In Act 4 scene 1, Henry tries to impose the idea to Williams, Court, and Bates that the king is just like any other man. He implores the three men to think of the king as one of their own comrades. That the king thinks and feels like the lower class, he’s just not allowed to show any other emotion than confidence. “I think the king is but a/ man as I am…Therefore, when he sees reason of fears as we/ do, his fears, out of doubt, be of the same relish as/ ours are.” (4.1.105-114). Henry’s disguised excursion into the camp was a way for him to observe his soldiers and their opinions on the war. For Shakespeare, however, the midnight walk and argument was a vehicle to show the class dynamics. Williams responds with, “Now if these men do not die/ well, it will be a black
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Williams reveals that the commoners had no choice in going to war. They, as subjects, obeyed the royal order and were obligated to fight the French. Shakespeare made the clear distinction that within Henry’s army, the segregation of the classes was still very much apparent. Henry proceeded to challenge Williams to defend the king’s honor, which is later carried out in act 4 scene vii, when Henry discusses it with Fluellen—once more proving that class standards exist. Henry says, “It may be his enemy is a gentleman of/ great sort, quite from the answer of his degree,” (4.7.142-143). In this case, Henry hands the glove signifying the challenged to Fluellen and says, “ If any man challenge this [glove], he is a friend to Alençon and an enemy to our person. If thou encounter any such, apprehend him, an thou dost me love,” (4.7.163-166). Henry framed Williams—in what could be called a petty trick due to Williams lack of faith in Henry—by handing him the gloves of the French Duke of Alençon and
Williams reveals that the commoners had no choice in going to war. They, as subjects, obeyed the royal order and were obligated to fight the French. Shakespeare made the clear distinction that within Henry’s army, the segregation of the classes was still very much apparent. Henry proceeded to challenge Williams to defend the king’s honor, which is later carried out in act 4 scene vii, when Henry discusses it with Fluellen—once more proving that class standards exist. Henry says, “It may be his enemy is a gentleman of/ great sort, quite from the answer of his degree,” (4.7.142-143). In this case, Henry hands the glove signifying the challenged to Fluellen and says, “ If any man challenge this [glove], he is a friend to Alençon and an enemy to our person. If thou encounter any such, apprehend him, an thou dost me love,” (4.7.163-166). Henry framed Williams—in what could be called a petty trick due to Williams lack of faith in Henry—by handing him the gloves of the French Duke of Alençon and