'In Henry V and The Rover it is money that makes the world go round.' Discuss this statement in an essay of no more than 1,500 words.

Authors Avatar

 ‘In Henry V and The Rover it is money that makes the world go round.’ Discuss this statement in an essay of no more than 1,500 words.

King Henry V from Henry V and Willmore from The Rover will be used to discuss how the statement, ‘In Henry V and The Rover it is money that makes the world go round’.  This will be looked at via the means of character stereotypes, rhetorical skills and conservative endings in each text and how these tools portray the male characters in a generally positive light but a in a role which revolves around money.  This discussion will go on to suggest that different moral perspectives of the twentieth century have been expressed in productions of Henry V and The Rover and have sometimes served to intensify this aspect of the two plays.

Owens (p. 77 in Owens W.R and Goodman L. (Eds.) (1996) Shakespeare, Aphra Behn and the Canon: Routledge/Open University REF) describes the historical King, Henry V, as ‘canonical’.  As a legendary war hero and a popular monarch, he had already been idealized in the historical accounts on which Shakespeare based his play.  In Shakespeare’s version of events, Henry V is dramatized in his public role (with little reference to his private feelings) becoming an idealized

Mrs. Julie Ward

W9630582

TMA 07

Page 2

‘Christian king’ (The Arden Shakespeare: King Henry V 1.2.242 (1995), Craik T.W. (Ed.): Thomson)).  He demonstrates piety and justice throughout the play.  Shakespeare moves away from historical fact to preserve this positive image.  However, alongside this positive image of Henry V is the emotive subject of money.  Throughout this Shakespeare play, money appears to be the principal concern.  Henry V is portrayed as a stereotypical hero and King.  He is successful in leading his country through battle.  He is merciful when it comes to avoiding bloodshed.  ‘Use mercy to them all’ (Henry V 3.3.54).  He is portrayed positively and as such money is used to emphasise his status and how he is set apart from his subjects.  This treatment of money as a tool to emphasise his rank affects how the audience would purvey Henry V.  Shakespeare portrays Henry V as ‘Christian king’ who does not fear money and will not be manipulated by it.  ‘I myself heard the King say he would not be ransomed’ Henry V 4.1.185).  King Henry V refuses to be affected by this situation.  ‘If I live to see it, I will never trust his word after’ (Henry V 4.1.190).  

Join now!

While Henry V is a stereotypical hero, Willmore is a stereotypical comic figure.  He is an ‘extravagant rake’ (p,161, Shakespeare, Aphra Behn and the Canon); a stock figure in Restoration drama who tends to behave recklessly and

Mrs. Julie Ward

W9630582

TMA 07

Page 3

promiscuously with great verbal wit.  Some of Willmore’s behaviour is undeniably negative; he pursues both Hellena and Angelica at the same time, he attempts to rape Florinda while drunk and he becomes seriously interested in Hellena only after hearing of her wealth.  However, his ‘swinging appetite’ (The Rover 1.2.174, p.272 Shakespeare, Aphra Behn ...

This is a preview of the whole essay