William Shakespeare's Henry V
William Shakespeare is one of the most famous and influential writers of all time. His plays not only portray the past, but also aspects of love and hate, humour and tragedy.
Henry V, written by Shakespeare, using Raphael Holinshed's historical chronicles, appealed to many of the citizens of that time, as it presented an insight into their country's past, as well as 'feel-good' nationalism. It would have been performed on stage at a time when Henry VIII had secluded the country of all contact with the Church of Rome. Providing the audience with its country's past glories and triumphs, the play counter-acts this feeling of seclusion and loss of identity with
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Are they correct in their assumption: is Henry a great king, or does William Shakespeare merely include this as a biased opinion to enforce onto the audience, so as to prosper the basis of patriotism already built earlier?
The play begins with the chorus' prologue to the play. Naturally, Shakespeare provides the chorus with words so descriptive and elegant that the apology for lack of realism is forgotten, as is the stage and theatre, and, instead, the open planes of Agincourt are forcefully seen in one's 'minds eye'. No more are we an audience, but a witness.
Shakespeare portrays Henry as a very religious king; whether this is to promote Henry or to express his own opinions as to what principles a King should have, especially whilst Henry VIII was on the thrown at that time, and the Roman Church had been cut off from England, indicating that religion wasn't too high on Henry VIII's agenda. There is evidence throughout the play that Henry was a religious king, "a true lover of the holy church." From Shakespeare's view a good king always appreciates his creator and knows that it is God who will guide and look after him, so it would have been important to include as many thanks to God from Henry and his men to prove that they actually show
Throughout the play Henry is described as a “true lover of the holy church” (I.i.23), and “the mirror of all Christian kings” (II.Cho.6). He is played up as the ideal and seamless Christian king. Then during the battle of Agincourt, King Henry tells his army that it is up to “Gods will” (IV.iii.23), which shows that he had great faith in God. This is an incredible demonstration of confidence and trust in God and it stresses his honorable Christian qualities. Another example of him being a Christian king is in scene two when Henry says “God quit you in His mercy” which I took as you got God’s mercy and the person receiving it was lucky to have God’s mercy on their side during the event happening.
Shakespeare’s Henry V presents a man transformed from rowdy teenager to righteous king. With the death of Henry’s father, Henry’s “wildness…/Seemed to die too” (1.1.26-27). While Henry has seemingly transformed into a powerful man awarded praise, his actions at times seem morally questionable and disingenuous as he continually deflects blame on others and contradicts his notions for peace. Throughout the play, Henry’s speeches persuade and manipulate audiences as he effectively uses the power of rhetoric to achieve his goals. He has the power to intimidate his enemies, uplift his soldiers, and mold himself into whoever he needs to be. With the change of Henry’s character came a greater title and the responsibility for an entire nation, causing him to abandon his outwardly destructive behavior and dissemble. Shakespeare thus contends that there is a difference between being a good person and a successful leader; national heroism and effective kingship is not necessarily attained through moral actions, but rather through the art of powerful rhetoric and the ability to seem moral and virtuous rather than to be moral and virtuous, thereby mimicking some characteristics of how a successful ruler should appear, as suggested in Machiavelli’s The Prince. While Henry is certainly ruthless at times, his ability to assume the roles necessary for successful leadership is what makes him a great king.
During the movie, Regarding Henry, Henry goes through a traumatic accident that alters his personality. Before the accident, Henry was very mean to everyone, including his own wife and daughter. After the accident, Henry forgot everything about normal human behavior. He could not move his arms, nor could he speak. Because of this, Henry had to learn how to accomplish tasks in the same manner as he once was able to. This goes to prove that Henry’s natural state is his id, and throughout the movie, it becomes clear that his superego is learned. Once Henry begins to learn how he used to act, he reverts back to his child-like id.
Shakespeare in Henry V shows Henry through his life as a king from just becoming king until right after the battle of Agincourt. King Henry made many people who doubted him and his motives rethink their initial thoughts. The way he handles issues and conflicts, he quickly makes them realize that he is not a person to be messed with. Despite the reputation of his younger years, Henry V proves himself a selfless king.
As Norman Rabkin has observed, Henry V is a play which organizes critics into "rival camps" of interpretation (35). It can be seen as a play that is ambiguous; a play that exposes the playwright's own indecision; a play that aggressively takes sides in favour of nationalistic fervour which Shakespeare himself didn't believe in (35). All of these views, writes Rabkin, are wrong since according to him the play's "ultimate power" lies in its ability to "point in two opposite directions, virtually daring us to choose one of the two opposed interpretations" (36). In fact, it is Rabkin that is wrong: not in his supposition that the play "dares" the audience to choose, but rather, that a reading
Although labeled as a history, the strength of Shakespeare's Henry V lies not in the events that occur in the play, but in the delicate portrayal of the characters involved. Shakespeare's audience would have already known the story of Henry V's campaign on France and thus would have had no reason to watch a play that simply re-enacted past events. Therefore, the appeal of such a play, as well as the themes and the content, would have been dependent largely on the characters themselves.
William Shakespeare's historical play, The Life of Henry V, captures the essence of noble kingship during the Elizabethan era through the intelligent young King Henry who utilizes his uncanny rhetorical skill to manipulate friends and foes alike, and by combining both a ruthless sense of determination and a compassionate nature to successfully portray a good king as well as a good man. He focuses primarily on the responsibilities of kingship, putting his feelings second to the crown in order to gain the support of his people and a degree of fear among his enemies. His treatment of kingship travels down two contrasting rivers, enabling him to be a powerful flood, yet still trickle into the hearts of his men.
“‘The king is full of grace and fair regard”’ (1.1.24). The archbishops regard King Henry as a fair and just king. They go on state how he changed after his father’s death and how he became a good ruler afterwards. Although Henry may execute the qualities in which the Archbishops say, he has a major fault in him which contradicts the peoples’ opinion of what a fair ruler he is. Henry establishes a relationship with his citizens not through is actions king, but deceptive actions that hinder his ability to be a virtuous ruler because he values his own desire rather than the welfare of his country.
Edward son of Henry the III, King of England, born on 1239 of June would soon come to inherit a grand kingdom that could very well change much of Europe. Edwards father, Henry the III, was married to Edwards’s mother, Eleanor of Provence, and during this time period it was very much uncertain if Edward the newly born son could live up to his father’s expectations. While Edward grew up, just as any young man, his lust for power grew, which made him a boy of reckless decisions. Henry the III was not very satisfied with his son’s rebellious attitude. In fact, Edward would come to be friends with a man named Simon de Montfort, who was the husband of another Eleanor, which was Henry the III’s sister. England was in grave danger as “Edwards hunger for power was driving him to irresponsible excesses and creating scandal in the country at large.”
William Shakespeare’s Henry V portrays the maturation of a hedonistic Prince Hal to King Henry – Conquer of France. Based on Holinshed’s ‘Chronicles’, embedded within Shakespeare’s depiction of Henry’s reign is a theme of conflict arising and abating not simply through corporal steel but also from potent language. Manly Hall’s theory that, “Words are potent weapons for all causes, good or bad” is reflected to a significant extent in Henry V by characters wielding their word in ingenious manners. Shakespeare, however, includes a caveat – literary techniques. Shakespeare depicts the Archbishop as a character able to utilise ethos and pathos to manipulate others. Henry is portrayed by Shakespeare as
Since the start of civilization, leaders have pondered over the qualities that makeup an honorable and legitimate ruler. In William Shakespeare’s play King Henry IV Part One the audience must decide what makes an honorable leader. Throughout the play the main characters, King Henry, Prince Harry, Hotspur, and even Falstaff, help the audience realize what makes up an honorable leader for others to follow.
Henry V was the England leader who led his army to the battle of Agincourt. The character of Henry V has particularly created for the play to display the connection with several thoughts and events that are significant to the society of Shakespeare’s period. According to what mentioned in the article, “He spoke of God, and never mentioned the word ‘defeat.’ He talked about children being proud of their fathers who fought in this battle. He said ‘we are a band of brothers’ and he is one of them. He connected to the mission and to the people.” (What Shakespeare’s Henry V Tells Us about Leadership, Motivation, Wooing, and hanging, N. P) The speech makes someone think of how smart Henry V is and how skilled at public speaking because he was trying
Henry V is strongly focused on its protagonist, King Henry V. He is the young monarch of England. Henry is an optimistic, merciful, charismatic, and perceptive leader who takes his royal duties very seriously and will stop at nothing to attain a goal. Henry displays his commitment to duty when he sentences his childhood friend to death for stealing. The kingdom’s laws against stealing were clear and he chose to make an example out of Bardolph. He had to uphold the kingdom’s values over his personal feelings. Henry also proves to be a great orator by giving speeches throughout the play to inspire his troops with messages of nationalism, honor, and glory that propel them to major victories against overwhelming odds. According to Christopher Dowd, Assistant Professor at Missouri Southern University, “He seems particularly fascinated with the various connotations of the word ‘brother’ and with the varying sense of closeness and distance implied in fraternal
King Henry the V is show by Shakespeare to be a sort of military leader and model king in stark contrast to the French side who are shown to be less then favorable. However King Henry started out as a low down prince, upon becoming King his nobility rose to great heights. It is possible that we can see some bias on Shakespeare's behalf as he greatly favors King Henry's country. Henry’s duties as a king are shown to be flawless, although we have moments when we may perhaps question his character as his friendships bring up complications when he becomes a king. The King shows absolutely no favoritism towards Bardolph, who is caught stealing from a church. And seeing as Henry has given orders for no looting he proceeds to let the execution happen. When Falstaff becomes deathly ill, it is common opinion
The play is said to have a “lack of literary sophistication” and is “oft neglected and rarely performed” (Dell). Little is said about the failed play and performances are rare and hard to find (Dell). A Google search on the play will only bring up results from one TV based on the play and one or two mediocre performances and forgotten films before that. James Cooray Smith wrote a piece criticizing the play and it’s many downfalls. The play, obviously not one Shakespeare’s best, was not performed after Shakespeare's death till the 1700’s. Henry VI Part 1 is the least performed of all the history plays and is one of the least performed Shakespeare plays in general. In fact, it was so rarely performed that it was not even possible for one person to have seen the play twice in their lifetime until 1953. Often, Henry VI Part 1 is not performed in full and instead a few critical scenes are added to Henry VI Part 2. The play adds very little to the Henry VI series so few give it much thought. More likely than not the play is looked on as a poorly written prequel which was unlikely even written by Shakespeare