King Henry V: Noble Hero or Devious Brute?

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King Henry V: Noble Hero or Devious Brute?

Arguably, William Shakespeare created the historical play, King Henry V for propaganda purposes. Requested by King Henry's distant relative Queen Elizabeth, the play portrays the main character, King Henry, in different aspects and facets. As a playwright of the time, Shakespeare felt he had to turn what was seen as a simple war hero into a complex character to make the play more interesting and to his liking. In this play Henry, upon his father's death, rapidly changed from a wild, boisterous youth, to a responsible, powerful king, faced with the decision of invading France. He won the battle with a small army against a large opposition and from his victory claimed a wife, Princess Katherine, from the French side. This essays intention is to explore Henry's character, whether he has the qualities of a noble hero or a devious brute. We must keep in mind how Shakespeare wanted the audience, perhaps the ruling monarchy at that time, to digest this play and their interpretations of Henry's character. The audience's first impression of Henry is influenced by their first taste of the play, the chorus.

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