation is seen in his varying language, speaking in verse with nobility, but prose with the commoners, with the duplicity accentuated by the metaphor,“drink with any tinker in his own language”.Moreover,Shakespeare’s perspective that political duty must override personal interests is represented by Hal’s willingness to abandons relationships. These political sacrifices are exemplified by the imperative tone in the repetition that
