I see Henry V as someone who is motivated by his past. Although he made foolish decisions in the past he was chosen to rise above them and step up as a King. Once he sets a goal for himself he makes sure to have it accomplished no matter what it takes. He is very determined to pursue his ideas. He presents himself as a strong warrior like King, and speaks with a force. Henry’s speeches do a great job at showing his confidence in his role. Henry acts like a true King in the way he talks to his men, and gives good reasoning for the actions he makes. Henry’s language is strong and forceful to get his point across, yet it benefits his role.
At the end of act one when Dauphin gifts the tennis balls to Henry, it infuriates him. Not only does he think it is an insult to his past but also a notion that Henry is not ready, or too young to be King. Though he may be viewed as young, Henry feels that he has gained this position and that he will fight for it. After receiving the gift from Dauphin, Henry has it set that he will invade France. “And tell the pleasant prince this mock of his, Hath turned his balls to gun-stones, and his soul, Shall stand sore chargèd for the wasteful vengeance, That shall fly with them” (1.2 307-310). Henry does not find Dauphins joke as humorous and tells his messenger to let him know that those tennis balls will soon be cannon balls. Henry is very serious in his threats and knows how to work at his enemies.
Henry’s speech to the French is one that is highly talked about. Henry speaks very clearly about his motive and what will happen if it is not given. Henry demands the crown, and tells the French that it will be their own fault if they refuse. The refusal of the French would only lead to Henry’s invasion.
“Desire the locks of your shrill-shrieking daughters,
Your fathers taken by the silver beards
And their most reverend heads dashed to the walls…
At Herod’s bloody-hunting slaughtermen.
What say you? Will you yield and this avoid
Or, guilty in defense, be thus destroyed?” (3.3 35-39)
Henry tries to give warning of the terrors he will bring and gives France multiple chances to give up the crown. Though under French law he has no right of the crown, he stills views it as his, and won’t stop until it is. Although King Charles at first seems un-phased by Henry’s threat, the more demanding the threats become the more he starts to doubt himself. King Charles son still carries a confidence about him, and seems as though he wants to challenge Henry. His father on the other hand doesn’t want to lead France into a war.
Henry finds what made him weak in the past and makes a complete change to those things. As before he was a simple-minded partier, he now he stands as a focused, strategic King. He shows others that he has made a change for the better and wants to be taken seriously. This is why we get all serious from him. Henry feels that he must keep this strong persona so no one will see him for the “fool” he once was.
-Madison Conlin, Blogging Circle 1
I have always loved the ways that Shakespeare shows that Henry V has not fully left his past behind him. I completely agree that he takes the rhetorical and trickster skills he acquired when he was young to his own advantage when he became king. One of the best examples of this is the Williams scene. In Henry IV part 1 Prince Hal uses disguises to mock his companions. Now that he is king, Henry V uses disguises to discover authentic and candid information from his troops.
I found your points about Henry V not being entirely over his past to be fascinating. In my post, I discussed how he was working not only to be a worthy ruler, but also to be a mature figure. As I see it, Henry V’s past is a unique juxtaposition between calculated strategy and unintended embarrassment. On one hand, the young king makes his debauchery as Prince Hal out to be a ruse to help him be a better king. On the other hand, others use that part of his life as a source of humiliation (i.e. the tun of tennis balls). As you mention in your post, it implies that his past persona is one that he no longer intends to be associated with. It sets an interesting counterpoint to the ongoing theme of deception in Shakespeare’s works.
Madison,
I really like your thoughts on Henry being motivated by his past. I agree that over the course of the play, Henry seemed to use every instance where he is mocked for his youth as motivation to keep his reputation as king or to uphold the characteristics of a strong ruler. Immediately after the tennis ball incident, he decides for himself that he is going to invade France. In my post, I talked about how I was unsure of Henry’s character and his intentions but this made me more convinced of his determination to move past his carelessness as a teenager.
Madison,
I really enjoy your characterization of Henry V and it aligns nicely with my own. The tortured prince an ego complex and nothing to lose is one of my favorite archetypes in literature, and you outline it nicely in your post. Even if Henry’s motives and methods do seem a little morally questionable, his tactics are undoubtedly effective, and his claims to the French throne are fulfilled by nobody but himself.
Hi Madison,
Interesting post! I agree that Henry’s actions as king are motivated by his past. Shakespeare makes it apparent that Henry has put aside his past-self in order to be a respectable ruler. However, the French rulers and even many of his own people don’t believe in him as a king. Henry takes this doubt and makes it productive, working toward being a better ruler. I don’t think the people of England truly believed in him as a ruler until the war with France when he changes his demeanor and transforms into a well-respected king.