Discussing the play henry v

The play opens to Canterbury and Ely discussing Henry, on how his youth was savage and dishonest ” the courses of his youth promised it not” but Canterbury also comments on how Henry has changed since his wilder days. ” The breath no sooner left his father’s body, but that wilderness, mortified him, seemed to die too, yea at that very moment consideration like an angel came and whipped the offending Adam out of him… ” This shows us how his subjects view Henry as someone who has matured and become wise and responsible.

Ely comments we are blessed by this change” This is also shows the trust f his subjects and hoe they now believe in his new authority. The dauphins gift shows us the first sign of a matured Henry, his speech is spoken in a powerful tone ” … shall strike his father’s crown into the hazard. @ He is not shy in explaining his actions ” when we have matched our rackets … ” but also speaks in a sarcastic maner to make a mockery of the French King “… and we understand him well, how he comes o’ er us with our wilder days, not measuring what use we made them..

It is this that shows us how Henry is building a good reputaion for himself coming to full fruition, this would have influenced the audience of the time making him a role model showing how he is becoming more experienced in his reign. The manner in which Henry deals with the french asasins or English traitors shows how Henry is unmerciful but still sarcastic, knowing that they will die it does not cloud his judegment this is surprising and shows how Henry has matured since his ” wilder days. “

” The mercy that was so quick in us but late by your own ouncil is suppressed and killed. He also deals with Bardolf later on in France when he steals from the church. Both Bardolf and scroop have been close friends to Henry’s loyalty to the throne showing that close friend or not he must uphaold the law. The assult on the town of Harflur ends in glory after a speech spoken in words powrful enough for his men to gain morale and fight for Henry and their country.

Henry is effective in his speeches, he uses sound and vivid images such as ” set the teeth and stretch the nostrils wide… hich adds strong feeling to his speech. He gives merit to his men in his speech’s ” on , on you noblest English” in patriotic language. He compares his men to ” greyhounds” which are fast and keen to fight. This type of spech would appeal to the anti- French audiences of shakespear’s time. The French truly learn that Henry is not just a pretty face but a tough man leaving his past behind, now capable of ruling a country and bringing it to glory as in his words ” once more unto the breach my dear friends, once more.

He uses the word ” friends” to give his soldiers a sense of togetherness, Henry is giving his soldiers morale to fight. The battle of Agincourt also reveals how Henry images himself as a common soldier, the use of the plural ” we” and ” our” tells us how he wants to fight as an equal. Henry’s army appears doomed, might well have been melancholy in despair, but he disguises himself as a common soldier. He accepts pistols insult with patience, trying to lift the uncertain morale of his troops by discussing explanations.

Shakespear’s use of language is effective in that the monolouge is in blank verse. Henry’s speeches are at rythm combined with lines such as ” the almost mightset have coined me into gold” and “…. the gentler gamemaster is soonest winner. ” Henry seemed to be an idol of the shakespearian time, he was portrayed as mature and confident in shakespear’s plays. Giving the opinion that he was taut, trustworthy king that is eligible for the throne or was he a fabrication of shakespear’s own political views, aimed at anti-French audiences of the time.