Henry V Shakespeare\'s Play, Henry

Henry V

Shakespeare's play, Henry V, is regarded as one of the most important portrayals of King Henry V, one of England's most promiment national heroes. Apart from its representation of the king, the play presents not only Shakespeare's take on the historical persona of the king, but also his vision on issues such as patriotism, war, and the traits of the ideal rules. It is particularly interesting to see the ways in which Shakespeare manages to convey his literary message in the final lines of act V, as well as the epilogue of the play. This paper argues the epilogue of the play is very significant as far as the very purpose of Shakespeare's play; in this sense, the final act along with the epilogue remind the audience that Henry and Catherine's son did not achieve what they had hoped by uniting England and France.

Henry V is presented as the ideal monarch, a man of integrity and bravery; however, in a historical sense, he was not what historians would call an influential king. He wants to change the course of history but is largely unsuccessful because history ends up controlling and using him. From this point-of-view, the Chorus which enters in the epilogue emphasizes the idea that although he is presented as a great monarch in the play, Henry V did not exert a great deal of influence on English history. The epilogue is very important from this particular perspective as it illuminates the difference between how the King is illustrated in Shakespeare's play, and historical reality. Furthermore, the audience can understand the discrepancies between the role of a character in a brief period in English history, and his contribution to history as a whole.

Act V, scene ii presents the courtship between Henry and Catherine. Although the general tone is light, there are a few elements which are obviously meant to raise some questions. Henry is depicted in a rather humorous light; Shakespeare seems to ridicule his awkward speeches delivered with the purpose of impressing Catherine. From this point-of-view, one is left wondering whether or not Henry truly wants to woo Catherine since his other speeches are very eloquent. When addressing Catherine, Henry seems uncomfortable, and lacks passion. However, one must also consider the fact that this marriage serves political, and not romantic purposes. He is solely a means to an end which can account for the lack of chemistry and real communication between the princess, and her suitor. In fact, Catherine openly states that the decision regarding their marriage is up to her father (V.ii. 228-229).

The King of France wants to marry Catherine to Henry in order to win a strong ally. The character of Catherine is not very complex because it is obvious that she is only a pawn thus her will does not matter. Her education was aimed at making her desirable to any possible powerful suitor so her personality is reduced to a minimum. However, as England conquers more and more of France, it becomes clear that her future husband has to be English; her father uses her in order to recover his kingdom. The audience is offered no information as to what Catherine herself wants, or whom she would like to marry.

Henry's tactics as far as Catherine are very interesting. Although he knows that she cannot refuse marriage, Henry gives the impression that he wants Catherine to want to marry him. In reality, what she wants is completely irrelevant because the King of France, her father, is willing to use her is order to ensure the position of his kingdom. In this sense the audience might have some difficulties in understanding the reasons behind Henry's words. He addresses his future wife seeking her consent despite the fact that the latter is neither needed, nor required by anyone. However, it appears that Henry wants to reassure Catherine that he will take on the role of husband with the same commitment and courage with which he has assumed the role of king of England.

Act V and the epilogue transform the play into somewhat of a comedy. Language, but also the actual events contribute to this change in the sense that the play ends with the promise of a marriage between Henry and Catherine, and most of Shakespeare's comedies have the same ending. The union of Henry and Catherine is, similarly to that of England and France, soon destroyed: "Henry the Sixth, in infant bands crown'd King / Of France and England, did this king succeed; / Whose state so many had the managing, / That they lost France and made his England bleed." The epilogue tells the audience that although the marriage takes place, and the King is given an heir, Henry VI will lose everything his predecessors had achieved. Moreover, Shakespeare ends his play by creating a fictional outcome which is never fully realized in reality, namely a fake peace between the kingdoms.