From your reading of Shakespeare “Henry V” and of Sir Keith Feiling’s historical account. What do you think are the aims and effects of Shakespeare's potrayal of Henry?

University Degree Linguistics, Classics and related subjects

Henry V

FROM YOUR READING OF SHAKESPEARE “HENRY V” AND OF SIR KEITH FEILING’S HISTORICAL ACCOUNT. WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE AIMS AND EFFECTS OF SHAKESPEARE’S POTRAYAL OF HENRY?

William Shakespeare wrote Henry V in 1598, about 170 years after king Henry V reigned. Shakespeare’s play is about how King Henry made a claim to the French throne. Shakespeare’s written and based his play on the main event of the 15th Century; which was the Battle of Agnicourt in 1415. The play includes the Hundred Years War (1337-1453) – between France and England, and is based on real characters and other events of the early 15th Century, but using imagination. Sir Keith Feiling wrote A History of England: First Edition 1950, this text shows the real events that occurred in King Henry’s life. This shows that both of these are well over 400 years apart. Shakespeare’s text was designed to entertain an audience in a theatre, whereas Feiling’s is an historical account, so it is factual. Shakespeare as usual would have based his ideas on historical sources, like Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland by Ralph Holinshed, first published in 1577. But then used his artistic freedom to create something very fictional.

The play opens with a Prologue spoken by the Chorus. The Chorus was used in classical Greek drama to comment on the action and usually consisted of a group of actors. In this play, one actor speaks the Chorus. He calls for inspiration to help show the great events and heroic characters involved in the story, which are presented. He asks the audience to make allowances for the limitations of the small theatre and encourages them to use their imagination to conjure up the large number of men and horses involved in the battles. Shakespeare wishes to impress his ...

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At the beginning of the play early we learn that in the Chorus it shows how Henry changed overnight from a wild young man to a responsible King, how he involved with lower class people, drinkers, womanizers and thieves. Then after becoming king, he became a responsible person. This was hard for the audience to believe, which added excitement and interest of the play, on how Henry will show his responsibility. The Chorus also introduces the main characters in the play. Henry is shown as a brave soldier - he is likened to Mars: God of War.

In scene one Henry is working with very powerful men e.g. Churchmen etc; Henry shows authority, confidence and is polite toward towards his men. In the first scene Henry asks the Archbishop of Canterbury if he has a right to make claim to the French Throne. The Archbishop gives his opinion with reference to Henry’s heroic ancestors. God is often repeated in the speech by Henry, which shows that religion is very important to him, and because Henry is a very religious character he wants religious and legal support for his claim, so he makes the Archbishop share the responsibility for the proposed war. Henry wants one hundred percent proof before going to war because he knows the horror and devastation war can cause but then he is prepared to go ahead because he has seeked approval and support from the Church. Feiling, in his historical account confirms that Henry was a very religious person: constant Masses, visits to shrines and anchorites, “ a people of God”; he convinced himself

In scene two Shakespeare shows the relationship between Henry and The Dauphin (French heir). How Henry responds to The Dauphin’s insulting gift: The Dauphin sent Henry tennis balls; this is an insulting gift to Henry because it means that The Dauphin doesn’t take Henry seriously. Henry’s response to this insult is quite calm, he keeps his temper under control, but because he has a brilliant ability with words, he makes his anger quite clear in his words: How he comes o’er us with our wilder days.

Priya Ruparel L52