Laura Miller
December 4, 2001
History Essay
Introduction to Shakespeare
King Henry V: The Ultimate Role Player
Throughout I Henry IV, William Shakespeare depicts Prince Hal as a riotous youth who spends his days and nights with his rebellious companion, Falstaff, in brothels and taverns. Prince Hal appears as the least likely candidate for the crown and the responsibility that comes with it. However, he gains important experience and knowledge from the taverns because he interacts with the lower class people, who will one day be his subjects. Prince Hal is merely using his rebellious actions as a strategy to lower people’s expectations for him when he becomes king. Prince Hal claims he never wanted to become king, since his father was not even a rightful king. However, when he becomes crowned king he fully accepts his duty and immediately begins playing the role of a good Christian King. Shakespeare uses Henry’s flexibility between different personalities to further expose him as the ultimate role player, changing and adapting according to this political role as king.
The relationship between Hal and Falstaff is the heart of I Henry IV; Falstaff acts as more of a father figure to Hal than his real father. Falstaff is a bad influence for Hal because he leads him to play the role of a thief, a drunk, and a brothel dweller. However, Hal learns things from his experiences with Falstaff that he could not have learned from his real father. Falstaff represents vices that Hal must reject while he is king. As king, Hal represents the humanity of us all; therefore, he cannot condone or tolerate Falstaff’s actions when he becomes king. Falstaff asks Hal not to hang thieves when he becomes King, which is a reasonable request considering Hal’s involvement in many robberies during his youth. However, Hal already recognizes his duty as king and informs Falstaff that he will not show him favoritism, which shocks Falstaff. Hal responds, "Thou judgest false already. I mean thou / shalt have the hanging of thieves, and so become a / rare hangman" (1.2.66-67). Hal realizes that when he becomes king, Falstaff must be given the same treatment as other thieves. Later on in the play, Shakespeare further exposes Hal’s acceptance of his future duty as king. While Hal and Falstaff act out a play within a play, Falstaff pretends to be Hal and Hal pretends to be Henry IV and Henry V. Falstaff, as Hal, asks the future king if he would truly banish the sweet, valiant, and kind Jack Falstaff. Hal, as Henry V replies, "I do, I will" (2.4.481). Even though Falstaff is his dear friend and serves as a father figure, Hal realizes that when he becomes King he will have to be just. Hal demonstrates an understanding of the duty of a king.
Hal realizes even before he is king that his public function must dominate over his private, which was unfortunately the downfall of King Richard. Hal knows that kings must have two sides: the public self and the private self. He has learned that his behavior must always be calculated to get the right reaction from his audience. This knowledge is apparent when he becomes king, because immediately after becoming king he rejects Falstaff, as he said he would, and banishes him to die. The new king informs Falstaff that he has changed:
Presume not that I am the thing I was,
For God doth know, so shall the world perceive,
That I have turn’d away my former self;
So will those that kept me company. (5.5.56-59)
Immediately upon becoming king, Hal assumes his duty. If Hal is upset by having to kill his closest friend and companion, he does not show it. Hal maintains a poised, firm role as a just king, showing no emotion over Falstaff’s inevitable demise. Hal’s ability to hide his true feelings gives him political power as king, "power lies in self-concealment - in knowing how to put on a necessary, at times unreadable, guise and, above all, I knowing how to read others" (Machiavelli 310). Shakespeare exposes Hal as a skilled, unmoved role player throughout Henry V, which makes it difficult to determine what Hal really feels, if he feels anything at all, about the actions he must take as king.
Hal’s relationship to his father, the king, is an important part of I Henry IV. His father does not see that Hal is maturing, comparing him to Richard the Second and all of his enemies. From Falstaff’s life lessons on fighting, Hal is able to show great poise and control during the attack from his father. Hal boldly declares to his father, "I will redeem all this on Percy’s head, And in the closing of some glorious day / Be bold to tell you that I am your son" (3.2.132-134). Hal poses as the obedient son, promising to kill Hotspur for his father. In II Henry IV, Hal’s dying father gives him political advice on becoming king. He informs Hal that it was always his intent to direct people’s attention away from the fact that he was not the rightful king.
In the opening scene of Henry V, King Henry, or Hal, is portrayed as larger than life; the new king appears to be the ideal king, warrior, and diplomat. The main focus of Henry V is on Henry’s transformation from an unruly youth to a suitable, Christian King. Henry realizes that in order to be considered a man, he must fight a war. Henry follows his father’s advice to wage foreign war, which he uses to forge his reputation. Shakespeare uses the image of Henry as a political hero to create ambiguities that make it difficult to determine if he should be admired or condemned. After such a turbulent youth of rebellion, could Henry really become a mature Christian leader? Shakespeare represents Henry as the ultimate role player, who tells the audience what they want to hear.
Henry is a politically successful king who gauges the feelings of his people and adjusts his actions accordingly. Henry has the ability to sense the type of king his people need in a given situation. He is clearly not a traditional leader; he can be seen as a Machiavellian leader who is trying to fool everyone. His father taught him to listen to others and gauge their reactions before making a decision. "He has the most important Machiavellian skill, the ability to adjust who he is so as to adopt the role best suited for effective political action in a given situation" (Johnston 1). Henry’s role playing ability allows him to be just, harsh, intimidating, or inspiring; he seems to have a wide variety of personalities for each situation. Shakespeare never shows Henry contemplating any of his decisions. We merely see him as he announces his decisions to the public. Henry skillfully adjusts his attitude with the public attitude, and performs whatever action is required in the specific circumstance. Shakespeare uses Henry’s flexibility between different personalities to further expose him as the ultimate role player, changing and adapting according to his political role as king.
Shakespeare has included many ironies throughout Henry V that expose Henry as the ultimate role player. While Henry’s real character is extremely difficult to determine, his goal is always quite clear. Henry’s desire is to be a political success, even though it requires him to disregard his true feelings and principles. He is a successful speaker because he realizes that he is constantly being watched. Henry is able to use his ability to detach himself from any emotion and be the kind of king the public desires for any given situation because these different personalities are merely roles for him. They can be adopted and discarded with equal ease. Throughout Henry V, Shakespeare highlights scenes where Henry gives emotional, riveting speeches, and then effortlessly returns to his calm demeanor, seemingly unaffected or unmoved. In Act one, scene two, the bishops try to convince Henry to claim the throne of France, and he repeatedly asks the bishops if he has a moral right to invade. Shakespeare clearly represents Henry as a competent and intelligent leader, who cannot be manipulated. While the bishops are attempting to convince Henry to invade France, Henry warns them that many men will die if they are lying, and if that is the case, the numerous deaths will be on their conscience, not his. Henry asks Canterbury, "May I with right and conscience make this claim?" (1.2.96-97). Henry wants to ensure that his country will gain honor by going into the war, and Canterbury assures him that he has a rightful claim to the throne of France. Shakespeare clearly portrays Henry as a king that cares about the morality of the invasion. However, the advice from Henry IV must be taken into account when considering Henry’s motives. Henry IV advised his son to wage war to create a distraction. Henry wants to wage war to take the focus off of his rebellious youth, and to prove that he is a great Christian king to the people of England and his court. Henry’s adamant inquiries to the bishops do not seem to effect him once he has announced his decision to wage war on France after being insulted by the French prince, Dauphin. Shakespeare skillfully uses Henry’s flexible personality to portray a king that shows concern for the morality of a war, and then wages war on a country, seemingly unmoved.
Shakespeare demonstrates King Henry’s elaborate method of applying justice when he makes his friends unknowingly decide their own fate. King Henry used a similar method of decision making when he dealt with the bishops. He allowed the weight of the decision to seem to be on the conscience of the bishops, and with his friends, he allows the decision of the fate of one man to be on their conscience, while they are unknowingly deciding their own fate. After King Henry learns that his friends were trying to kill him before he left for France, he devises a plan to set them up in their disloyalty. He asks them for their advice on the punishment of a common drunkard, and they all declare that the King should show no mercy. The king reveals that he knew of their plans when he gives each an envelope with their sentence written inside. Immediately upon reading their sentences, the men confess their guilt to the King. King Henry declares,
It is important to remember that King Henry would have had to kill his conspiring friends, even if they had shown mercy to the drunkard. His duty as king requires him to maintain the same justice for all, showing no favoritism to his friends. Henry realizes that it must be shocking for the audience to see him banish his friends, so he delivers a long speech on friendship, stating, "I will weep for thee; / For this revolt of thine, methinks, is like / Another fall of man" (2.2.140-142). Henry appears to be grieving the betrayal of his friends, and his emotional speech suggests that he is distraught with the action he must take on his friends; nonetheless, he sentences his friends to be killed. Henry showed similar indifference when he sentenced his companion and mentor, Falstaff, to death. No matter what affection Henry may have for his friends, his main priority is to be a politically successful king, and to appear as the ideal Christian king to England and his court. Shakespeare skillfully uses Henry’s flexible personality to portray a king that shows emotion and affection towards his friends, even if they have betrayed him, and sentences them to death, seeming to forget the feelings he had just elaborately proclaimed.
Shakespeare reveals Henry’s ability to play the role of the brave, valiant king when he delivers a motivating speech to his soldiers before the battle of Harfleur. Shakespeare includes an important sign in the beginning of this speech that suggests Henry’s role playing ability. Henry begins by declaring, "In peace there’s nothing so becomes a man / As modest stillness and humility" (3.1.3-4). However he continues his intense speech by encouraging his men to be violent and aggressive. "But when the blast of war blows in our ears, / Then imitate the action of the tiger (3.1.5-6)." Henry then asks the soldiers to remember the courage and bravery of their fathers, reminding them that they should try to emulate their fathers. His speech could be genuine when he refers to imitating your father because by going to war, he was emulating the actions of his father, who waged war to distract the country from the fact that he was not rightfully next in line for the crown. Henry’s speech highlights his role-playing ability as a fearless leader. Machiavelli feels that by encouraging the men to fight like animals, "wherefore it behooves a Prince to know how to make good use of that part which belongs to a beast, as well as that which is proper to a man" (Machiavelli 311). The prince demonstrates his understanding that he must be able to fight like a man, and like an animal, when the situation requires such action.
Henry delivers another powerful speech before the gates of Harfleur, using violent and brutal sexual imagery of a rape to threaten brutal savagery on the people of France. He is very straightforward when he informs the Governor that the invasion is inevitable, "What is’t to me, when you yourselves are cause, / If your pure maidens fall into the hand / Of hot and forcing violation" (3.3.19-21). Henry’s elaborate method of applying justice is apparent once again. He informs the Governor that he will be to blame when the innocent women are defiled because he did not surrender the city, forcing them to invade and take violent, brutal action. This speech is particularly striking because it features a Christian king encouraging his soldiers to rape and defile innocent women. Even though such imagery and threats may have been appropriate for the circumstance, it does not seem appropriate that a Christian king would condone such actions.
After delivering vicious threats of savagery, Henry returns to his role of a Christian king, and asks his uncle Exeter to have mercy on the town. If Henry felt strongly about aggressively invading the city, would he really be able to ask his uncle to have mercy? Shakespeare skillfully uses Henry’s flexible personality to portray a king that can show incredible appetite for violence towards innocent people, and then ask for mercy on their lives, seeming to forget the rage that had overpowered him moments before.
On the night before an important battle at Agincourt, King Henry learns that his old friend, Bardolf, is sentenced to hang for stealing a pax. If Henry is upset by the inevitable death of his friend, it is not apparent. Henry does not contemplate about his friend’s inevitable sentence, and seems to approve of his sentence by declaring, "We would have all such offenders so cut" (3.6.107-108); which means that Henry feels all men who steal should be sentenced to death. Even more shocking than his indifference towards his friend’s death is his proclamation that he will treat France, his enemy, with dignity and respect. Henry appears very cold-hearted when he quickly dismisses his old friend, whom he pretends not to know, and returns his focus on France and his political goals. Henry explains the course of action to be taken by the soldiers when they march through France:
Shakespeare uses this irony to expose Henry’s political aim. Henry wants to keep a good relationship with the French people because he might rule over them in the future. In this scene, Shakespeare also shows Henry’s ability to exclude any emotion that would not be appropriate for his political ploy. Henry’s duty as king, once again, requires him to show complete indifference to an old friend to maintain his image as a just, capable leader, showing no favoritism.
Henry becomes an obvious role player when he disguises himself as a commoner to mingle with his soldiers. This act signifies Henry’s contradicting nature; he earlier rejected the very people that nurtured him during his youth, only later to become one of them to learn their opinion of him. While he is disguised as a commoner, he boasts of the duty of a king to be a good actor by hiding his fears from his people, which encourages them to also be brave. "I think King is but a / man, as I am" (4.1.101-102) Henry reminds the men that the king is human and does experience fear, but he does not let it show, "yet in reason, no man should possess him with / any appearance of fear, lest he, by showing it, should / dishearten his army" (4.1.110-112). Shakespeare uses this scene to demonstrate Henry’s awareness of his role as king. Henry fully realizes that his role as king does not provide him with the luxury of considering his own feelings; he must always keep his political gain in mind for the good of his country.
Shakespeare gives us a small glimpse into Henry’s inner conflict when he prays to God. Henry carries around the weight of Richard’s death and tries to rectify his father’s actions by reburying Richard and crying for him. Henry begs God not to punish him on the day of his Battle at Agincourt, which shows that the heavy burden he gained when he became king is at the heart of his kingship. Even though he has managed to create his own identity as an intelligent, powerful, just king, he cannot escape the influence of his father. Henry’s father forced Richard, a king chosen by God, to crown him as his successor king; therefore, Henry must accept that he is not the rightful king of England because he did not inherit the crown from a rightful king.
In the English camp, after overhearing Westmerland remark that he wishes there were more men to fight, King Henry delivers his most motivating speech yet. King Henry comments, "If we are mark’d to die, we are enow / To do our country loss; and if to live, The fewer men, the greater share of honor," (4.3.20-22), which suggests that the men should desire as much honor for themselves as possible as they take the challenge to fight for their country. King Henry realizes that they will have a difficult time winning the battle; therefore he adjusts his rhetoric to suit the circumstance. He instills in his soldiers a courageous fighting spirit, declaring "he who sheds his blood with me / Shall be my brother" (4.3.61-62). The king’s speech is a success; the English army fights courageously for justice, honor, and pride. However, does the king really intend to be brothers with common people simply because they fought alongside him? Furthermore, it is apparent that friendship means little to the king; he has already sentenced numerous friends to death without showing any remorse afterwards. His speech is effective. However, it is highly questionable if he is speaking genuinely, or if he is merely playing the role of a motivating leader to overcome France.
Even though Henry is playing the role of a fearless, vengeful leader, he makes a shocking command; all of his soldiers are instructed to cut the throats of all of their French prisoners. Henry’s command is an act of revenge on the French. Henry states, "I was not angry since I came to France / Until this instant," (4.7.55-56) and in closing remarks, "we’ll cut the throats of those we have, / And not a man of them that we shall take / Shall taste our mercy" (4.7.63-65). Regardless of his role as a warring leader, Henry is also a Christian king. His attitude has changed drastically since the Battle at Harfleur, when he asked for mercy on the French. It is very shocking that the Christian king should appear vengeful and would promote such violence. Shakespeare uses this great change in Henry to create further ambiguity about his real personality and true feelings, and to demonstrate his unwavering focus on his political goals.
The last role Henry plays in Henry V is the role of a courtier. The valiant, courageous personality that radiated during battle is replaced with the tongue-tied, uncomfortable side of Henry when he begins to woo Katherine. Henry admits to Katherine that he is much more comfortable with men, saying that he speaks as a plain guy. He promises Katherine that he’ll be faithful and that he does not have the ability to lie, "only downright oaths, which I never use till urg’d, nor never break for / urging" (5.2.144-145) Obviously, the ultimate role player is skillfully fulfilling another role, and adjusting his speech to fit the circumstance. He chooses to woo Katherine by playing the role of the "plain soldier." Henry is a powerful King, and could never be reduced to merely a plain soldier. Henry further demonstrates his role-playing ability when he compares himself to the sun, "for it shines bright / and never changes, but keeps his course truly" (5.2.163-164), suggesting that he will always remain faithful to her. After he establishes himself as a plain soldier, he implores Katherine, " "If thou would have such a one, take me! And take / me, take a soldier; take a soldier, take a king" (5.2.165-166). Henry’s marriage to Katherine is centered on his political goals, because when they marry they will be uniting two very important countries. Shakespeare skillfully uses Henry’s flexible personality to portray a king that can profess to be a common soldier in order to successfully woo a lady, and accomplish his political goals as king.
Throughout I Henry IV, II Henry IV, and Henry V, Shakespeare presents many different personalities through Henry. However, Henry’s real personality remains difficult to determine because his various roles do not coincide. At times, Henry appears pious, demanding justice, asking for God’s guidance in announcements, and emphasizing the importance of mercy. But if Henry truly believed what he was so strongly proclaiming, would he really be able to go to war? Likewise, Henry appeared to care deeply for Falstaff, but easily dismissed him when he became king, breaking Falstaff’s heart. Throughout the history plays, Henry repeatedly states his principles and then acts in a manner that goes against those principles. Henry’s duty as king requires him to forget his real feelings and principles. Johnston feels that Henry was successful in politics because he was willing to sacrifice his own humanity. "The most successful Machiavelli is merely the totality of the effective roles he is required to play. In a sense, the more effective the leader, the less fully human he is" (Johnston). Shakespeare presents a king that seems to possess an ample variety of qualities. Machiiavelli states that a Prince should, "seeming to have them, they are advantageous, as to seem pitiful, faithful, mild, religious, and of integrity, and indeed to be so, provided withal thou beest of such a composition, that if need require thee to use the contrary, thou canst, and know’st how to apply thyself thereto" (Machiavelli 312). Shakespeare has created Henry V as a character that easily adopts the attitude or personality the situation requires, making him the ultimate role player and celebrated political success.
Works Cited
Johnston, Ian. "The Ironies in the Success of Politics: An Introduction to Shakespeare’s Henry V." Malaspina-University College. Nanaimo, BC. 21 January 2000. Available http://www.mala.bc.ca/~johnstoi/eng366/lectures/henry5.htm.
Machiavelli, Niccolò. "The Prince."- Selections in Barbara Hodgon ed. The
First Part of King Henry IV: Texts and Contexts. Boston: Bedford, 1997.
(C) Laura Miller, December 4, 2001. All Rights Reserved.