How Does Shakespeare Make the Audience Respond to Henry as a Man
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We have been studying Shakespeares “Henry V” for GCSE. In this play I will explain how Shakespeare shows Henry as a man.
Shakespeare was born on the 23rd April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon where he grew up supposedly educated in the local grammar school. He married Anne Hathaway in November 1582 and had 3 children, Susanna, Hamnet and Judith. Although not much is know of what happened to Shakespeare in they years that followed, he had established his career as a reputed playwright by 1592. He died on his birthday in 1616.
Shakespeare points out Henrys kingly qualities straight away in the prologue before act one. In this part, Shakespeare shows Henry to be godlike with the statement “Then should the warlike Harry, like himself, Assume the port of Mars”. This shows that Henry is used to war and battles and is godly at what he does and how he is great at what he does.
Although pointed out to be a godly king, there are points in the play where Shakespeare points out the not so kingly traits. One of which is where in an almost mocking way, the Dauphin sends him tennis balls as a payment. We can see this by, “When we have Marchd our rackets to these balls, We will, in France, by Gods grace, play a set, Shall strike his fathers crown into the hazard”. This tells us that he is not impressed at receiving the tennis balls and is saying that he will take vengeance on such a dishonorable act by taking over France.
In the start of act one we hear Canterbury and Ely disussing the changes the king has made in the transition between his youth as a prince and his life as a king. We can see this by “The courses of his youth promised it not. The breath no sooner left his fathers body, But that his wildness, mortified in him, Seemd to die too”. This tells us that while he is the wonderful king that Chorus speaks of, he was not always this way and that he has quickly matured after his fathers death.
Shakespeare shows henry as a great morale booster and leader of men in his speeches before both of the great battles in the play, he is shown to lift mens spirits before the battle when all sems lost. It is shown by “Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead. In peace theres nothing so becomes a an As modest stillness and humility”. this quote proves that he thinks of himself as one of the common soldiers in battle, by addressing them as “friends”, it shows that although he is fearful of events to come he doesnt