Research Paper- King Henry 5

8/3/2019 Research Paper- King Henry 5

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Name: Saneka Setram

Assignment 3: In Henry V, war seems intimately tied up with issues of maleness

and manhood. Discuss.
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Many playwrights write about numerous issues affecting their society.

Englands most famous playwright William Shakespeare is no different. He is a

dramatist whose work explores a variety of concerns and conveys to the

audience that these issues are facets of the Elizabethan Jacobean society.

Academies have classified his plays into three categories: tragedy, comedy and

history. Throughout the ages countless scholars have analyzed his works all in an

effort to get a better understanding of the human condition. One of his most

talked about history play King Henry V offers this understanding especially with

regards to male. King Henry V recounts the life of one of Englands most beloved

kings King Henry also known as Harry, who goes to war with France in order to

gain control of its affairs. Several critics have argued that war seems to be tied up

with issues of maleness and manhood in this play. Hence, the need to discuss how

men view war and what war does to men.

Shakespeare conveys to the audience how men view war. He presents the

view that lands are regarded as properties to be conquered in order for men to

become more powerful and thus they go to war to acquire them. This is evident in

the beginning of the play through the discourse between the Archbishop of


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Canterbury and King Henry V. King Henry V wants know if he as the right to

acquire the throne of France:Why the law Salique that they have in France

Or should, or should not, bar us in ourclaim

and Canterbury tells him he is within his rights :

There is no bar

To make against your highness claim to France

As a result, the king wages war against France : We must not only arm to

invade France

Therefore, it becomes apparent that men see war as means of capturing

territories and strengthening their power bases. Furthermore, the dramatist

uses diction to present another aspect of how men view war-as an achievement.

This is evident in the conversation between Westmoreland and King Henry V

in which the king makes a memorable speech known throughout the world as

the St. Crispen's Day Speech:He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,

Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,

He that shall live this day, and see old age,

Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,

And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian


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Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,

And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day'

The above speech cements the view that men perceive war as one of mans

greatest accomplishment because there is honor in having participated in such

an historic event.

The dramatist presents to the audience what war does to men. War

creates maleness and manhood. In the Elizabethan Jacobean society the issues

of maleness and manhood are linked to wars. Before the start of the war

against France, King Henry V makes a rousing speech to the sons of the society in

order to get them to fight for Englands right to regain possession of previous

English holdings in France:On, on, you noblest English,

Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof,

Fathers that like so many Alexanders

Have in these parts from morn till even fought,

And sheathed their swords for lack of argument.


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Dishonor not your mothers; now attest

That those whom you called fathers did beget you"

The aforementioned allows the audience to infer that war offers sons the

opportunity to go on the battlefield and as a result try to achieve the level of

greatness as their fathers before them. In essence, this is showing that war

creates maleness and manhood by giving every man who wants to be an hero the

chance to become one and thus making a man truly a man.

In addition, the playwright portrays to the audience that war sustains

maleness and manhood. During the war the Constable of France comments on the

weakened state of King Henrys army :

"His soldiers sick and famished in their march,

For I am sure when he shall see our army

He'll drop his heart into the sink of fear."

Most armies facing this sort of situation would have admitted defeat and

surrender to their enemies because the probability of them winning the war

would be next to impossible . But King Henry Vs army does the opposite and


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soldier on to claim victory. As a result, the audience sees that war sustains

maleness and manhood by taking these war- worn soldiers (Ludowyk,1979) and

transforming them into the epitome of manhood-males who can overcome

adversities and go out there and fight and thus win the war for their country,

England. Furthermore, the dramatist shows that another way in which war

sustains maleness and manhood is that it calls on men in battle to face death

with honor. Spurgeon ( 1971) cements this view when she states:

the Duke of Yorks moving cry, when he finds his friend dead on the battlefield.

Moreover, Shakespeare presents yet another mode in which war sustains

maleness and manhood - men who go to war get hero- like welcome afterwards.

Ludowyk( 1979 ) cements this view when he states:

the fifth prologue describes Henrys triumphal return to London-the crowds and

their noise

Consequently, the audience is seeing that war sustains maleness and manhood by

allowing men to be celebrated as heroes for representing their country.


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King Henry V is a play that conveys numerous concerns. The dramatist

presents to the audience the interrelationships between war and men.

Shakespeare portrays to the audience that men view war as a means of acquiring

territories and strengthening their power and as an achievement. In addition, that

war not only creates but sustains maleness and manhood. This is important

because the audience sees that war is not about savagery but to propel men to

greater heights. In essence, Shakespeare presents a mirror of Englands

perception of mens view of war and the impact of war on them.


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Reference

1. Ludowyk, E.F.C. (1979).Understanding Shakespeare . London: CambridgeUniversity Press.

2. Spurgeon, C. ( 1971).Shakespeare Imagery and what it tells us.London:Bentley House.

Research Paper- King Henry 5

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