Lit Links

Historical Background

Although the play stands on its own, a little knowledge of the background is useful. Henry V is the fourth in a series of plays (a tetralogy) in which Shakespeare charts the narrative of English history from partway through the reign of Richard II, 1390 approximately, through the reign of Henry IV, 1399-1413, until partway through the reign of Henry V, 1420.

In Richard II, Shakespeare showed how Richard – who was the ‘rightful’ king, the heir of Edward III, invested with the ‘divine right’, but who was also an ineffective king – was overthrown, or usurped by Henry Bolingbroke, a younger cousin, and then murdered.

In Henry IV Part 1 and Henry IV Part 2 Shakespeare shows how Henry IV’s reign is constantly troubled by invasions from Scotland and rebellions in England. Henry IV increasingly feels guilt for his actions against Richard. He is also troubled by the behaviour of his son and heir, the future Henry V, who spends a large amount of his time in the company of drunks and thieves, led by Sir John Falstaff. At various stages the young Henry shows his increasing maturity as a person, leader and military warrior. He saves his father, defeats the rebels and, as he becomes king, abandons Falstaff and his friends.

In Henry V there are a number of references to these events. In Act I Scene 1, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely comment favourably on Henry’s surprising maturity:

In Act IV Scene 1, on the eve of the Battle of Agincourt, Henry begs God’s pardon for his father’s actions:

In Henry IV Part 2, Act IV Scene5, the dying Henry IV advises the young Henry to go to war in order to maintain the stability of England and prevent people thinking back to the times of rebellion:

Finally, the characters Nym, Bardolph and Pistol are taken from Henry IV Parts 1 and 2. Their downfalls and the news of the death of Falstaff reflect the passing of that part of Henry’s life.

Family trees:

Different views of Henry and of Henry V

Both the play and its main character have aroused a wide range of contrasting and conflicting responses.

Henry has been described variously as ‘the ideal Christian king,’ ‘superhuman’, ‘a royal captain of a ruined band whose power of love and consequent lightness… thrills through the already poring dark.’ Dover Wilson, writing about Henry’s religious faith (‘How thou pleasest, God, dispose the day’) says this is ‘a statement of the ultimate heroic faith which, like that of martyrs, puts him who holds it beyond the reach of mortal man.’ A.C. Bradley has described him as ‘Shakespeare’s ideal man of action. Shakespeare disclosed his own ethical creed, and showed us his ideal, not simply of a man of action, but of a man.’ He is ‘a leader of supreme genius bountifully assisted by Fortune and the unity of his people.’

Henry has also been described as ‘a politician’ with ‘a readiness to use other people as means to his own ends.’ He has been described as only doing on a large scale what Bardolph does on a small scale. Derek Traversi sees in Henry a ‘self-control not without some suggestion of harshness and inhumanity’ and says of Henry’s treatment of the French prisoners ‘his ruthlessness appals and attracts us.’ John Sutherland sees Henry in simpler terms as a ‘war criminal.’

Similarly, the play as a whole has been seen as ‘a glorification of the martial spirit’ and a ‘celebration of the warrior king.’ There are references to ‘the heroic spirit of the play. Some see it as ‘glamorising war’, as being ‘starkly patriotic, verging on propagandistic’, with ‘a black and white morality’, while others feel it shows the horrors of war.

Tillyard felt that ‘the weight of historical and legendary tradition was too great.’ ‘The inconsistencies of Henry’s miraculously changed character and his dual role of ideal king and good mixer’ make Henry’s portrayal ‘impossible of worthy fulfilment.’

Traversi, however, comments: ‘Inheriting from his sources a conception of Henry as victorious king, perfectly aware of his responsibilities and religiously devoted to the idea of duty, Shakespeare emphasises the difficulties of this conception, the obstacles, both personal and political, which lie between it and fulfilment.’

Some more modern speeches

Extracts from the address by Colonel Tim Collins to the men of the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment on the eve of the Second Gulf War:

We go to liberate not to conquer.
We will not fly our flags in their country.

There are some who are alive at this moment who will not be alive
shortly.
Those who do not wish to go on that journey, we will not send.
As for the others, I expect you to rock their world.
Wipe them out if that is what they choose.
But if you are ferocious in battle, remember to be magnanimous in
victory.

If there are casualties of war then remember that when they woke
up and got dressed in the morning they did not plan to die this day.
Allow them dignity in death.
Bag them properly and mark their graves.

It is my foremost intention to bring every single one of you out alive.
But there may be people among us who will not see the end of this
campaign.
We will put them in their sleeping bags and send them back.
There will be no time for sorrow.

The enemy should be in no doubt that we are his nemesis and that
We are bringing about his rightful destruction.

If someone surrenders to you then remember that they have that
right in international law and ensure that one day they go home to
their family.

If you harm the regiment or its history by over-enthusiasm in killing
or in cowardice know it is your family who will suffer.
You will be shunned, unless your conduct is of the highest, for your
deeds will follow you down through history.

We will bring shame on neither our uniform nor our nation.

Extracts from speeches by and interviews with the Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

So our choice is clear: back down and leave Saddam hugely
strengthened: or proceed to disarm him by force. Retreat might give
us a moment of respite, but years of repentance at our weakness
would I believe follow.

This is why I have asked out troops to go into action tonight. As so
often before, on the courage and determination of British men and
women, serving our country, the fate of many nations rests.
(speech to Parliament on the night the war began)

We have to thank and take pride in the professionalism, the skill and
courage of our Armed Forces who are helping to make this country and
our world more secure. They should know that the whole country takes
enormous pride in them.
(made during a radio interview during the war)

I would just like to express the sense of pride that everybody has in
Britain over the magnificent job that you have done. You should know
that you have brought tremendous honour on our country, and
respect and admiration everywhere.
(address made to British troops in Basra)

 

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