KING HENRY V, William Shakespeare 

Scene by scene analysis by the students 
 

 

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Act I 

 

Chorus 

Antonio 

 

Scene 1 

Nefeli 

The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely, two powerful English churchmen, confer with one another. They both express concern about a bill that has been brought up for the consideration of the king of England, Henry V. Canterbury and Ely don’t want the king to pass this bill into law because it would authorize the government to take away a great deal of the church’s land and money. The money would be used to maintain the army, support the poor, and supplement the king’s treasury. The clergymen, who have been made wealthy and powerful by this land and money, naturally want to keep it for themselves. 

In order to achieve his goal, the Archbishop of Canterbury has come up with a clever political strategy. The young King Henry V has been thinking about invading France, for he believes he has a claim to the throne of France as well. Canterbury anticipates that a war would distract the king from considering the bill to confiscate church property. So, to encourage Henry to concentrate on the invasion, Canterbury has made a promise to the king: he will raise a very large donation from the clergymen of the church to help fund the king’s war efforts. 

Canterbury and Ely also spend some time admiring the king’s virtue and intelligence. They note that “[t]he courses of his youth promised it not”—in other words, no one knew that the king would turn out so well, considering he wasted his adolescence taking part in “riots, banquets, [and] sports” and hanging around with peasants. His reformation has been nothing short of miraculous. The new, improved Henry is about to meet with the delegation of French ambassadors who have come to England. Ely and Canterbury head for the throne room to participate in the meeting. 

 

Scene 2 

Elpida 

 

Characters: King, Gloucester, Bedford, Clarence, Westmorland, Exeter 

Ely and Canterbury (priests, first appeared in scene 1): discussing that the new king becomes ambitious and since he is young he has to prove he is worthy with a grand gesture 

Introducing the theme of honour/value since the characters show sincere respects towards the king: “ my liege”, “my dear”, “my highness” , royalty: “For never two such kingdoms did contend/Without much fall of blood” and descendance linked with the ancestors/the inheritance: “lions of your blood” 

The Salic law: preventing women from inheriting the throne- they are discussing- the fact that this law was presented in France and Germany 

Introducing the war- setting an army for the battles- Scotland will be by England’s side: “the Scot, who will make road upon us/ With all advantages.”   

The king decides to send a message to the Dauphin of France-calls the messengers-he wants to say that England aims to invade France and ask for their territories. Dauphin sends Henry “a treasure” = the tennis balls so the King wants revenge: his soliloquy  

 

Act II 

 

Chorus 

Eurydice 

 

End of act I: King Henry has decided to go to war against France. 

Chorus describes the preparation for the coming war, enthusiasm and energy of the British: “All the youth of England are on fire” (v.1). Repetition of “now” (v. 1, 3, 5, 8) to emphasize action. 

We learn that the French are helped by traitors (“The French, advised by good intelligence” v. 12) and are afraid (“shake in their fear” v. 14). The French are described as cunning and coward: “with pale policy, (they) seek to divert the English purposes.” (v. 14, 15). 

England is praised: “O England: model to thy inward greatness” (v. 16). 

The Chorus also gives the names of the three British traitors to the audience: “three corrupted men – one, Richard, Earl of Cambridge, and the second Henry, Lord Scroop of Masham, and the third Sir Thomas Gray, knight of Northumberland” (v. 22-25). They have plotted to kill the king (“by their hands this grace of kings must die” v. 28).  

The Chorus names the place that will be represented now (“transported, gentles, to Southampton” v. 35) by addressing directly the audience. He informs the play’s location will afterwards change (“And thence to France shall we convey you” v. 37).  

Finally, he says he hopes the performance will please the audience: “We’ll not offend one stomach with our play” (v. 40). 

 

Scene 1 

Angelos 

 

Summary: The scene shifts to London, in a tavern in Eastcheap. Lieutenant Bardolph and Corporal Nym are preparing to head off for the war. Both of them are commoners, and Bardolph was once a criminal. Nym has a quarrel with Pistol, who has married the Hostess, who had previously promised to marry Nym. Pistol and Nym draw their swords when they see each other but are calmed several times by the Hostess and Bardolph. 

A boy enters, telling them that Sir John Falstaff is old and very sick in bed, and the boy reports that he is getting worse. The hostess goes to see Falstaff and comes back to tell the others that he is dying. The men put aside their quarrel to go to visit him. They also discuss the fact that it seems Falstaff is in this condition because of Henry V. 

Key points: 

- Even short before a war, British soldiers still seem to live "normally" (e.g. quarrels in a love triangle, money owed...etc). 

- They are nevertheless united before the enemy (France). 

- An important figure is nearing his death. The English Army may be weakened by this. 

- Ambiguous image of Henry V (is considered to be somehow related to Falstaff's condition) --> In politics, the arrival of a new king to the throne isn't positive for everyone. It always brings at least a few wounds and disappointment (same nowadays). 

Quotes: 

- Nym: “though patience is a tired mare, yet she will plod.” 

- Hostess: “The King has killed his heart.” 

- Bardolph: “We must to France together: why the devil should we keep knives to cut one another’s throats?” 

- Nym: “The King is a good king, but it must be as it may; he passes some humours and careers.” 

 

Scene 2 

Lydia 

 

Summary: In the scene Henry has learned that Scroop, Grey and Cambridge have plotted against him and they plan to kill him. Instead of confronting them heads on he decides to trap them by presenting them with a minor crime and asking them for their advice on how he should handle it. One of his subjects got drunk and rallied against them. The three plotters agree that he should harshly punish him for his crime but Henry seems to be more lenient. If the punishment for something minor is harsh what should be the punishment for plotters who have acted against him after conspiring and planning? After all three of them agree that the punishment for this should be death he presents them with their betrayal. This move of his uncovers a cruelty in him since he chooses to amuse himself with men that are soon going to be executed. More than that, by trapping the three men into admitting that the just punishment for their actions in death he, once again, avoids taking full responsibility for his decisions and shifts the blame or the result of his decisions onto someone else. The scene ends with the Englishmen on their road to invade France.  

Quotes: “The mercy that was quick in us but late by your own counsel is suppressed and killed” 

Key elements: 

1. Evasion of responsibility  

2. His attitude towards the ones that are going to cross him 

3. Leadership skills - decisions 

4. Cruelty/Cunningness (Entertains himself by making fun of the three men that he is shortly going to kill.) 

 

Scene 3 

Luca  

 

Pistol, Bardolph, Nym and the hostess, mourn the death of Falstaff and talk about him and his enthusiasm / happiness as well as how he started to become crazy in his later years. Pistol gives advice to his wife for the time that he is away.  Then they leave for war with Falstaff’s son.  

“Boy, bristle thy courage up; for Falstaff he is dead, and we must yearn therefore.” “They say he cried out of sack”. – “And of women.” 

  

Scene 4 

Melina 

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Act III 

 

Chorus  

Constantin 

 

Scene 1 

Maria Nefeli 

 

Summary: In the midst of the siege, King Henry appears to rally his soldiers. He delivers a powerful speech, conjuring up the memory of the Englishmen’s warlike ancestors and appealing to soldiers, noblemen, and commoners alike. 

Comments and Quotes: King Henry is conducting an empowering speech where he addresses his soldiers with pride and confidence of their capacities to win the battle of Harfleur against the French.  

The stage direction positions the chronological setting as well as the war ambiance of scene1 Act3 “Alarm. [Enter soldiers with scaling ladders at Harfleur]”. There is action going on. This scene takes place during the siege, before the battle of Harfleur. Therefore, the audience never assist at the battleground during the play.  

Showing that Henry V empowers his soldiers - good king: King Henry starts his speech by addressing his soldiers as “dear friends”- puts forward the close bond that his has with his soldiers. He is a Machiavelli King: meaning that the king rules better when he’s got virtue and is accepted by his people rather than just dominating them. He’s legitimate and can lead his people. “you noble English”; “you” is repeated multiple times in King Henry’s monologue which indicates that he’s trying to target each and every one of his soldiers personally. This emphasizes the positive characteristics that his attributes to his soldiers such as “noble” which is repeated twice. Compares his soldiers to Alexander the Great “like so many Alexanders” who was the king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon and a member of the Agread Dynasty. Overall known through history for his conquests. Alexander endeavored to reach the “ends of the world and the Great Outer Sea”. King Henry aims to make his soldiers feel superior to the opposite side: “teach them how to war”. King Henry once more creates a reference to God: “follow your spirit, and upon this charge Cry “God for Harry, England and Saint George!”. God’s view continuously guides Henry’s decisions and methods. King Henry believes that it is God who bring England to success at war. Henry is an inspiring leader. He uses any resources available at his disposal to achieve his goals. He has a charismatic ability to bond with his subjects. King Henry inspires his men to courage and patriotism.  Overall, King Henry in Act 3 Scene 1 has a role to raise the moral of his soldiers. We can see that he mainly focuses on their pride and strength as soldiers instead of the material furniture which is the main feature in the French army.  

 

Themes:  

- Language: The power of language to persuade, invent, inspire, and differentiate. 

- Kingship 

- Conquest 

- Religion 

 

Scene 2 

Antonio 

 

Scene 3 

Antonio 

 

Scene 4 

Nefeli 

 

Scene 5 

Nefeli 

 

In King Charles’s palace, Charles’s daughter, Catherine, speaks with her maid, Alice. Catherine speaks no English, and this scene is spoken almost entirely in French. Alice has spent some time in England and knows some English, and so Catherine asks Alice to teach her the language. Catherine seems to suspect, wisely, that she may soon need to be able to communicate with the king of England. They begin by learning the names of parts of the body. Catherine mispronounces them amusingly, but she is eager to learn them anyway—that is, until the final two words, “foot” and “count”, which sound like French obscenities. 

 

Scene 6  

Elpida 

 

Location: battlefields 

Characters: King of France, Constable, Dauphin, Duke of Bourbon (the French side) 

Talking about where Henry went. The three lords have soliloquys starting with exclamatory phrases and French language: “O Dieu Des Batailles!” 

Comic relief: audience laughing since the French are mocking the English, comparing their warm blood with their warm drink: the beer; whilst the French themselves drink wine (cold drink) in parallel with their cold blood. Enumeration of the French Princes. The French side claims that Henry V is afraid and that he will “offer them ransom” = that he will surrender, be defeated by them 

 

Scene 7 

Elpida 

 

The English side: characters: Captains, Gower, Llewellyn, Pistol, Lieutenant 

The soldiers are on foot, and when the king enters there is a drum roll to announce him: stage directions. Llewellyn pronounces the Bs as Ps for instance: “the duke is a prave man” meaning brave. 

Montjoy was send by the French to send them a message, his speech is arrogant towards Henry: “Tell him we could have rebuked him at Harlfleur” (he is transferring verbatim the Dauphin’s message then Montjoy asks for the battle). 

Nevertheless England isn’t quite ready for this battle and doesn’t want to surrender since they lack of number of soldiers. King replies to Montjoy with a speech insisting on the power of the English state. 

 

Scene 8 

Eurydice 

 

The scene switches from the glorified English camps to the French side. Only nobles are present: the Constable, Rambures, Orléans, and the dauphin Bourbon. The tone they use is light, foolish (contrast with previous scene which was solemn). 

They are arrogant and proud (“I have the best armour of the world!” v.1) and say they are impatient for the morning to come (“Will it never be morning?” v. 6) because they are confident they will win. 

They make jokes on the dauphin’s horse, comparing it to Antiquity references (“le cheval volant, the Pegasus, qui a les narines de feu!” v. 13) and saying he wrote “a sonnet in his praise, and began thus: ‘Wonder of nature! ...’” (v. 36, 37). The French are further ridiculed by Orléans comment, “I have heard a sonnet begin so to one’s mistress” (v. 38) which makes the dauphin say “my horse is my mistress” (v. 40). They have no sense of honour or dignity. 

A short arguing follows between Bourbon and the Constable: the dauphin is mocking him by saying “Le chien est retourné à son proper vomissement, et la truie lavée au bourbier” (v. 59, 60), to which the Constable replies “Yet do I not use my horse for my mistress” (v. 61). They have no real friendship or solidarity among them. 

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The conversation then switches to the coming battle. The dauphin says his “way shall be paved with English faces.” (v. 73, 74) before exiting the scene to prepare himself. 

Rambures, Orléans and the Constable speak of the dauphin once he is gone. “He longs to eat the English.” (v. 83) according to Rambures, but the Constable accuses him of only trying to show off: “Doing is activity, and he will still be doing.” (v. 88). Orléans adds, “He never did harm that I heard of.” (v. 89). The Constable informs that the dauphin himself (“he told me so himself” v. 96) has confessed he “will do none tomorrow” (v. 90), proving how hypocritic, coward and foolish he is. 

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A Messenger arrives, bringing information on the battle: “the English lie within fifteen hundred paces of your tents.” (v. 112, 113), but the nobles concentrate on unimportant details, such as “who hath measured the ground” (v. 114). Instead of taking the appropriate action (going to fight), they keep talking with arrogance of their coming victory. They pity the British (“Alas, poor Harry of England!” v. 117), they insult Henry (“What a wretched and peevish fellow is this king” v. 119). Only Rambures recognises the valour of the British (“That island of England breeds very valiant creatures.” v. 126). Orléans closes the scene with a last demonstration of over-confidence: “by ten we shall have each a hundred Englishmen!” (v. 141). 

The French are speaking in prose, which is a sign of their low morality and lack of dignity (contrast with Henry speaking in verse in previous scene). 

Audience = upset, frustrated by their arrogance and over-confidence à the victory of the English will be even greater, patriotic feeling of the spectators. 

 

 

Act IV 

 

Chorus 

Angelos 

 

Summary: The Chorus describes the scene in the French and English camps the night before the battle. In the French camp, the overly confident officers have already decided how to divide up the loot of the English, for they outnumber the English by five to one. In the English camp, the soldiers all believe that they will die the next morning, but they wait patiently for their fate. During the night, King Henry goes out among his soldiers, visiting all of them, calling them brothers and cheering them up, which raises their morale greatly. 

Key points: 

- Sets the scene and presents the situation. 

- Theme of war --> The soldiers will die and they are aware of that. 

- Brotherhood in the English Army (King goes to see each individual soldier in their tents --> close relationship and cohesion). 

Quotes: 

- Chorus: “Proud of their numbers, and secure in soul, / The confident and over-lusty French / Do the low-rated English play at dice” 

- Chorus: “forth he goes, and visits all his host, / Bids them good morrow with a modest smile, / And calls them brothers, friends and countrymen.” 

- Chorus: “A little touche of Harry in the night.” 

 

Scene 1 

Lydia 

 

Summary: Henry decides to put on a cloak, disguise himself and walk alone amongst the soldiers. By doing this he has exchanges with a number of soldiers like Pistol, Bates and Williams illustrating the different voices heard in Henry the V. More significantly, the conversation he holds with Bates and Williams highlights the commonalities between a king and a commoner but at the same time the privileges that a king has, for example if a soldier dies in the battlefield whereas a King gets ransomed. Williams states the opinion that a King bears the responsibility for leading his soldiers to war, considering that war is a gruesome affair with many losses, and if his reasons are not just he is the one to blame for costing men their lives. Henry is rattled by this opinion as he seems to believe that a King should not be responsible for his soldiers’ death. Since their argument gets more and more tense, the King (disguised as a commoner) and Williams decide to solve their difference by fighting after the battle is over, supposing both are still alive. Henry then gives a speech describing the burden of responsibility a King has, and how he is considered responsible for every man’s life and death. He seems to not be able to bear this level of responsibility and considers it unfair that the King is always to blame for everything. At the end of the scene, before the battle begins Henry prays to the God of war to show mercy on them and help them and at the same time he uncovers an insecurity of his by revealing that he has raised churches and has men praying continuously for Richard’s soul. This illustrates his feeling for his father’s usurpation and his insecurity that he will be the one who will ultimately have to pay for his father’s sins. 

Key elements:  

1. Comparison between the king and the commoners  

2. Responsibility of the King for leading men to war  

3. The burden of kingship  

4. The sin of usurpation 

Quotes: “No. Nor it is not meet he should, for, though I speak it to you, I think the king is but a man as I am” 

“But if the cause be not good, the king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make, when all those legs and arms and heads, chopped off in a battle …” 

“So, if a son that is by his father sent about merchandise do sinfully miscarry upon the sea, the imputation of his wickedness, by your rule, should be imposed upon his father that sent him.” 

 
Scene 2 

Luca 

 

Scene 3 

Luca 

 

Scene 4 

Luca & Melina 

  

Comic relief scene with Pistol and the French prisoner Le Fer – money and the boy translates, pistol makes fun of the French language.  Pistol makes it hard for the french to understand purposefully, and makes the French thinks that he’s a ferocious fighter. The french prisoner asks for his life by paying Pistol, he accepts. When the scene ends, the boy reveals that Nym and Bardolph had been hanged for stealing.  

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“O, prenez misericorde! ayez pitie de moi!” 

“Tell him my fury shall abate, and I the crowns will take.” 

“the most brave,valorous, and thrice-worthy signieur of England.”  

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As the battle rages across the field, Pistol takes a French prisoner. Pistol cannot speak French, and the Frenchman cannot speak English. Fortunately, the boy speaks very good French and is able to translate, though the hotheaded Pistol makes communication difficult. The terrified soldier is convinced that Pistol is a nobleman and a ferocious fighter. 

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The French soldier, who gives his name as Monsieur le Fer, says that he is from a respected house and family and that his relatives will give Pistol a rich ransom if Pistol will let him live. Pistol is very interested in money and accepts this bargain, and the grateful Frenchman surrenders as a willing captive. As the boy follows them offstage, he complains about Pistol’s empty boasting, saying that Bardolph and Nym both had ten times as much real courage in them as Pistol. The boy reveals a surprising and unsettling fact: Nym, like Bardolph, has been hanged for stealing. 

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Comic relief: In this scene it mainly relies on the language barrier (like the scene of Catherine’s English lesson):  

- “I will have forty moys, or I will fetch thy rim out at thy throat in drops of crimson blood.”   Pistol mistakes moi, the French word for “me,” as a unit of money 

- « Est-il impossible d'Échapper la force de ton bras? » 

- “Brass, cur? Thou damned and luxurious mountain goat, offer’st me brass?” 

Pistol thinks the Frenchman offers him brass when he is actually begging for his life 

- « Monsieur Le Fer » a common metal, not noble at all 

- Mockery of French: -alliteration in “f” 

- “Master Fer! I’ll fer him, and firk him and ferret him” (Pistol) 

- Pistol tries to speak in French “Owy, cuppele gorge, permafoy, peasant,” 

- “Seigneur Dieu” = “Signieur Dew” 

Pistol is ridiculous in this scene but the Frenchman is even more ridiculed. The Frenchman is coward, he is begging to survive, and his life is dependent on an idiot (Pistol) he thinks is a nobleman and a ferocious fighter when he is the exact opposite. Pistol is shown to also be a coward. 

Tirade of the boy who is clearly disgusted by the actions of his master. “Bardolph and Nym had ten times more valor […]and they are both hanged” The boy shows himself to be better informed than the man he serves. 

Foreshadowing of the massacre of all the boys. “The French might have a good prey of us if he knew of it, for there is none to guard it but boys.” 

 

Scene 5 

Melina 

 

The French camp is in disarray, and the French soldiers’ cries reveal that, against all expectations, the English have won the day. The French troops have been routed and scattered. Astonished and dismayed, the French nobles bewail their great shame and contemplate suicide. But they decide that rather than surrender in shame and defeat, they will go down fighting and return to the field for one final attempt. 

Great distress: French nobles revert to French: “Ô diable!” “Ô seigneur! Le jour est perdu, tout est perdu! » « Mort de ma vie » « Ô méchante Fortune! » 

French contemplate suicide: “Shame, and eternal shame, nothing but shame! Let us die.” Decide to offer their lives (meliorative way to show the French, gives the play more nuance, less patriotic) “Let us on heaps go offer up our lives.” 

Lack of order: contrast between the disarray of the French and the unity among the English ranks. Protestant “all our ranks are broke” “The devil take order now!” 

 

Scene 6 

Melina 

 

On the field at the Battle of Agincourt, the English appear to have seized the advantage and have captured many French soldiers and noblemen. But the battle is not quite over, as many of the French continue to fight. Exeter gives King Henry an update on the battle: the English are doing well, but two noble cousins, the Duke of York and the Earl of Suffolk, have been killed. Exeter touchingly describes the way the wounded York lay down to die beside the body of his beloved cousin Suffolk. Henry, like Exeter, is moved to tears by the story. 

A sudden stir and cry sounds. King Henry, interpreting this commotion as a rally by the French, abruptly orders every English soldier to kill his French prisoners—a remarkably bloody move. 

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Valor of the dead cousins: “Thrice within this hour. I saw him down, thrice up again and fighting.” “honor-owing wounds”. Tenderness between them:  “kisses the gashes” “My soul shall thine keep company to heaven. Tarry, sweet soul, for mine;” (tarry=wait) “He threw his wounded arm and kissed his lips” “A testament of noble-ending love” “espoused to death”. Very moving. 

Exeter says he tried to be a man but he wept like a mother “Those waters from me which I would have stopped, But I had not so much of man in me, And all my mother came into mine eyes And gave me up to tears.” Even the king has “mistful eyes” 

Orders to kill al French prisonners could be seen as in retaliation to the death of his cousins rather than a strategic decision. “Then every soldier kill his prisoners” 

 

Scene 7 

Constantin 

 

Scene 8 

Constantin 

 

Williams sees Fluellen, and recognizes his own glove therefore thinking that Fluellen was the man with whom he quarreled the night before. He strikes Fluellen, and Fluellen, believes that Williams is a French traitor and orders him to be arrested. King Henry arrives, innocently asking about the cause of the arresst, and then reveals to Williams that the quarrel he had was actually with King Henry himself. 'Twas I indeed thou promised’st to strike, And thou hast given me most bitter terms.’ 

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Williams says that he cannot be held responsible for picking a quarrel with the king because Henry had disguised his identity that night. “You appeared to me but as a common man.” Henry, enjoying his little joke and approving of William’s courage, rewards him by filling his glove with coins. 

Exeter and a herald return report the total number of casualties: 10.000 French soldiers are dead, and the English have lost only 29. These numbers may seem almost impossible to believe. However, these seem to be the real numbers for the historical battle of Agincourt recorded in the Chronicles of Raphael Holinshed. One cause of the high French mortality rate is that the French army lost its organization, and many of the French soldiers broke and ran. In flight, they were easy targets and couldn’t fight back. It had rained very heavily before the battle, putting the French, with their heavy armor and horses, at a disadvantage. But the most important cause of this victory was the English use of the longbow.  

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Shakespeare, however, does not attribute the outcome of the battle to tactics, weather, or technology, preferring to depict Henry’s victory as an act of God. Henry also orders his men to proceed to the captured village, but without any bragging. 

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Act V 

 

Chorus 

Maria Nefeli 

 

Purpose of Prologue: the word comes from the Greek word «πρόλογος» which means “before word”. It is an opening to a story that establishes the setting and background story- a connection- an introduction. The prologue was invented by Euripedes: he prefixed a prologue to his play as an explanatory first act in order to make the upcoming events in a play comprehensible for his audience. Platon on the Latin stage- playwright: his prologues were admired for their romantic quality and were usually performed by characters that did not make an appearance in the play. Prologue on the Elizabethan stage: inspired by the Greek and Latin plays-holding it a compulsory ingredient for their plays. 

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Example: 1st Earl of Dorset wrote Gorboduc which is believed to be the first English Play. He held a pantomime as a prologue. Usually the character who uttered prologue was dressed in black in order to differentiate himself from the rest of the actors.

 

Goal of the prologue: Introduce the plot and main characters. 

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Summary: The Chorus relates that King Henry has returned to the port city of Calais in France and, from there has sailed back to England. The women and children of England are overjoyed to have their men returned to them, and everyone is also glad to see King Henry. When Henry returns to London, the people flock to see him and celebrate. But Henry is humble and forbids a triumphal procession to celebrate his victory. Henry returns to France again, and the Chorus orders the audience to return its imagination to France, with the understanding that some time has passed.  

 

Comments and Quotes:

The Chorus is like the playwright directly speaking to the audience. From line 1 to line 6, the chorus explains his purpose but also the purpose of the prologue “due course of things which cannot in their huge and proper life be presented”. The Chorus’s role is to fill in the gaps that are not presented in the actual play. The Chorus stands as a reporter/ a camera that follows in 5.0 the actions of the King as well as the response of the crowd. He reports the joyfulness and excitement of the Brits to welcome King Henry “whose shouts and claps out-voice the deep mouthed sea”. The Chorus knows the past and future of the King (role of playwright). “Till Harry’s back return again to France. There must we bring him, and myself have played The interim, by remembering you ’tis past.” The Chorus puts forward what the King did while he wasn’t on stage. Announces what is going to happen “bringing rebellion broached on his sword”. “Now in London place him” Returns him back again to France “straight back in France”. 

The role of the chorus saves up time in the play and makes it less chaotic. The use of the chorus is to describe events that don’t hold much importance to the unfolding of the play and plot but create a logical coherence between the events. 

 

Scene 1 

Nefeli 

 

Scene 2 

Nefeli 

 

Themes 

- Love / Passion 

- Diplomacy 

- Conflict-War 

- Union of French and English kingdom by marriage 

- Language: Kate’s “broken English” and Henry’s “fausse French” 

- Romanticism  

- Religion: “Amen” (God is responsible for this marriage) 

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Summary: Meeting between Henry, King Charles and Queen Isabel at the French palace to negotiate a lasting peace between France and England. Despite his military victory, King Henry allows Charles to retain his throne but to inherit France as much as England he proposes to marry Katherine (their daughter). 

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Henry tries to woo Katherine in order to marry her. Henry cannot speak much French and Katherine speaks very little English. Nevertheless, they can communicate à comic relief because of the mispronunciation of the main characters. 

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Quotes and commentary: Burgundy character: neutral party at the war as loyal to FR and Brit/ “My duty to you both, on equal love, Great Kings of France and England. That I have labored with all my wits, my pains and strong endeavors”.  Burgundy’s monologue showcases fairness and is a symbol of the agreement of the peace treaty. 

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“The naked, poor and mangled peace” personification of peace. 

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Henry: “An angel is like you, Kate, and you are like an angel” comparison to an angel. Tries to court her --> the dialogue between Henry and Katherine is an element of comic relief as the incorporation of French and English as well as the effort to understand what one and the other are trying to say as well as both speaking the opposite language brings a comic relief in a serious conversation filled with “pathos”-foreplay 

King Henry V: “ I’m glad thou couldst thou wouldst find me such a plain king that thou wouldst think I am sold my farm to buy my crown”  King Henry diminishes himself in front of Katherine as he is trying to make her feel dominant in order to accept this marriage which is going to bring Henry the power to acquire political-diplomatic relations with France without being in a conflict situation as he will be married to Katherine and he will have easier access to France and will be better accepted by the French people. “I pray thee” Henry puts Katherine as high as God-he literally praises her. 

Katherine: “Is it possible dat I sould love de ennemi of France?” This is a key question as it is like a break from the courting and it is like the masks have fallen. Katherine showcases through this question which could also be seen as rhetorical she can’t fall for a man that was at war with her country and is practically her enemy and the enemy of France.  

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In response to Katherine’s statement, Henry answers that “in loving me you should love the friend of France” the notion of “friend” used by Henry contrasts with the word of “enemy” used by Katherine. As a matter of fact, one could wonder if this is personal or an undirect diplomatic conversation about their countries relations. It is clear that the “love” that they are both discussing between them is based on the interests of their countries. And they are both fooling one another.  

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H declares his intimate love for K “I love thee, Kate” and desires to kiss her but she says that it isn’t correct before marriage. Since they are royalty they can change the norms: “We are the makers of manners, Kate,  and the liberty that follows our places” “Then I will kiss your lips, Kate”: at the beginning he addressed her as “most fair Katherine” although afterwards it seems he is getting closer to her calling her “Kate”    

Marriage between Henry and Katherine means that they ally their kingdoms à truce and good relations with the enemy. King Charles (France) needs to succeed his throne. “And thereupon give me your daughter”: Henry asks for Kate’s hand from her father King Charles 

 

At the end, Queen Elizabeth desperately wants peace, seeing the corrupt aspect of her son (Dauphin) inheriting the throne. She makes vows to unify the kingdoms: “paction of these kingdoms” and “That English may as French, French Englishmen, / Receive each other.” 

 

Scene 3 

Eurydice 

 

End of the play: the chorus (who has opened the play and each act) arrives on scene to conclude. Once again, he recognises the play is not as magnificent as reality was, talking of a “rough and all-unable pen” (v. 1). He refers to Shakespeare as “our bending author” (v. 2), showing that he, as a character, is aware he is in a play, and was invented by a playwright. The opposition of their performance and history is highlighted by antithesis between the semantic field of littleness (“little” v. 3, “confining” v. 3, “mangling” v. 4, “small” twice v. 5) and the semantic field of greatness (“mighty” v. 3, “glory” v. 4, “greatly” v. 5, “star” v. 6, “fortune” v. 6, “sword” v. 6, “world’s best” v. 7, “imperial” v. 8). 

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We learn Henry had a son with Katherine, who was crowned king when still a child, but as many tried to control the kingdom, a civil war outbroke. The chorus informs the public this civil war has been narrated in another play, “Which oft our stage hath shown” v. 13, like if he wished to advertise for his theatre. 

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This speech in verses ends with a rhyming couplet, asking the public to judge kindly the play, “In your fair minds let this acceptance take.” (v. 14). 

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