In the opening act, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely are having a discussion. They have decided to support the kings’ claim to the French throne and to give him a monetary gift to fund the war effort against France. Canterbury and Ely also discuss the change in Henry’s character:
“The course of his youth promised it not,” this quote shows Canterbury and Ely discussing Henry’s past as he was a sham until the death of this father. In the video performance the director has used flashbacks of Henry in his youth and shows some of his close-drinking buddies.
Shakespeare also uses a biblical reference in Act one Scene one:
“And whipped th’ offending Adam out of him.” Referring to the bible where Adam is banished from the Garden of Eden for tasting the forbidden fruit. Adam is representing the evil and sins being whipped out of Henry.
Shakespeare in Act one Scene one has used historical reference:
“The Gordian knot of it he will unloose.” this was named after Gordius, king of Phrygia, tied an intricate knot that remained tied until cut by Alexander the Great.
Another example of Shakespheare's use of historical reference and alliteration is also in Act one Scene one:
“Nor never Hydra-headed wilfulness.” The hydra being a water snake with many heads and if one head is cut off another two heads grow in its place.
In Act one Scene two Shakespeare shows an example of Henry being a Christian king. Canterbury and Ely urge Henry to attack France but Henry declines until he has the knowledge that God is one his side. Henry believes without God helping him he can not win and as a Christian he felt he needed to be sure he had a claim to the French throne and that is when Canterbury informed him of the Salic law. Canterbury then convinces Henry that he has a legitimate claim via the Salic law.
“May I with right and conscience make this claim?” Henry asks Canterbury whether it is legitimate. This shows Henry is concerned if God will provide them will help.
When the French ambassador arrives with the tennis balls from the Dauphin, Henry expresses another side of his character, his ruthless side.
“Shall strike his father’s crown into hazard,”
“Tell him he hath made a match with such a wrangler.” Henry is showing that he will do anything to get the French crown by being ruthless.
After receiving the insult of the tennis balls from the Dauphin, Henry decided to attack France but not with an army at full strength but a small number of soldiers due to the Scottish, as they may attack. This is an example of Henry’s character and how clever he is. This scene also shows the cleverness and ruthless of Henry. We have also seen another side of Henry we have not seen before his determination. Henry as well as some of his companions such as Exeter knows they have no chance of defeating France. But Henry is determined to march on to Calais.
Another aspect of Henry’s character is his ability to inspire and manipulate people with his speeches. Prime examples of this at Harfleurs and just before Agincourt.
“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;”
“Or close the wall up with our English dead.” Inspirational words said during the battle of Agincourt.
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers”
“For he today sheds his blood for me”
“Shall be my brother” This speech has gone down in history as one the most inspiring speeches ever written.
Another aspect of Henry’s character is his ability to manipulate others around him. A prime example of this is when before the Battle of Agincourt Henry disguises him self as an ordinary person and walked along the encampment assessing his soldier moods and emotion and most importantly about his courtship to Catherine. In the video performance Henry dressed as an ordinary person and wondered through his encampment and by using siloque he was able to talk to him self, as well as the audience.
During these two speeches Henry shows many different facets of himself. During the Harfleurs he expresses his extreme ruthlessness and insults to the French. During the speech he was able to pump the adrenaline in the soldiers. He was able to persuade the soldiers to fight not for him but for their mothers and fathers and make them proud.
“Dishonour not your mothers; now attest”
“That those whom you called fathers did beget you.”
But then we see his emotional side and extreme manipulation of his soldiers in the Agincourt speech. In this speech he uses a subtle and clever argument to appeal to his men’s vanity and sense of self worth. Henry puts the point across that this day will be remembered by all, and all that fought in this battle can hold their head up high and say they fought on Saint Crispians day. Henry refers to his men as his brothers not as his men or soldiers but as his brothers and he implies that they are of the same blood as he says,
“For he today that sheds his blood for me shall be my brother.”
Shakespeare gave Henry the ability to persuade people that they were not fighting for him, but fighting for their country and their families and friends and he who is not here should feel accursed.
As Henry had shown in many occasions he did not take lightly to traitors as seen with Thomas Gray Knight of Northumberland, Richard Earl of Cambridge and Henry Lord Scroop Masham. But the most controversial was the hanging of Pistol. Who after his coronation was rejected. In the video performance we were shown exactly why Henry had hung Pistol. The director Kenneth Branagh has used flashbacks to reconstruct his past bad doing. This was an ingenious way of show the audience his past.
The French saw Henry in a different light from the English they had seen him as a poor king and the greatly underestimated his mind and his ability. Nearing the final scenes Henry shows his skills in manipulating Catherine, he acted as a shy king who wasn’t familiar to the dating game. Yet in fact he was a womaniser and had woven a web and Catherine had been innocently tangled up in it.
Finally in my conclusion I believe Henry was a clever, determined, heroic, compassionate, yet manipulative, competitive, ruthless king. But I do not believe he was a Christian king, as had firm rights to the French throne, so the innocent French public was also in Henry’s people. Yet he threatened the French public.
“Mock mothers from their sons, mock castles down:”
And some are yet ungotten and unborn”
These words I believe don’t sound like the words of a Christian king. From watching the video performance I believe it was a brilliant performance and described Henry’s character in more depth. Henry proved he was a master on his character he was a statesman, military leader and politician. During his speeches he used intense psychology.
The way this play was written it show how glorified the victory over the French was but in fact it was nothing of the sort.
Shakespeare use of language was complex as he referred to biblical references, historical references and theological references through out the play. This play was intentionally written to glorify an ungloried event.