King Henry Machiavellianism

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King Henry V is known for many things but mostly known for conquering France. Machiavelli is known mostly for writing The Prince which is a handbook for politicians that inspired the term “Machiavellian” and established its author as “the father of modern political theory”. Shakespeare was born in April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom and died on April 23, 1616, in Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom. Shakespeare wrote Henry V in 1599 telling the story of King Henry V around the time of the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. Machiavelli was born on May 3, 1469, in Florence, Italy and died on June 21, 1527, in Florence, France before the age of Shakespeare. Henry V is brilliant, focused, fearless, and committed to the responsibilities …show more content…

This tactic may seem morally questionable, but it is a valuable psychological weapon that Henry uses to pressure his enemies into doing what he wants. Again and again, Henry acts in a manner that would be deplorable for a common citizen but that makes him an exemplary king. For example, Henry often draws criticism from modern readers for refusing to take responsibility for the war in France. He even tells the French governor at Harfleur that if the French does not surrender, they will be responsible for the carnage that Henry will …show more content…

Although written for entertainment value, Shakespeare’s play was clearly influenced by the writings of Niccolo Machiavelli, and studies showed that following Shakespeare’s Henry V, President John F. Kennedy was influenced who would quote the famous St. Crispin’s Day speech from Henry V to his staff (Henry V, 4.3.20-70). Even with the fact much of Shakespeare’s play is historically accurate and his account of this event is inaccurate; at this battle, the character King Henry says, “Use mercy to them all for us...,” making Shakespeare’s character less Machiavellian and more likable to a theater audience (3.3.55). In a later scene, one of the commoners with whom King Henry socialized in his youth, Bardolph, is caught robbing a church, and King Henry orders the execution of his former friend, applying Machiavelli’s principle of cruelty to avoid disorder (3.6.100-115). Since Bardolph is a criminal, this action does not affect King Henry’s popularity with the other men and is viewed as

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