Shakespeare Portrays Henry V as the Model Monarch

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Shakespeare Portrays Henry V as the Model Monarch

In this essay I intend to show that Shakespeare portrays Henry as the Classic         Sovereign as he is patriotic, brave, cunning, religious, natural leader & in touch with the lower class of the country. I will use quotes and remarks in the play to show this and present it. I shall firstly do a summery of the play and give a basic image of what it contains, and then give a detailed analysis, which will give a more detailed view of particular scenes to show how Shakespeare shows Henry’s character and finally I shall make a conclusion to present my evidence, to show that Henry is presented as a model monarch.

      The play is based around Henry V’s later life after he has become monarch. He is shown in the plays forerunner Henry IV were he is a young prince he is shown as an insurgent young future king. He Drinks with a group of lowlifes from the criminal underworld of London and visits Brothels with them. However he is shown to have fitted into the role of King perfectly, and the play Henry V shows the most successful years of his life, in his campaign to gain France.

      The Chorus asks the audience to excuse the limitations of the theatre and to use their imaginations to conjure up the great events, which are to be presented in the play.

      ACT I. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely are anxious about a proposed bill, which would transfer a vast deal of the Church’s property to the King. The Archbishop hopes that he may have averted this by the offer of a sizeable amount of money. We hear that the Kings disposition has significantly enhanced since he has come to the throne.

     The two churchmen are called before the King to give their professional opinion on his claim to the crown of France. They give historical and legal reasons why his claim is valid and encourage him to go to France and seize what is his. Some of the nobles in attendance support this view and, after making an allowance for the threat of a Scottish offensive, Henry decides to invade France.

     Ambassadors from the Dauphin deliver a rejection of his claims to territory in France as Henrys claim is through a Female, and an insulting gift of tennis balls. The letter coming from the Dauphin is an insult in itself, as it is saying Henry is not important enough to receive a message from the King of France. Henry sends a menacing reply in response to this insult, saying that the Dauphin will bear responsibility for a great deal of death and destruction. He then tells his nobles to prepare for war with France.

     ACT II. The Chorus describes the excitement as the army gets ready to depart from Southampton, but he warns that there are traitors in the English ranks.

     We witness a quarrel between Pistol and Nym over Nell Quickly, who was supposed to be engaged to Nym at some point in time, but ran off with Pistol and got married to him, both men threaten to fight and kill each other but they are both too cowardly to do anything. Also we learn that an old drinking companion of the King, Sir John Falstaff is ill.

     At Southampton, King Henry exposes the traitors, Lord Scroop, Grey of Northumberland & Richard Earl of Cambridge, who actually decide their own fait by telling the King that he should sentence a drunk who yelled abuse at him to death. And for such a small crime to receive a death sentence then the Traitors who would turn in their own King must certainly be sentenced to death, however they still all beg for mercy

    Meanwhile we hear that Falstaff has tragically died in his sleep and we are told he was a cold as stone. With nothing left to really stay for, the low-lives Pistol, Nym, Bardolph along with a boy servant are leaving to join the army, hoping to profit from the war by stealing from houses, churches and the locals

     At the French court, King Charles is organising the defence of his country. (Shakespeare does not mention that he was mad at the time) His son the Dauphin believes that the English are not a serious threat and that Henry is a vain and weak youth. The constable of France disagrees and warns him not to underestimate the English King; we get the impression that the members of the French court do not like the Dauphin. Exeter, as ambassador, delivers Henry’s demand for the French crown. The alternative is war.

      ACT III. The chorus describes the English invasion fleet the people of England are celebrating the setting off of the English fleet and sets a heroic picture of the Navy and of Henry standing on the pier. Shakespeare tells the audience to imagine they are on the ships leaving England and gives an image of the English coast disappearing and travelling onwards towards a city under siege, he tells us the King of France has offered Henry his daughter Katherine and some unprofitable land. However Henry refuses and the attack on Harfleur begins, we are reminded to use our imaginations once again and the play continues.

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      Henry rallies his men for an assault on Harfleur and gives one of his famous speeches showing he is a natural leader and is very articulate with his men. However the low-lives are cowardly and attempt to hide and avoid the battle, however they are found by captain Fluellen, a Welsh captain, who is then involved in a comical        argument with an Irish captain, a Scots captain and an English captain, we seem to have a joke that has lasted centuries with an Englishman an Irishman and a            Scotsman, ...

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