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Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, 'Tis Pity She's a Whore. To Jun. 16, 2012.
American Shakespeare Center, The Winter's Tale. To Jun. 16, 2012.
Folger Shakespeare Library, The Taming of the Shrew. To Jun. 10, 2012.
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Henry IV, Part One. To Jun. 24, 2012.
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, The Comedy of Errors. To Jul. 29, 2012.

Hotspur: rebellion and ambition

The rivalry between Prince Hal and Hotspur drives much of the main plot--a rivalry much intensified by Shakespeare's changing of Hotspur's age to make him a peer of the prince, rather than a member of the older generation.

Hotspur's main function in the plot is to represent the rebels and their ambitions, but he is a powerful and attractive character in his own right, forgiven for his outspoken behaviour because of his fiery commitment to honour--though his view of honour could possibly be confused with pride, or hubris.