Edward V of England

King Henry V’s rhetoric often relies on contrasting the noble class and class of commoners, which are seen, by Shakespeare, to not be as polarized as some would believe, because both contain universally human elements. Although King Henry’s speech to the traitors creates the clearest discussion of the upper and lower socio-political classes, the context for the speech is fundamental to properly understanding and analyzing it, as well as giving further evidence on its own. Specifically, before…

Of Crowns and Rings The characters of Henry V from Shakespeare’s play of said name and Gollum from Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien are two characters whose personalities are torn apart due to gaining a power far greater than they could handle. Henry V is split into two duel factions: the ruthless soldier that will order his soldiers to commit atrocities in his name , and just leader who wants to spread mercy and justice throughout his kingdom of England. Similarly Smeagol, the former alias of…

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. This is not a good representation of a Christian's motives. If a leader of a kingdom were to say or do something negative it…

interpretation of his words. In The Hollow Crown’s version of Henry V Tom Hiddleston breathes life into the long dead King Henry V. Juxtaposition is brilliantly used by director Thea Sharrock to contrast the French to the English, as well as emphasize the passion and turmoil that Henry V experiences. The pinnacle of the polarization between the King and the French is witnessed when comparing French Ambassador Montjoy’s first visit to King Henry V to his last visit, an effect created not only…

In the historical play Henry V, by William Shakespeare, we are introduced to the story of a young and mysterious King Henry V of England, and his quest to conquer France under the ruler ship of Charles VI of France. According to (“Henry V (play)”), it details Henry’s life leading up to and following the Battle of Agincourt in the year 1415. From the very beginning, the Chorus portrays Henry as a glorious King who is about to engage in an epic and glorifying battle with the French. However, the…

French and English prepare for battle. Henry, in spite to enlighten his troops, delivers one of the most famous motivational war speeches of all time, St. Crispins Day. Using unity to emphasize his army to show his commitment to bring glory back to England, but yet most importantly justice. With Henry’s speech he’s able to sway his troops and with that them being so outnumbered is better for them because when they come out victorious there will be more honor for each of them. Astonishingly, the…

Henry V by William Shakespeare is the fourth part of a serious that deals with the rise of the house of Lancaster. Henry V treats King Henry as a man who has grown up to be an adept king unwavering in determination to claim the French throne contrary to how he was portrayed as a reckless teenager in earlier plays. The play itself shows events between the battles of Agincourt a battle that was a major turning point in the hundred-year war. The play has since become synonymous to how audiences…

and engaged to fight,” despite his explicit denial of God’s authority in subverting the laws of royal inheritance (1.1.19-21). Moreover, Henry primarily orders the crusade not because of his personal belief in its importance, but rather to distract England from debating his tenuous claim to the throne; not only does Henry refuse to relinquish the throne to which he possesses no godly right, but he belittles the very concept of atonement as he launches a crusade to benefit himself. Further…

A compelling debate has been ignited as a result of Shakespeare’s play Henry the Fourth, Part One. The play’s protagonist seems to be unclear and thus many critics have drawn their own conclusions. Anne Marie McNamara explains her point of view in her essay Henry IV: The King as Protagonist. While McNamara claims that King Henry IV is the protagonist of the play, Prince Hal is the true protagonist because a major portion of the play focuses on the idea of Prince Hal becoming king. In the first…

Falstaff has been an audience favorite ever since the release of Henry IV Part I. This hyperbolical character lightens up the solemn undertone of this English History play with his humorous ways. At the final part of the play, his comical nature helps him gain the sympathy of all but Prince Harry, whom he shares a seemingly genuine friendship with. Shakespeare reveals the lack of sincerity in Hal and Falstaff’s friendship through two major literary devices: metaphor and meter, along with other…