Who Is A Corrupt Weapon In Shakespeare's Henry V?

Shakespeare’s Elizabethan historical play, Henry V, is a prime example of how “words are potent weapons”, as desired by the author; to portray both “good and bad” (Manly Hall) in the context of conflict. This is exemplified through Henry’s multifaceted portrayal of kingship, which is commonly contrasted between a courteous, benevolent monarch and a feudal, domineering monarch; one who tempers his ruthlessness with mercy. Other minor characters display similar traits of multidimensionalism through their diction, as intended by Shakespeare.

Through the conduit of Henry’s speeches and diction, Shakespeare depicts the monarch as a benevolent leader. Before the English invasion of Westmoreland, Henry articulates his passion for the English cause

by stating “If it be a sin to covet honor”, then he would be “the most offending soul alive”. (IV, III) Shakespeare appeals to the pathos of the audience through the juxtaposition of the words “honor” and “sin”. The playwright uses this in order to elevate both the historic and the Elizabethan audience’s hopes and beliefs in the monarch. Alongside this, Shakespeare further accentuates Henry’s position as a honourable, paragonal monarch by exemplifying the good of the titular character. The result of this is victory at Westmoreland, which would not have been without the rhetoric used by Shakespeare through Henry. Shakespeare uses the foil of Le Roy to develop Henry’s understanding of his troops and the mindset they bear, relating to the upcoming conflict and the king. In response to Bates, Henry, under his foil, reveals his emotions towards himself and the power of his kingship, and states that he “thinks the king is, after all, only a man / Same as me” and that all of the king’s senses are “without his fine clothes the king / Would appear as any man”. (IV, I) In this instance, Shakespeare uses the technique of a foil to further develop the portrayal of kingship with respect to Henry V, as a more benevolent, inward looking king, contrasted to other points in the play. Shakespeare’s use of language to further dimensionalise Henry’s portrayal of kingship and character, which is primarily positive through the rhetoric used throughout his speeches, is used to frame King Henry in a more positive manner.

Henry’s characterisation of a feudal, almost barbaric monarch throughout the play, which is intentional through the language used by Shakespeare, exemplify how language can be used to display the king’s volition, and the magnitude behind his ruthlessness and brutality in times of need.

King Henry is further developed as a character through the conflicting decisions he has to make; between his partisans or the righteousness of his throne. When Scroop, Cambridge and Gray betray the English throne, King Henry takes an authoritative stance and states “God quit you in His mercy” and that the three have “received the golden earnest of death”, (II, II) showing his bleak decision making. Shakespeare employs the technique of metaphor, to develop the portrayal of Henry’s Kingship, and show how negativity can be exemplified through the words and the implication of them, specifically to show the bleakness of Henry’s decision making. In this scenario, it leads his former partisans to death. Shakespeare uses language in a negative light in order to further the portrayal of Henry as a feudal monarch; which displays the inner-conflict of Henry in his decision making processes. The French Dauphine presents King Henry with a set of tennis balls, and mocks him for being a “boy king”. In reaction to this, King Henry shows his bleak decision making and justification and judges to go to war. To justify this, Henry states “[this action] shall this mock, mock out of their dear husbands, / mock mothers from their sons, mock castles down”. (I, II) Shakespeare paints Henry as a bleak monarch and addresses the primary motives behind Henry going to war; something that could be viewed as unjustified, further exemplifying how words can be used for good and bad. Outside the walls of Harfleur, during Henry’s speech to the soldiers of England, Henry amasses his soldiers, preparing them for warfare by stating that his soldiers should “imitate the [actions] of the tiger”; that they should “conjure up

the blood” and “disguise [their] fair nature” in favor for “hard-favoured rage”. (III, I) Shakespeare employs the technique visual imagery, to show how the he views the English should treat the French, to continue developing the idea of Henry’s portrayal as a noble king that threatens with barbarism. Henry’s portrayal as a feudal monarch is shown throughout the play, and is made apparent by Shakespeare in order to further dimensionalise Henry’s character; one that toys with both mental and physical conflict.

Shakespeare explores the causes and benefits of varying types of conflicts, and how these ramifications effect different characters throughout the play in either a negative or positive light. The serfs can be seen exploring this theme, especially when Pistol states that the serfs should “let senses rule… the world is pitch and pay”, and for the incentive of the spoils of war, the surrounding serfs should “[go to] France, like horseleechers, by boys, to suck, to suck!”. (II, IV) Shakespeare employs the use of a visual imagery to illustrate the patriotism as a result of the language used by Pistol, a representation of the views of the other serfs. Shakespeare also paints the universality of conflict further; the idea that, although the conflict might be personal for some, the ramifications are indeed existential. The French King is characterised by Shakespeare in a positive light, as a diplomatic and conciliatory monarch. Illustrated through the statements that the French king will “consider [the action of war] further” and that “tomorrow should bear [the French’s] full intent” (II, IV), Shakespeare highlights the more passive and ultimately ineffective traits of the French king, in stark contrast to Henry. This appeals to the audience of the play, as during the Elizabethan period in English history, the English were in conflict against the Spanish Armada; a metaphor used through the conduit of the French to appeal to the English’s pathos. The universality of conflict is shown throughout a variety of supporting characters through the use of language by Shakespeare; used to exemplify the weaponisation of language, with respect to portraying good or bad.

Shakespeare demonstrates how, in the conflict of war and more broadly, the power of words can be an efficacious aid to a force through the several instances shown throughout the play. Through both benevolent and malevolent words and themes, used by Henry and other characters in the play, this ideology is displayed.