In Shakespeare's play, Henry IV Part I, Hotspur and Hal are portrayed as brave soldiers. They are not afraid of a good fight or even dying in combat. On the other hand, the fearsome Falstaff is putting on a show. He pretends to be as fearless as Hal and Hotspur, when in reality he is just a coward, in order to gain the same kind of honor that Hotspur and Hal have. Hotspur is shown as a valiant soldier. He is not afraid to fight and is the one who started a battle with Hal. Shakespeare writes: “Nor will it, Harry, for the time is come/ To put an end to one of us; and I wish to God/that your name in arms were now as great as mine!” (Shakespeare, 5.4.67-69). Hotspurs is not afraid of dying in this battle and knows that there is a possibility. In this sense, he fakes his death to save his life and pretends to kill Hotspur to gain some honor. Shakespeare writes: The best part of valor is discretion, in which best part it has saved my life. Zounds, I'm afraid of this gunpowder, Percy, even though he's dead. What if he too had to counterfeit and get back up? By my faith, I fear it would prove to be the best counterfeit. Therefore I will ensure it; yes, and I swear I killed him. Why might he not be resurrected like me? Nothing refutes me except my eyes, and no one sees me. Therefore, sir (stabbing him), with a new wound in the thigh, come with me. (Shakespeare, 5.4.118-126) Falstaff is full of pretenses. His is such a coward that he admits to being afraid of Hotspur, a valiant man, even after he is dead. However, he will pretend that he is brave and that he was the one who killed Hotspur. His use of the word counterfeit is to express who he really is. In this sense, counterfeiting means forgery or falsification. By pretending that he was the one who killed Hotspur, he is faking an act of heroism. Therefore, the actor who plays Falstaff, plays a coward, who plays a hero. Thus, unlike the valiant Hotspur and Hal, Falstaff is nothing more than a fearsome man who shapes the performance of