Henry’s next characteristic is exposed to the audience when he receives a gift of tennis balls from the Duaphin, knowing that Henry was an idler before becoming king. The Dauphin attempts to remind Henry of his reputation for being mechievious and rebellious whilst showing how the Dauphin disrespects Henry. How he responds to this reveals how Henry reacts when he is taunted and put on the spot. The gift of tennis balls refers to Henry’s misspent youth, and is supposed to, the Dauphin says, be in exchange for forgetting any claims to France. Firstly Henry didn’t take out the attempt to annoy him on the messenger which displays that he is reasonable. Instead Henry demonstrates his skills of eloquence by using his rage to motivate him. The tennis balls thus come to symbolize Henry’s burning desire to conquer France. As he tells the French ambassador, the Dauphin’s jests have initiated a deadly match, and these tennis balls are now cannonballs.
When Henry is made to deal with traitors further leadership qualities flourish with his response. Henry uses a very dexterous way of confronting the traitors, demonstrating his intellectuality. He shows the men up to be hypocrites, by asking them their thoughts about the arrest of a drunken man, the previous day, for speaking against Henry in public. The conspiratos advise against this act of compassion, the traitors find out their plot is then discover by the King handing them the incriminating evidence on paper. Henry’s tactical way of tackling these traitors reveals his control of everything that is going on around him. Also his level headed way of dealing with these men, not influenced by his close friendship, displays where his priorities lie and that he will not make exceptions for anyone. Overall this scene exhibits his capacity to reinforce laws and how strongly he feels about them.
At the siege of Harfleur Shakespeare demonstrates Henrys skills to motivate and encourage his men, showing his amazing talent of oratory. It also deomonstrates how Henry can step down from his position and talk as a common soldier, allowing them to respect him further. He firstly attempts to rouse his men into a killing frenzy by referring to their primal instinct towards violence and compares how he wishes his men to act to the features of a tiger: ‘Then imitate the action of a tiger,’ provoking them even further. Henry then refers to nationalistic patriotism, urging them to honour their country, and follow the example of the ancestors proving that they are worthy of being called English: ‘Dishonour not your mothers; now attest that those whom you called fathers did beget you.’ This speech also allows each man to feel as significant as the next: ‘that hath not noble lusture in your eyes.’At the end of the speech Henry attaches St. George, the patron saint of England, to his legendary battle cry, it shows that Henry puts his men in his best interest and wishes them to feel calm and relaxed therefore providing his men with a treasured and familiar symbol of the patriotic ideals he espouses in his rally cry. Altogether, this speech indicates to the audience Henry’s gift of eloquence and how he respects his men and doesn’t feel over them.
Henry’s leadership quality of understanding that morals are higher than sentiments is reinforced in the scene where he makes the decision for Bardolph to be hung. This decision is hard for Henry to make as Bardolph is a close companion of his. However in this situation Henry still maintains to appear regal and humble ensuring his predominant concern is the law and carriers out the punishment given to looters. Henry illustrates himself as a man that is not effected by his feelings, enhancing his supremacy amongst his men.
The night before the battle of Agincourt Henry disguises himself amongst his men. His soliloquy before this shows how Henry understands that they are in danger, but is hopeful they can triumph over evil demonstrating his logical thinking and recognizing problems. It also shows that he is knowledgeable about the importance of him, as a leader, to raise the men’s morale. By going undercover Henry shows his willingness to step down from his position and talk with the common soldiers to get a grasp of how his men really feel about the whole situation and himself. This then allows Henry to put himself in these men’s shoes, and, therefore, can put their thoughts and worries at ease later. A greater view from his soldiers of what they think of their ruler is publicized increasing his popularity with the audience. ‘The King’s a bawcock and a heart of gold, a lad of life, an imp; of Frame; of parents good, of fist most valiant. I kiss his dirty shoe, and from heart-string I love the lovely bully.’ This mass of compliments shows how admired Henry is, Shakespeare over emphasises his tributes displaying what makes a good king. From being amongst his mean in this circumstance indicates that Henry has concern for his men not just for himself, and respects the view of his loyal soldiers. Henry is made to feel like he has a great responsibility in his men’s eyes and knows how much they admire him and look for approval and knows that they think that he doubt the motives and the courage of the king. Alone Henry delivers a soliquy, reflecting what he had just been informed by the soldiers. He laments the lonely isolation of power, which is combined with the need to be eternally vigilant. The only consolation Henry can see in being king is the elaborate ceremony and costuming that accompanies the position. Yet he contends that this ceremony is empty and that he would rather be a slave, who is at least able to rest easy and not worry about the safety of his country.
Before the battle Henry gives a convincing, encouraging speech, lifting the soldiers moral. This is another example of Henry stepping down and talking to the soliders as if he was one himself stating to them, ‘we band of brothers.’ The last four lines ‘And gentlemen in England now-a-bed shall think themselves accurs’d they were not here and hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us upon Saint Crispen’s Day.’ This states that men in England who do not fight will be ashamed and their lives and manliness become nothing because of there cowardliness and those who did fight on St. Crispen’s day are brave and proper men, more than anyone else. Henrys talent of eloquence is demonstrated once again in this speech, he uses a form of blackmail.
In the next significant passage where a leadership quality of Henry is shown, is when he hears a sudden cry of sounds on the battlefield that he interprets as the French re-grouping, with the aim of launching a second attack. Henry thus orders the guards of the French prisoners to kill their captives. This action shows that Henry has awareness of what is going on around him. Also that he can anticipate things and make quick decisive action. This proves that he is strong minded and knows what should be done within a short period of time. Once again he orders the killing of French soldiers when he is horrified to discover that they have just killed the boys guarding the baggage. Henry’s sudden action is due to his anger, ‘I was not angry since I came to France, until this instant,’ and is evidence for how much these young boys meant to him. Good leaders need presence of care and consideration for all their men, which Henry demonstrates cleary in this scene
After much tension between England and France, Henry is noble enough to make peace with them and give consent to Charles to retain his throne. However, Henry has a list of demands, the first of which is that he gets to marry his distant cousin, Princess Katherine of France. That way, Henry and his heirs will inherit France as well as England. Shakespeare has shown that Henry understands he is in a position where he can control the French king, therefore he uses this to his advantage gaining what he wishes out of the agreement.
In conclusion Henry’s assets are demonstrated throughout the play. As there are so many situations and circumstances these actions can be conceived to the audience that Shakespeare was using the play as a template for kingship rather than a portrait of a king. The different extents of these situations concludes most conditions kings would ever be put under and these leadership qualities are specifically highlighted throughout the play. However one could argue that the play was based on actual historical events therefore the play flowed as it would have in real life.
