It is easy to see how Henry V can be seen as an inspirational play, to its original audience. When Shakespeare was writing this play, he obviously used a variety of different methods to inspire his English audience.
It is easy to see how Henry V can be seen as an inspirational play, to its original audience. When Shakespeare was writing this play, he obviously used a variety of different methods to inspire his English audience. In this presentation I plan to point out what methods were used, and explain why they are effective. These methods are Shakespeare's use of characterization (specifically with Henry and the French), the use of dialogue, and also, the use of imagery. While this play may not have been one of Shakespeare's greats, it certainly was one of his better-written plays.
If one were to only read Henry V, they would not understand why Shakespeare is considered such an amazing playwright. This particular play does not have the same appeal to it when compared to his other works. It lacks the betrayal of Julius Caesar, the passion of Romeo and Juliet, of the intrigue of Macbeth. This play is simply, a retelling of past events. The one, and only, character from this play that is somewhat developed in the main character, Henry. Henry is a static character, far from the other main characters of Shakespeare's greats. There is next to no delving into his psyche, he simply starts as a "monarch better feared than loved" (Shakespeare, 28). This way of thinking about him remains constant. Shakespeare would have done this for a specific reason. He starts the play by basically comparing Henry against two high-ranking religious officials, making Henry seem like a normal person. This would have allowed the various social classes that were in the audience to feel some sort of connection with Henry. They would be able to see him as one of them. That way, when Henry accomplished something, they all accomplished something. When Henry overcame adversity, they all overcame adversity. When Henry defeated the French, they all defeated the French. As was previously stated, Henry does not change during the play. He is an extremely static character. He is characterized as a young, devoted, and competent leader. He is simply trying to regain something that he felt should be his. According to Salic law, the French crown could not be passed down through a woman. Henry saw this as an opportunity to get a wife, and ultimately, a new country for England. These were all wants of the common English person. So, how could an audience not be attached to someone who wanted what they wanted? Shakespeare also uses characterization of another group to inspire people in this play. Shakespeare characterizes the French in a way that the typical Englishman would have seen the French. They appear to be over-confident, brash, and not aware of the English strength. A prime example of this is in Act 1 scene 2 where the Dauphin has sent the tennis balls to Henry to mock him. Henry responds to this by saying that this gesture will be the reason that France is beaten. Henry goes on to state that the Dauphin "Mock[ed] mothers from their sons". This would go to show that the English were not about to back down to the French, and that they would stand up for themselves. What you have to imagine is a crowd full of English people. Shakespeare has already introduced Henry as a kind of respectable Englishman, who did foolish things when he was younger but has now straightened up his act. With this in mind, now think about how the audience would have reacted to this French enemy sending an English king tennis balls to mock him. The audience would has presumably felt angry. They would have felt as though this French prince was a terrible person. This was precisely what Shakespeare was trying to create. Shakespeare was trying to get the English people to bring out their pre-existing hatred for the French and bring about the mentality that they were all defeating the French not just the people on stage. There is further proof that this may have been the state of mind that Shakespeare was trying to create. In act 4 scene 3, Henry is reminding his army that "For he who sheds his blood with me today, shall be my brother" This would have been seen as the ultimate sign of patriotism. The King was telling his followers that he considers them his equals. If we believe that Shakespeare was trying to create an experience for his audience, then we can believe that Shakespeare included lines like that to inspire his audience.
If one were to only read Henry V, they would not understand why Shakespeare is considered such an amazing playwright. This particular play does not have the same appeal to it when compared to his other works. It lacks the betrayal of Julius Caesar, the passion of Romeo and Juliet, of the intrigue of Macbeth. This play is simply, a retelling of past events. The one, and only, character from this play that is somewhat developed in the main character, Henry. Henry is a static character, far from the other main characters of Shakespeare's greats. There is next to no delving into his psyche, he simply starts as a "monarch better feared than loved" (Shakespeare, 28). This way of thinking about him remains constant. Shakespeare would have done this for a specific reason. He starts the play by basically comparing Henry against two high-ranking religious officials, making Henry seem like a normal person. This would have allowed the various social classes that were in the audience to feel some sort of connection with Henry. They would be able to see him as one of them. That way, when Henry accomplished something, they all accomplished something. When Henry overcame adversity, they all overcame adversity. When Henry defeated the French, they all defeated the French. As was previously stated, Henry does not change during the play. He is an extremely static character. He is characterized as a young, devoted, and competent leader. He is simply trying to regain something that he felt should be his. According to Salic law, the French crown could not be passed down through a woman. Henry saw this as an opportunity to get a wife, and ultimately, a new country for England. These were all wants of the common English person. So, how could an audience not be attached to someone who wanted what they wanted? Shakespeare also uses characterization of another group to inspire people in this play. Shakespeare characterizes the French in a way that the typical Englishman would have seen the French. They appear to be over-confident, brash, and not aware of the English strength. A prime example of this is in Act 1 scene 2 where the Dauphin has sent the tennis balls to Henry to mock him. Henry responds to this by saying that this gesture will be the reason that France is beaten. Henry goes on to state that the Dauphin "Mock[ed] mothers from their sons". This would go to show that the English were not about to back down to the French, and that they would stand up for themselves. What you have to imagine is a crowd full of English people. Shakespeare has already introduced Henry as a kind of respectable Englishman, who did foolish things when he was younger but has now straightened up his act. With this in mind, now think about how the audience would have reacted to this French enemy sending an English king tennis balls to mock him. The audience would has presumably felt angry. They would have felt as though this French prince was a terrible person. This was precisely what Shakespeare was trying to create. Shakespeare was trying to get the English people to bring out their pre-existing hatred for the French and bring about the mentality that they were all defeating the French not just the people on stage. There is further proof that this may have been the state of mind that Shakespeare was trying to create. In act 4 scene 3, Henry is reminding his army that "For he who sheds his blood with me today, shall be my brother" This would have been seen as the ultimate sign of patriotism. The King was telling his followers that he considers them his equals. If we believe that Shakespeare was trying to create an experience for his audience, then we can believe that Shakespeare included lines like that to inspire his audience.
