Why Does King Henry's Decisions Exist In The Grey

Decent Essays
Sarah,

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head when you said Henry was portrayed in a variety of different ways. Shakespeare seems to fundamentally understand how complex humans are, and, therefore, the dissection of one’s decisions should also be complex. Henry is a king who continually looks for ways to win, whether it’s peoples’ opinions of him or a war or Kate’s love. Yet he seems to believe in an honor code that balances his decisions. This shows how many decisions in life are not black or white, but truly exist in the grey. And King Henry’s kingship only heightens the complexity of his decisions.

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    Shakespeare's King Henry V is a play set in the early fifteenth century about the King of England conquering France and taking the throne. This play shows King Henry’s leadership qualities throughout the story such as wisdom, integrity, determination, and graciousness. My career in the health informatics field relates closely to the leadership qualities represented by King Henry. King Henry V shows wisdom throughout the play in many scenes. For example, King Henry thoroughly thinks about his plan to conquer France, before he actually does it.…

    • 131 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Henry did not self-indulge in financial or any matters, he stated what he wanted and relied on other people; Henry VIII was practically the opposite of his father, Henry VII. Henry also spent his wealth, he enjoyed grand feasts and owning luxurious items; he had the true image of a King. This could have led to his and England’s weakness, as the French and Habsburgs monarchies were great in size and wealth, and England couldn’t even compete with them, it was too weak. Another aspect was that Henry didn’t and couldn’t have a lot of victories, this was due to England being poor.…

    • 597 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Before Henry VII of England came into power, England was coming out of a fragmented feudal society and was in need of a strong ruler and government system. Rule was shifting from an oligarchy of nobles to a monarchy hungry for power and successors. The church was steadily losing its power as everything became increasingly more secular. As the church lost power rulers such as Henry were gaining. There was a need to sustain and increase this power.…

    • 1033 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    King Henry Flaws

    • 418 Words
    • 2 Pages

    I believe that Henry is an good king. He does have flaws but there is almost never a story that has one perfect character. Henry’s flaws are sometimes hard to find but sometimes easy to see. He clearly makes non-Christian threats to people and people groups. For example in Act 3 Scene 3 Henry is speaking to the governor and he threatens to kill their babies, and men.…

    • 418 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    It is therefore crucial that they understand that Shakespeare’s use of manipulation not immoral but aims to position his audience to see a different aspect of a political figure. Shakespeare’s intention for positioning the audience to view Prince Hal as a heroic figure was to please Queen Elizabeth. She remained in control of any role-play which took place under her rule. The similarities between herself and Prince Hal exemplifies the many Elizabethan Shakespeare plays containing a reflection of herself. Thus, the heroic and lovable portrayal of Prince Hal hides his conflicting views on Queen Elizabeth, where the Queen was in a neutral position when it came to wars, and other times where she was able to consolidate stability in England.…

    • 1513 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Powerful individuals represent themselves in manipulative ways, to create political situations that benefit them. King Henry IV Part 1, a history play by Shakespeare typifies this idea. Context has had an influential role in how shakespeare uses dramatic techniques to shape the characterisation of King Henry, Hal and Hotspur. The desired political situations manufactured by individuals in Henry IV Part 1 all stem from power, personal greed and pride. Those who seek power and obtain it through unjust means often develop paranoia, which leads them to manipulate political situations in order to maintain that power.…

    • 1359 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    What ended up mattering most was Catherine. The goal of this paper is to elucidate these changes within Henry and those with whom he had relationships with. Concerning the war, Henry’s casual, careless attitude deteriorated throughout. In Book I, it’s apparent that he doesn’t care much about the war.…

    • 1068 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Evidence, Henry humbled himself, with his soldiers, by encouraging them, and letting them be his "band of brothers" (for those who fought with him the battle of Agincourt.) However, he was a King. Additionally, He wanted to know if he had the right to claim the throne of France or not, because if he have no claim, he will not invade. This says that Henry was fair, but the churchmen were not fair, they wanted to invade, even if the cost was a bloody war. Henry wanted to know how people think about him, therefore he took off his costume and wore another, so that says that Henry didn't have pride that he was a great king but he wanted to know how his soldiers think of him.…

    • 429 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Henry’s was a harsh rule with little structure or coherence in the empire; his primary goal was victorious conquest.…

    • 1156 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- In Act I, Scene ii and Act II, Scene ii, Shakespeare uses props and dramatic devices to show Henry is an effective leader. In the first scene, Shakespeare uses the box of tennis balls to add suspense to the scene and make the audience pay attention. In the second scene, Shakespeare uses the letters Henry gives to Cambridge, Scroop and Grey, leaving the audience excited to see the reaction of the traitors.…

    • 827 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    King Henry is portrayed as a less than honorable ruler. He has overthrown Richard II and has had him executed. He struggles with the idea that the people are less than pleased with his choices and looks to his son to bring an honorable…

    • 1278 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Ben Jonson wrote Shakespeare “was not of an age, but for all time,” indicating how 21st century ideas and themes can be connected through the centuries to the time when 1 Henry IV was written. For instance, a contemporary issue demonstrated in the play is a phenomenon known as helicopter parenting. According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, helicopter parenting is when a parent is extremely involved in a child’s life (“Helicopter Parenting”). Parents will often place expectations on their children to achieve certain dreams they have for their kids. This places a tremendous amount of anxiety and stress on their children.…

    • 1426 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    However, despite these setbacks, Henry I was able to use the rise in population and resulting growth in towns as a means to rule more effectively. Henry I decided to use the surplus in lower nobility and clergy to his advantage by experimenting with the English government, more specifically the administration and legal proceedings. First, Henry I “raised from the dust” lesser nobles and clergy into specialized jobs. These individuals are then granted heiresses, land, or bishop titles for their loyalty and work. For instance, one of the special jobs that were allotted to lesser clergy was the role of the Exchequer, who would write the pipe rolls.…

    • 1041 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Moreover, William Shakespeare produces his two finest histories that go hand in hand, Henry IV parts one and two. For instance, a writer claims Henry IV parts one and two are his most famous history plays because, "The limitless possibilities of comedy and restrictions of historical drama are combined in unparalleled richness," (46). During the play, a prince starts out with a rowdy attitude who transforms throughout becoming a wise and respectable king at the end. However, during Prince Hal's rise to power, he is misled by a fat and cowardly knight, Falstaff.…

    • 208 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Throughout the entirety of Henry IV Part 1, by William Shakespeare, there is an emphasis on father-son relationships. The main protagonist, Hal, and the main antagonist, Hotspur, are both young men and as such they are still learning from their respective father figures. In Hal’s case, both Falstaff and his biological father King Henry IV, and for Hotspur, Northumberland. Each relationship has its merits and faults, and its own intricacies not seen in any of the other bonds. Though the the plot centers mainly around Hal and the king, each out these links are integral to understanding what happened and why.…

    • 1049 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays