Henry V

Henry V: play

Henry V opens as King Henry V has just ascended the throne after his father's death. He has previously had a reputation as a debaucherous and rebellious young man, which he now must put to rest and become a more mature monarch. One thing Henry plans to do as monarch is seize properties from the Church. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely wish to stop this and so they offer to fund a military campaign that would take France for King Henry. The Archbishop convinces Henry that he is entitled to France due to antiquated and complex inheritance laws. Henry's claims to France are mocked by the Dauphin, the son of the French King. This infuriates Henry, who declares war on France. He is supported by both the clergy and his nobles.

Fig. 1 - This is what Henry V is likely to have looked like.

The play also includes characters from the King's eventful past. These include Bardolph, Pistol, and Nim. As men of fighting age, they have decided to join in the King's war against France. Despite once being close to Henry, he has now abandoned the three men. As he took the throne, Henry wished to distance himself from his past. Bardolph, Pistol, and Nim also discuss the death of Sir John Falstaff, their friend and the once mentor of King Henry. It is believed he died of a broken heart. Henry too abandoned Falstaff after becoming king.

Just before the English set sail for France, Henry discovers a plot against his life. Three lords and former friends of his, Scroop, Cambridge, and Grey, have been bribed by the French to kill him. Henry has all three men put to death as an example to those who betray him. Their convoy then sets sail for France.

Henry gives the French an ultimatum. He orders King Charles of France to either surrender or face brutal attacks. In an attempt to placate him, King Charles offers Henry his daughter Katherine's hand in marriage along with small portions of land. Henry refuses and his army begins an attack on the town of Harfleur. Through bloody and difficult battles, the English emerge victorious, aided by King Henry's rousing speeches. Upon taking the town, Henry orders his soldiers to treat the French citizens kindly.

Between battles, Nim and Bardolph are caught stealing and Henry orders their execution. He does not seem to consider the past relationship he has with these men. He is more concerned with solidifying his authority as king. By this point, the English army are exhausted and beaten down, but Henry insists that they will fight the next day regardless. In these circumstances, the French feel sure of victory. That night, Henry disguises himself as a normal soldier and walks around the English camp, trying to bolster his men. He learns about them and their lives on a more personal level. When alone again, Henry laments the responsibilities that rest on his shoulders as monarch.

The next morning, the battle takes place, becoming known as the Battle of Agincourt. Henry gives his soldiers a rousing and powerful speech that propels them to fight bravely. Despite being severely outnumbered by the French, the English eventually fight their way to victory. They have suffered minimal losses, while thousands of French are dead. Henry orders that all those English who have lost their lives be given proper Christian burials.

In the final act of Henry V, some of the soldiers discuss the importance of respecting other cultures. Fluellen, a Welsh captain who was heavily involved in the fighting, takes part in this conversation. Meanwhile, King Henry and King Charles are engaged in peace negotiations. Charles agrees to all of Henry's demands, including his foremost wish to marry Katherine. It is decided that Henry and Katherine's child will rule France. However, before the play closes, the audience is informed that this child will go on to lose France not long after his father had gained it. This story plays out in another of Shakespeare's plays, the first part of Henry VI (1592).

Henry V: characters

As with many Shakespeare plays, Henry V contains an expansive host of characters, both major and minor. Shakespeare uses many of these characters as devices to either advance or exemplify King Henry's growth journey.

Henry V: speech

Speeches are an important literary device used by Shakespeare in Henry V. King Henry utilises them multiple times to rouse and embolden his men to victory. The best-known and most influential of these speeches is the one Henry says before the Battle of Agincourt. His men are exhausted and have little hope, but the power of this speech pushes them to fight for victory. He speaks of the glory of battle and how, even if they don't survive, they will all be remembered forever. As quoted below, Henry's speech presents warfare in the name of one's country as something honourable that men should be willing to die for.

Many critics have used this speech to analyse the themes of warfare and its value that run throughout Henry V. The morality of Henry subjecting ordinary men to war for his own gains is questioned in Shakespeare's play. However, they all seem roused by this speech. Henry depicts war as an opportunity for brotherhood between men; it is glorious to die for your comrades and your country. Shakespeare undercuts this by remarking that Henry's own son will lose France only a generation later. The complexity of war is shown in Henry V.

Henry V: Shakespeare

As you likely know, William Shakespeare is the most famous playwright to have ever lived. Shakespeare was born in 1564 in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, leading a relatively comfortable childhood. He married his wife, Anne Hathaway, at the age of eighteen, and the couple went on to have three children together.

Fig. 2 - A portrait of Shakespeare, the world's best-known playwright.

In the latter half of the 1500s, Shakespeare moved to London and began working in the bustling theatrical scene, likely as both an actor and writer. This is when Shakespeare began to write the plays that would make his name, both in his own time and afterwards. In his career, Shakespeare mostly wrote histories, tragedies, and comedies, including Henry V (1600), Macbeth (1623), and A Midsummer Night's Dream (1600). Shakespeare's plays were highly popular in his time, garnering much interest. Today, he is one of the most important literary and cultural figures in history, known for his witty dialogue, incisive social commentary, and creative storylines and characters.

In his late forties, Shakespeare moved back to Stratford, dying in 1616 at fifty-two years old. The cause of his death remains unknown.

Henry V: quotes

Read on for key quotes from Henry V.