Who Is King Henry's Speech Before The Battle Of Agincourt

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King Henry V by William Shakespeare tells the story of England’s victory over France in the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Year’s Wars. Shakespeare, through careful word selection, imbues feelings of pride, patriotism, and honor within his play. He does this specifically through King Henry’s speech shortly before the Battle of Agincourt when addressing his men (4.3.20-22, 56-62). Similarly, former President George W. Bush evoked the same sentiments through his “Statment by the President in His Address to the Nation” after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. His word choice evokes feelings of patriotism and pride in the American people. By comparing Henry V’s speech before the Battle of Agincourt and President George W. Bush’s speech after 9/11, …show more content…

To relate to his soldiers, Henry calls these men a “band of brothers” to hearten the men by believing that they are fighting with and for their brothers-in-arms (4.3.60). This speech evokes strong images and feelings of patriotism from the English, which eventually leads to their success on the battlefield. By using words like “enough,” “greater,” “honour,” “remembered,” “happy few,” and “brothers” Henry is filling his men with pride and patriotism to defend their country even though the odds are against them (4.3.20, 21, 59, 60). By giving the soldiers a sense of brotherhood and shared experience, Henry reminds them that they are not alone in this endeavor. Henry singles these men out because they stand with him during the battle; acknowledging their presence fills them with dignity and hope for the future of England. In the modern day, the evocation of patriotism through a speech is found in former President George W. Bush’s speech after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In his speech, President Bush utilized American patriotism to encourage Americans to unite the country and heal …show more content…

The connection between these two speeches lies in the feelings of patriotism during a time of doubt: Henry’s troops were facing a seemingly lost battle, and America was attacked by a terrorist group. If Henry’s speech took place in 21st-century America, it would be quite similar to what it is, with a few modifications. The language would be very different, official battles would not be fought (for example, on a battlefield with swords and horses), and the situations of the leaders would be opposing. However, the play allows for the opportunity to draw parallels between the two speeches and the themes of patriotism and nationalism in the 1400s and the 2000s. Henry wanted his troops to be fearless in the face of hardships and trials; so too did the President in the modern era. In this way, President Bush’s speech resembles King Henry’s and uses imagery and heavy words to evoke a sense of patriotism. For example, one of the most well-known lines from King Henry V is “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers – / For he today that sheds his blood with me / Shall be my brother”

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