“The causes of his youth promised it not.
The breath no sooner left his father’s body
But that his wildness, mortified in him,
Seemed to die too.
……………..
Leaving his body as a paradise”
And also in lined 60 – 63 where Henry’s nurture was given a more pictorial image by Ely
“The strawberry grows underneath the nettle,
And wholesome berries thrive and ripen best
Neighboured by fruit of baser quality”
Shakespeare uses what I believe to be a very good metaphor describing the ambience that Henry grew up in as ‘baser quality’ referring obviously to the acquaintances that he had at the time.
The conflict against France began with many of Henry’s ancestors and this speech is given by Henry to the bishops and people of his realm discussing his rights to land in France. He shows consideration for normal folk in lines 13 – 20 which shows that he is a reasonable man.
“And god forbid, my dear and faithful lord,
That you should fashion, wrest, or bow your reading,
Or nicely charge your understanding soul
With opening titles miscreate, whose right
Suits not in native colours with the truth;
For God doth know how many now in health
Shall drop their blood in approbation
Of what your reverence shall incite us to.”
In this speech, Henry is saying how he does not want to risk or sacrifice any of his soldiers for pursuits which aren’t completely justified.
During act 1 scene 2, Henry shows us once again that his linguistic skills are worthy of a scholar. The kings reply to the dauphin’s insults and his ‘gift’ of tennis balls communicated by the ambassador of France is a very elaborate speech and Henry on the whole splits this speech into 3 main segments. His main point that he wants to reach across is that he once did have his wilder days but now is a changed man and also the king of England thus he must be taken seriously.
Part 1 is where he accepts that he had is wilder days (270 – 274)
“We never valued this poor seat of England,
And therefore, living hence, did give ourself
To barbarous licence; as ‘tis ever common
That men are merriest when they are from home.”
Part 2 is telling how he is now a changed man and how he has moved on from those wilder days and is now as legitimate as the French king. (274 – 278)
“But tell the Dauphin I will keep my state,
Be like a king, and show my sail of greatness,
When I do rouse me in my throne of France. Etc.”
In the third and final part, he decrees his ability as a king and that the Dauphin will pay for his offence and underestimation. (279 – 298)
“That I will dazzle all the eyes of France,
Yea, strike the Dauphin blind to look on us.
And tell the pleasant Prince this mock of his
Hath turned his balls into gun stones……”
Henry also had the skill to turn what seemed a very bad situation, into a glorious victory such as the situation he found himself in when there were the conspirators against him. Initially, he would let the conspirators seal their own fate by through the model of the drunkard disrespecting the king and condemning the man, they condemn themselves. Secondly, he condemns them with crimes they had committed as if they were being briefed for the war against the French. (66 – 76)
“Read them, and know I know your worthiness.
………………
Why, how now, gentlemen?
What see you in those papers, that you lose
So much complexion? Look ye, how they change!”
Henry’s uniting abilities emerge once again when at the battle of Harfleur. Instead of being that distant star and elevating himself above the rest of his men, he dialogues as if he was one of them which meant that he created a sense of bonding or companionship as an example the speech in act 3 scene 1, the opening and the closing phrases are astonishing.
“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more,
Or close the wall up with our English dead!
…………
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry, ‘God for Harry, England, and Saint George!’”
Henry’s good leadership was shown by turning what seemed to be a defeat into victory. He also, as a good leader, reassures himself of how secure his men are by have a casual talk with his men in disguise so that they speak to him as if amongst themselves.
Another great example of turning a defeat into a great victory is in his final and what I believe to be the best speech in act 4 scene 3.
“God’s will! I pray thee wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
………
But id it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive”
Overall, Henry was a great leader partly thanks to his youth for the common touch or the element of surprise but overall for the person that he is. His social skills and his Heritage were the key factors to his majestic kingship
By Alessandro Amati
