Free Henry V Essays: Hierarchies And Social Class

Hierarchies and Social Class In the 1400s, status played an integral role in a person’s place in society. These ideas, based off of the Chain of Being, was intended for those with higher amounts of “spirit” to have elevated social rank This created many dynamic differences between each class of people. However, most serfs and other commoners had good relations with the upperclass. Shakespeare brought out this divide in many of his works including Henry V. He specifically accomplished this through the use of irony. In Henry V, Shakespeare uses the English Hierarchy to shine light on the juxtaposition between the upper and lower classes through the use of the Chain of Being, the stereotypical relationships between yeoman and nobles and

During this, Henry tells the lowly gentlemen “And you, good yeoman, Whose limbs were made in England, show us here The mettle of your pasture.” This statement is ironic because Henry wants the farmers to deem themselves worthy of their birth, despite the fact that they are ordinary men rather than noblemen. Another time we witness this contrast between social class is through the exchange between Henry and Williams. Because Henry disguised himself, Williams is unafraid to admit his own brutal opinions to the King himself. This is another ironic scene because Williams is unaware that he is talking to Henry and they decide to duel later after the battle. Finally, in Henry’s St. Crispin’s day speech, he refers to each man as a “band of brothers” meaning that despite where you fit within the social charts, in this battle, they were united After this battle though, they pronounce the name of the fallen nobility as individuals and fail to name each of the lower class men. This showed that there was only a small amount of time in which social class and the Chain of Being did not matter. Through the use of irony, Shakespeare exhibits the differences in the hierarchy through uses of