The second scene of the first act sees Henry in a consultation with, among others, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely who have been trying to persuade the king to go to war with France. Their theory appears to be to confuse Henry into agreeing with them to go to war by re-telling a long and complicated history of Europe. The king shows that he is aware of Canterbury and Ely attempting to manipulate him and responds to this manipulation by pausing Canterbury’s speech and asking if he may
“with right and conscious make this claim?”
This question shows that Henry is aware that he can not fight France without a good reason to. The way in which the king uses his question to pause Canterbury’s long and rambling speech shows that he is aware of people trying to manipulate him and that the king is aware of what he needs to find out, as well as what he is being told.
The gesture of the Finch Dauphin in sending “tennis balls” to the king was intended to be a mockery of Henry’s previous “sporting” lifestyle. This sarcastic gesture however, gives Shakespeare the chance to show the audience, again, how Henry has changed now he is king. If the king had not already decided, the Dauphin’s gift confirmed Henry’s decision to go to war with France. The King’s reply to the Dauphin’s message is polite and uses phrases such as;
“We are glad the Dauphin is so pleasant with us.”
However, the King’s reply to the Dauphin is littered with metaphors and imagery of battles, wars and fighting. Also, the King’s speech to the French ambassador confirms his plans for war;
“Tell you the Dauphin I am coming…
To venge me as I may and to put forth
My rightful hand in a well-hallowed cause.
…And tell the Dauphin
His jest will savour but of shallow wit
When thousands weep more than did laugh at it.”
This scene is poignant within the play regarding Henry’s change in personality. This is because it shows that although in his younger days, Henry was known not to take his position as the Prince of Wales seriously, the King now has realised the importance as his duty as ruler of England.
The king also realises the importance of ensuring the stability of England while fighting in France. The eventual decision to;
“Divide your happy England into four
Whereof take … one quarter into France.”
By Canterbury is accepted by the king because it allows for defence against possible attacks by the Scots, Welsh and Irish in England as well as providing enough soldiers to fight in France. This section of the scene proves Henry’s leadership skills, as it shows that he has thought ahead of setbacks in the war with France.
Shakespeare shows a stark contrast between Henry and his old companions; Bardolph, Nym, Pistol and Sir John Falstaff. These four characters who were the young Henry’s close friends are poverty-stricken and, in the case of Falstaff, close to death. Shakespeare uses a different language technique when these characters are talking. Instead of the poetic, iambic pentameter used when superior characters are talking, Shakespeare uses simple prose for the lesser characters.
These four comic characters are clearly distraught at the abandonment of them by Henry when he became King, however, most of the understand that
“The king is a good king”
John Falstaff, however was the closest of the four to the King and, after the audience hears that he is dying, the hostess claims that
“The king has killed his heart”
As well as this, Nym states that
“The king hath run bad humours on the knight”
These two quotations show the shock of Falstaff when the king no longer associates with him.
Scene two of the second act gives the audience an example of the King’s treatment of traitors among his court. The First Earl of Cambridge, Lord Scroop and Gray, alongside the king and other nobles are discussing the fate of a man who insulted the king while drunk. The king opposes the opinion of Scroop, Cambridge and Gray, that any man who opposes the king should “be punished” by death. However, Henry is able to use the words of these three nobles against them when they are charged with “high treason”. Shakespeare shows here that Henry has a good knowledge of fair trials because he realises that some crimes should be punished in a stronger way than others.
To conclude, Shakespeare marks Henry’s transformation from frivolous prince into noble king in numerous ways. The audience is shown that Henry is now aware that he can not stay in contact with people such as Falstaff, Nym, Pistol and Bardolph because they would not have a good influence on him. Also, the king has knowledge on the country’s law, and is fair when punishing criminals. Henry is shown to know when he is being manipulated by people and is also aware that he should only go to war with France if he has a good reason to. These changes in Henry’s personality would have shown the original audiences of “Henry V” that Henry was now what they considered to be a good “Christian king”.
