“God shall be my hope, my stay, my guide and lantern to my feet.”
The story of Henry V by William Shakespeare depicted a young king taking on the difficult political and moral responsibilities that are expected of such a title. Such responsibilities involved making decisions that changed the lives of his friends, the state of his kingdom, and the position of his country among other nations. Some argue the decisions he made in the story were morally wrong, dubbing him an evil king. Others believe he was depicted as a noble ruler and was justified in his actions. Henry had many admirable qualities along with many inferior qualities. Even though he had moral flaws, Henry was an effective king with the right mindset.
“When thousands weep …show more content…
He spoke a great deal throughout the play and made powerful speeches. Whether it be to intimidate French ambassadors or to boost the morale of his soldiers, this speaking ability and his war strategy gave him what he needed to lead his soldiers to victory against the French. This triumph, however, meant the deaths of thousands of the French and English, but Henry believed it was what he needed to do as king. He understood that the war was needed for the growth and dignity of his country.
“Nice customs curtsy to great kings.” It is important to note that, like all kings, Henry V was merely an imperfect human who made mistakes while struggling to make the right choices. He believed a good king did not take responsibility for other people's deaths, and their kingly duties should come before personal preference. This view led to him deciding whether he should execute his own friends, who begged for their life after their assassination plot was found out. Henry denied their pleas with no remorse because he believed that's what a good king would do. Lifelong friends or not, a king cannot allow those who plotted to kill him live.
“Men of few words are the best