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Hudibras · Theme
Cowardice and False Valor
How Hudibras develops Cowardice and False Valor.
The knightly ideal is subverted throughout the poem, as Hudibras and his opponents display bravado that masks incompetence, fear, and a tendency to flee or cheat rather than fight honorably.
Where it surfaces
- Hudibras Part I
Hudibras's blustering attack on the bear and subsequent capture highlight his lack of genuine courage.
- Canto II
Hudibras's bravado is undercut by his pistol misfiring and his reliance on Ralpho's counsel, highlighting the gap between his self-image and actual prowess.
- Canto III
Hudibras's initial victory is quickly overturned when the routed enemy rallies and captures him, highlighting the theme of false valor and the fickleness of fortune in war.