Henry V Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Henry V - Essay Examplel as an understanding not further of the history of Henry V and how Englishmen generally felt about him but also of the period during which Shakespeare wrote this ladder reveals that he was entirely sincere in his attempts to pureness the man who figures so prominently in the title and the play.The play chronicles the short reign of King Henry V, particularly as it pertains to his campaign in France and conquest in Agincourt. This campaign is introduced as a means of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely to distract their young king from passing a new bill that would strip the church, and therefore themselves, of a great deal of the riches and lands theyve been given by noblemen with no sons left to inherit. Henry himself is presented as having completely reformed himself from earlier plays when he used to give ear out in low-class bars and is now presented as a towering Christian hero prince. Hear him but reason in divinity, / And, all-admiri ng, with an inmost wish, / You would desire the king were made a prelate / Hear him debate of commonwealth affairs, / You would say it hath been all in his study / List his discourse of war, and you shall describe / A fearful battle rendred you in music (38-44). The bulk of the play takes place as the King marches his way done France and wins Agincourt as well as his future bride, Catherine of France.One of the claims that Shakespeare was making a parody of King Henry has been based on such speeches as fag be found in Act 4, Scene 7 when Fluellen attempts to make a comparison between the King and Alexander the Great, based primarily upon the facts that they were some(prenominal) born in towns that start with the letter M and are both towns that have a river going through it. However, the care that Shakespeare took in writing the play illustrates the importance of the topic to him. Shakespeare took its serious portions seriously and went beyond the existing theatrical versions o f Henrys career for his