Reading the Henry IV part 1 and 2 plays so close to Henry V play changes what things stand out in the play. The famous speech of St. Crispin's Day can be seen as a very motivating speech. Placing all the plays together shows new insights that I had not seen as clearly. Richard II is shown as a weak king and is overthrown by Henry IV with some help. We then see that Henry IV is still seeking to increase his power and glory but must deal with rebellion. He has not earned and kept the loyalty of those who helped him come to power leading to more civil war and strife in England. Prince Hal or Henry V is not busy playing practical jokes and hanging out with a shady group of friends. When he becomes king, he throws off his friends and decides he needs to behave differently now that he is king. Has he really changed or is he just pretending to change to get what he wants? My personal opinion is that he has not really changed. He uses the church to support his desire to increase his power by starting a war in France. Then as part of the peace settlement requires Princess Katherine's hand in marriage. There is quite a scene in the play of Henry V wooing Katherine, but I don't think it is real myself. I think it is just Henry pretending.
To me there is evidence that Henry V is playing a part hidden within the play. Here are a couple of spots I see:
1. Act 1 Scene II: Henry V gets the church to approve of his move to attack France and to take responsibility for the decision to go to war.
2. He does cast aside his old 'friends' because it will not look good on him to keep them. Some of his new friends are conspirators and are quickly eliminated.
3. Act II Scene IV: Henry seems willing to do whatever it takes to win include being very cruel to civilians.
4. Act III: His war speech asks the nobles to lay aside their virtues and become animals as they war with France. Then appeals to their manhood, ancestry, and love of England. We see that his old friends don't buy into Henry's 'noble cause' as some of the other leaders. He pushes his army until they are sick and cold yet expects them to fight cheerfully.
5. Act V Scene II: "She is our capital demand..." not a request but a demand. He also states in the scene in which is is trying to convince her that he loves here that if they don't marry the war will continue.
6. Act V Scene II: "O Kate, nice customs curtsy to great king". Tradition and virtue really don't seem to mean much to Henry here.
Overall, to me it looks like Henry V is 'playing the system' to get what he wants. If this is Shakespeare's ideal king, I think there is a problem. But as Lord Action says, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
For me these plays have grown in their importance, showing how important it is for us to look at the words and the actions of the leaders to determine what they really believe and want. Do their words ALWAYS match their actions? Do they pick their friends well and treat them well? Do they do the right thing for the right reason or try to justify that they have the right reason?
To me there is evidence that Henry V is playing a part hidden within the play. Here are a couple of spots I see:
1. Act 1 Scene II: Henry V gets the church to approve of his move to attack France and to take responsibility for the decision to go to war.
2. He does cast aside his old 'friends' because it will not look good on him to keep them. Some of his new friends are conspirators and are quickly eliminated.
3. Act II Scene IV: Henry seems willing to do whatever it takes to win include being very cruel to civilians.
4. Act III: His war speech asks the nobles to lay aside their virtues and become animals as they war with France. Then appeals to their manhood, ancestry, and love of England. We see that his old friends don't buy into Henry's 'noble cause' as some of the other leaders. He pushes his army until they are sick and cold yet expects them to fight cheerfully.
5. Act V Scene II: "She is our capital demand..." not a request but a demand. He also states in the scene in which is is trying to convince her that he loves here that if they don't marry the war will continue.
6. Act V Scene II: "O Kate, nice customs curtsy to great king". Tradition and virtue really don't seem to mean much to Henry here.
Overall, to me it looks like Henry V is 'playing the system' to get what he wants. If this is Shakespeare's ideal king, I think there is a problem. But as Lord Action says, power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
For me these plays have grown in their importance, showing how important it is for us to look at the words and the actions of the leaders to determine what they really believe and want. Do their words ALWAYS match their actions? Do they pick their friends well and treat them well? Do they do the right thing for the right reason or try to justify that they have the right reason?
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