Shakespeare makes it clear to us that Henry takes his position as the King of England as no joke, even though once he was humorous and playful, Henry does not joke when it concerns the well being of his people. On the other hand Shakespeare uses the Dauphin to show the audience the brilliance of Henry’s reign. This is ironic in the sense that Henry was the one who was spontaneous in the past whereas now the Dolphin is the one with the greater sense of humour, through this it is shown that the Dolphin does not value his position and role as King, he underestimates his opponent and has a lack of respect for them, ‘the prince our master says that you savour too much of your youth, and bids you be advised: there’s nought in France that can be with a nimble galliard won’ whereas in complete contrast Henry shows honour towards the French and avoids downgrading them, this can be seen through his speech ‘ either our history shall with full mouth speak freely of our acts, or else our grave, like Turkish mute, shall have a tongue less mouth, not worshipped with a waxen epitaph. It is shown how serious Henry is about this war against France, it reveals his determination to conquer it, and shows that he thinks of himself as not worthy of being remembered if he were to fail. Shakespeare therefore hints Henry’s idealistic attitude, his compassion and motivation of his mission. From what we know from the attitude shown from the Dolphin, Henry is the king and the perfect ruler that we would desire.
Shakespeare shows Henry’s superiority as even though the Dauphin has mocked and criticized his title as King, Henry does not stoop to the Dauphin’s level but instead rises above his childishness with the answer of a powerful and worthy King ‘When we have matched our rackets to these balls, we will in France (by gods grace) play a set shall strike his father’s crown into the hazard. Tell him, he hath made a match with such a wrangler that all the courts of France will be disturbed with chases’, the Dauphin attempts to mock Henry however this speech holds an increasingly powerful impact and derides the Dauphin by turning his own message towards Henry against him.
Shakespeare also adds to Henry’s fantastic Kingly image through his experience of his past days in his youth, although the Dolphin ridicules Henry with this fact, Henry tells us that he does not regret those earlier days ‘And we understand him well, how he comes o’er us with our wilder days, not measuring what use we made of them. We never valued this poor seat of England, and therefore, living hence, did give ourself to barbarous licence: as ‘tis ever common that men are merriest when they are from home’ Henry honourably accepts that there was once a time that he never appreciated the value for the throne and has had wilder as well as vivacious times in his life; where this kind of ordeal did not interest him. Therefore although Shakespeare gives Henry some faults, they are still flawless, as it shows that Henry does not think of himself as god, but as a mere mortal who can make mistakes, he is therefore not afraid to admit or deny any mistakes he has made. Although, in Elizabethan times to be king was seen as to be ‘chosen by god’, thus meaning the king would be godlike and above the rest of the civilians. However Shakespeare portrays Henry as one being superior but in human nature; he has had an ordinary intriguing youth which in turn has given him much experience making him such an extra ordinary King, Shakespeare makes it seem as King Henry knows his people, ‘When I do rouse me in my throne of France. For that I have laid by my majesty, and plodded like a man for working-days’ he is therefore aware of what his people need and what they desire; because of his past, Henry was able to see as well as live life through the eyes of an ordinary peasant, that is why he is familiarised with his people and understands them well. With this knowledge and experience in mind Henry is able to be a better King as he knows how ordinary people live their lives and will be aware of how his decisions will affect people.
A most significant factor in what it means to have the title of King is to be a strong leader, someone who is not afraid to show leadership, and does not feel reluctant in showing control and strength, thus Shakespeare makes Henry to be a natural and powerful warmonger ‘and tell the pleasant prince, this mock of his hath turned his balls to gun-stones’, this is an example in which Henry is able to turn the Dolphins criticism against him, consequently putting the Dauphin’s jest on his own head. ‘And his soul shall stand sore charged for the wasteful vengeance that shall fly with them: for many a thousand widows shall this, his mock, mock out of their dear husbands; mock mothers from their sons, mock castles down; and some are yet ungotten and unborn, that shall have cause to curse the Dolphins scorn’, Henry shows the difference in himself and the Dauphin, a comparison is drawn between the two; the Dauphin prefers to joke around and act playfully when concerning his country, whereas in contrast Henry is serious about this war, and warns the Dauphin, that if he continues to underestimate his enemy and have this kind of attitude then he will lose his soldiers as well as the respect given towards him from his people. Therefore Shakespeare does not portray Henry to have a weak spot, he is a powerful kind and does not relent upon his enemies or take their immaturity as an excuse to underestimate them. Even though he has seen through the Dauphins attitude, he is still willing to fight the French with his full power. Through this we are also able to see that Henry does not take the lives of his soldiers lightly, conversely the Dauphin does not value the life of his soldiers, his message sent to Henry shows us that he treats the well being of his soldiers and his country as a game, whereas Henry is not as foolish and treats every aspect of the war as a serious ordeal.
In Elizabethan times, to be a true King meant to be Christian, Shakespeare makes Henry fitting for all the desired categories of Kingship, throughout the play it can be notified that King Henry is a proud Christian, through his words there is great wisdom, and Henry always talks with the regard of god in his speeches ‘but this lies all within the will of god, to whom I do appeal, and in whose name, tell you the Dauphin, I am coming on’; although Henry is ready and prepared for war, and has sent such a powerful threat to the Dauphin, he still counts on the will of god, this shows the depth of his Christian faith, he is not arrogant in that he can just go about to France and succeed in the war, Henry knows the limits of his own humanity and relies on the strength and support of god within him, this is a quality that Shakespeare has built into Henry, which is what makes him such a strong and determined hero.
To be King it is significant to be merciful upon his own people, Shakespeare has built into Henry the attribute of having sympathy and mercy towards his people. This is again intertwined with the factor of Henry’s past. Because he has experienced the toil of regular life that an ordinary man would live, Henry understands at what level he should punish his people and does not befall unfair punishments upon them. In act 2 there was a man who was arrested for the crime of railing against Henry, where most people would take not a second consideration before either killing such a person or even torturing them, Henry looks upon this deed with a different perspective, he is aware that people can commit such diminutive crimes in a moment of carelessness such as a situation of drinking to much; this is due to the reason that Henry in his past, had committed such crimes when going through his phase of having a lack of responsibility, thus he is aware that it is a mistake easily committed. This is what causes him to look over and appreciate the fact that people make mistakes and it is an injustice to treat them with such authority, ‘we judge no less. Uncle of Exeter, enlarge the man committed yesterday that railed against our person. We consider it was excess of wine that set him on, and on his more advice we pardon him’. Even though Henry’s subjects advise him that it would be best for Henry to severely punish the man in order to teach him a lesson, Henry is aware that such a decision would be an imprudent choice to follow and therefore tells them that if such small crimes were taken into account so seriously as to require torture or killing, then how would larger crimes be dealt with ‘if little faults proceeding on distemper shall not be winked at, how shall we stretch our eye when capital crimes, chewed, swallowed, and digested, appear before us?’ Henry is aware that his people would not support and love him as a leader if he does not relent upon anything; they would feel that he is selfish and inconsiderate and does not comprehend them or the situations in which they have to live in.
Although Shakespeare has portrayed Henry as merciful, he is not shown to be weak, as King Henry does not treat people differently, but all his friends as well as the people of his country are treated equally. This is proven when Henry’s subjects Cambridge and Grey as well as his good friend Scroop betray him and attempt to plan his assassination on the behest of the French.
The young, recently crowned king of England. Henry is brilliant, focused, fearless, and committed to the responsibilities of kingship. These responsibilities often force him to place his personal feelings second to the needs of the crown. Henry is a brilliant orator who uses his skill to justify his claims and to motivate his troops. Once Henry has resolved to conquer France, he pursues his goal relentlessly to the end.