There is no more difficult or noble profession than the leading of soldiers. For a leader of others to be effective, then they have to find a careful balance between being decisive and contemplative. Leaning too far either way brings disaster to that leader. William Shakespeare illustrated the need for balance between these traits in his three plays, Henry IV Part 1, Henry V, and Hamlet; the first two are histories and the last a tragedy. The plays differ dramatically in that Prince Hamlet, a tragic hero, has his actions dictated by his tragic flaw. Prince Harry, the protagonist of the other two plays, is a semi-historical figure and is thus not driven by a tragic flaw. In Henry IV, Shakespeare juxtaposes Prince Harry and Hotspur to the show the merits of being balanced over being rash. In Hamlet, Shakespeare juxtaposes Prince Hamlet and Prince Fortinbras to show the merits of being balanced over procrastination. Prince Harry starts Henry IV all but disowned in the eyes of his father, King Henry IV. Harry has taken to spending much of his time with a band of thieves and drunkards, avoiding his duties as prince. His soon to be nemesis, Hotspur, however, starts the play in extremely high standing. Henry IV is actually jealous of Earl Northumberland, Hotspur's father, saying: "O, that it could be proved that some night tripping fairy had exchanged / In cradle clothes our children where they lay/And called mine Percy and his Plantagenet! / Then I would have his Harry, and he mine  (1.1.85-89). Shakespeare first paints Prince Harry as someone who is cunning and contemplative by showing us that Harry brought upon his own disgrace in order to capitalize on it later. Harry says: "My reformation, glitt'ring o'er my fault / Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes / Than that which hath no foil to set it off. / I'll so offend to make offence a skill, Redeeming time when men think least I will  (1.3.190-195). Harry tells the audience that he is purposely muddling his good name by interacting with the likes of Falstaff and the rest of Eastcheap in order that when he finally decides to show his true self, he will come off as even more brilliant and glorious than ever. In effect, Harry is acting. Harry, however, is also very decisive when the time comes for decisiveness. When Hotspur, Worcester, Northumberland and Glendower start a rebellion against the crown, Henry IV begs his son to return. Harry immediately accepts, saying "I shall hereafter, my thrice-gracious lord, Be more myself  (3.2.93-94). This is not only a proclamation in words, but in deeds. Harry immediately becomes an almost completely different person upon accepting his father's wishes, as noted by others. Vernon, an ally of Hotspur says of Harry, "I saw young Harry with his beaver on, His cuishes on his thighs, gallantly armed / Rise from the ground like feathered Mercury  (4.1.105-107). Harry sheds his ignoble past and nobly triumphs on the battlefield over Hotspur. Harry's mix of contemplativeness and decisiveness moves into his time as King in Henry V. Having planned to exile Falstaff since his times in Eastcheap, Harry does so when immediately when he is king. Harry's perfect balance of traits shines the brightest when he invades Norman France during his kingship. Before the battle, Harry gives a powerful speech, "We Happy Few,  and then joins his