What Is The Importance Of Sleep In King Henry's Soliloquy

In Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part II, King Henry shifts the strategy of his speech to sleep as his state of mind degrades into frustration and jealousy, noticeable in the diction, imagery, tone, and structure of the soliloquy. From the first line and a half, the King’s jealous and selfish attitude towards his “poorest subjects” becomes apparent, and as the passage progresses these feelings become increasingly apparent (l. 1). However, at this point, Henry quickly adopts a demeanor of flattery towards sleep, whom he addresses in apostrophe. He hopes by referring to sleep as “Nature’s soft nurse” or “O gentle sleep” he might escape his state of insomnia (ll. 2, 3). Henry assumes the blame for the situation as he apologizes for somehow having frightened sleep away (l. 3). The way the King approaches sleep at the start suggests he is still calm and respectful. Noticing that his original strategy has achieved him nothing, Henry takes a more and tempting and persuasive route. Using olfactory, tactile, and aural imagery, he contrasts his sleeping environment and that …show more content…
Henry uses elision as his final address to sleep turns into command: “Then, [since you are] happy [to lie with the] low, lie down [with them]” (l. 27). Since sleep prefers to be with his subjects that with him, he order the “dull god” to leave his presence. Henry’s use of “Then” in l. 27 can carry either a temporal or conclusive meaning. Most likely it is used conclusively and affirms King Henry’s sense of resignation. With his final line “Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown,” the King understands that it is not despite his status but because of his status that he is not able to sleep (l. 28). Henry’s thoughts seem to have come full circle: He begins fearing he has frightened sleep and ends in a similar mindset, along the lines that it is his own fault or position that causes his