Timothy Mereus

Mr. Anderton

Theatre History

10/24/15

Henry V: The Final Act

While King Henry’s motivational speech to his army has a great use of language

throughout the speech, the most significant use of language in Henry V is in the play's final

act. At first glance, one would be confused as in why Shakespeare added the dialogue in the

manner that he did at the end of the play. Perhaps it was for comedic relief after a long play

of serious business, or perhaps not.

The courtship between Katherine and Henry V focuses on the French scene. Those

French scenes are spoken primarily in French. No many people, including groundlings knew

or understood French at the time this play was written in 1599. That was during a time

where most people could not even read, yet alone write. This scene is similar to the events

that took place at the tower of Babel. The English nation “ended” the war physically, but

the English were still at war with the French with their languages.

Today, people are proud of their languages. Just like today, people in 1599 were proud

of their English language as well, 100+ years after the events of Henry V took place. No one

liked the French, and the English (who they play was written for) were proud of their nation.

Perhaps Shakespeare used the language barrier as belittlement towards the French

language and glorification to the English language. That is how he made money, writing to

please his audience in some way, shape, or form. If the play didn’t meet the fancy of the

audience, there went Shakespeare’s career.

Maybe the language barrier between the French language and the English language

was used in fact for comedic relief. It is a historical play, so Shakespeare could steer from

the truth, but being the man he is, told the story of Henry V like it was. The wooing scene

between Katherine and Henry V was just a glimpse of victory for the English nation and a

way to set up the audience for the very end of the play. Henry V wins the battle, but

ultimately loses the war as the chorus points out at the end. Henry V dies of something

similar to diarrhea around 1422, so without the comedic relief prior to the ending of Henry

V, the English audiences pride for their country and love for the play wouldn’t be a tasteful

one. Shakespeare couldn’t hit them all at once; he had to bring them down easy.