Discussing the play Henry V.

...shall strike his father's crown into the hazard.@ He is not shy in explaining his actions "when we have

matched our rackets ..." but also speaks in a sarcastic maner to make a mockery of the French King "...and

we understand him well, how he comes o' er us with our wilder days, not measuring what use we made

them.." It is this that shows us how Henry is building a good reputaion for himself coming to full fruition,

this would have influenced the audience of the time making him a role model showing how he is becoming

more experienced in his reign.

The manner in which Henry deals with the french asasins or English traitors shows how Henry is unmerciful

but still sarcastic, knowing that they will die it does not cloud his judegment this is surprising and shows

how Henry has matured since his "wilder days." "The mercy that was so quick in us but late by your own

council is suppressed and killed." He also deals with Bardolf later on in France when he steals from the

church. Both Bardolf and scroop have been close friends to Henry's loyalty to the throne showing that

close friend or not he must uphaold the law.

The assult on the town of Harflur ends in glory after a speech spoken in words powrful enough for his men

to gain morale and fight for Henry and their country. Henry is effective in his speeches, he uses sound and

vivid images such as "set the teeth and stretch the nostrils wide..." which adds strong feeling to his speech.

He gives merit to his men in his speech's "on , on you noblest English" in patriotic language. He compares

his men to "greyhounds" which are fast and keen to fight. This type of spech would appeal to the anti-

French audiences of shakespear's time.

The French truly learn that Henry is not just a pretty face but a tough man leaving his past behind, now

capable of ruling a country and bringing it to glory as in his words "once more unto the breach my dear

friends, once more." he uses the word "friends" to give his soldiers a sense of togetherness, Henry is giving

his soldiers morale to fight.

The battle of Agincourt also reveals how Henry images himself as a common soldier, the use of the plural

"we" and "our" tells us how he wants to fight as an equal. Henry's army appears doomed, might well have

been melancholy in despair, but he disguises himself as a common soldier. He accepts pistols insult with

patience, trying to lift the uncertain morale of his troops by discussing explanations.

Shakespear's use of language is effective in that the monolouge is in blank verse. Henry's speeches are at

rythm combined with lines such as "the almost mightset have coined me into gold" and "....the gentler

gamemaster is soonest winner."

Henry seemed to be an idol of the shakespearian time, he was portrayed as mature and confident in

shakespear's plays. Giving the opinion that he was taut, trustworthy king that is eligible for the throne or

was he a fabrication of shakespear's own political views, aimed at anti-French audiences of the time.