As the play unfolds into the second scene more of Henrys character is shown as he wants to know whether he has a right to the French throne,
‘And justly and religiously unfold
Why the law Salic, that they have in France,
Or should, or should not, bar us in our claim’
This shows us that Henry wants to go about this business in a just and fair way, also showing his faith to his religion. This shows us as the audience that Henry is the ideal king figure and is very thoughtful. Henry also comes across as being straight forward and candid, he also wants honesty from his fellow people and he asks for honesty from the Arch Bishop, as he knows if he goes ahead with this war it will end in death and blood and he does not want this unless necessary.
‘Whose right suits not in native colours with the truth
For God doth know how many now in health
Shall drop their blood in approbation’
Henry comes across as being very considerate and thoughtful here as we can see how he cares about the life’s which will be taken due to this war, therefore he wants to go about it in the right way with pure honesty. The language that he uses; ‘drop their blood’, also adds the effect of death, which makes Henry seem even more caring.
When Henry is sent tennis balls by Dolphin, he is instantly angered as this have made a mockery out of his past, Henry is angered by this and uses the tennis balls and the game as metaphors, ‘we will in France play a set, shall strike his fathers crown into hazard’.
Sana Javed
What interests you about the way he is presented in the play?
What interests me about the way that Henry is presented in the play is the way he has changed from being a ‘wild’ youth to becoming a responsible and fair king. He is presented straight away as being very passionate about war, and being a king which is shown in the language that he uses. The way that Henry is presented as ‘Mars’ the god of war interests me as this shows us how much passion Henry has and he is ‘warlike’.
In the speech that Henry gives in the second scene he presents himself as being an ideal king figure as he is going about the war with France in a just, honest and religious way, ‘justly and religiously unfold’ . Although Henry enjoyed his youth, he has changed and is now presented as a good king, and cares about others.
When Henry finds out that Scroop, Cambridge and Grey have betrayed him he deals with it in a clever and in a way, fair manner. Scroop talks of how they should punish anyone who commits a crime; ‘let him be punished’, but the King being kind and caring as he is lets him off as it was due to ‘excess of wine’. This in a way is ironic as what Scroop has said will be used back on him. He and the others will be punished for Treason. As the scene carries on we are shown a sensitive side of Henry, ‘I will weep for thee’, he is genuinely hurt as Scroop was he very close friend, ‘thou that didst bear the key of all my counsels’, meaning that Scroop bared all ‘key’ to Henrys secrets and problems. He is very angry and uses a cumulative effect of words to portray them, ‘ingrateful, savage, and inhuman creature’.
This shows the audience how even though Henry is a compassionate king; he will not take disloyalty to him and his country in any way at all.
