Between the events of Shakespeare's Henry IV and Henry V, King Harry evolves from a mischievous and capricious son to a famous political adept. He renounced a life of tavern-hopping and petty theft to become one of the most revered kings and military tacticians in English (literary) history. Throughout Henry V, Shakespeare portrays Harry as an affable king whose loyalty lies with the people of England; however, in his quest for redemption through the universal appeasement of his people – whether it be the religious unions at the royal castle, the squadrons of troops in the fields of Agincourt or the popular masses waiting at home – the emotions of the Individual characters are often abandoned in the wake of King Harry's enterprise. Before and during the Battle of Agincourt, Harry is constantly at war with his own sensitivities, often choosing to neglect showing his emotions outwardly, for fear that such a display might negatively impact the well-being of his people. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Using both lofty rhetoric and hollow sensationalism, Harry constantly elevates the esteem of his soldiers while protecting his own emotions. The majority of Henry V takes place in France, where common soldiers are fighting a war they don't quite understand. Thus, before the siege of Harfleur, King Harry utters his 'Cry, 'God for Harry!' England and Saint George!' » to raise the morale and solidarity of his army. He exhorts them to continue moving forward, even in spite of death, and to "not dishonor [their] mothers" (3.1.22), that is, to overcome any lack of courage they may face during the seat. He insists that "none of them is so petty and base / who has not a noble luster in [their] eyes" (III.I.29-30), once again encouraging a family solidarity between its numerous battalions. Despite Harry's universal rhetorical appeasements, reception of his speech is mixed, particularly among Bardolph, Nim and Pistol, three of Harry's former companions in I Henry IV and II Henry IV. Bardolph seems eager to join the troops, echoing Harry's decrees to advance "towards the breach, towards the breach!" » (III.II.I), but Nim and Pistol are much more hesitant to risk their lives for an unknown cause. Nim declares that if he had more lives to give, it would be a noble fight, but Pistol just sings. He recognizes chivalry and the valor of battle by singing: "And sword and shield / In a bloody field / Doth win immortality." fame” (III.II.7-9), but he soon plunges into the precariousness of his own position when he continues to sing: “And I. / If wishes prevailed with me / My purpose should not fail with me / But there would I come” (III.II.12-15). In his song of glory and despair, there is a full stop – a period – after the word "I", indicating the emphasis on the personal nature of Pistol's concerns. The brevity of the phrase “And me”. and his subsequent line break further contrasts the universality of King Harry's speech with the individual plight of ordinary soldiers. Pistol's fears are, of course, unknown to Harry, as Harry is too concerned with the morale of his army to worry about the fears of a common soldier. Pistol's romantic musings are quickly interrupted by the entrance of Fluellen, a learned captain in whom Harry believes to have "much care and courage" (4.1.83). Fluellen's strong adherence to the success of the war, regardless of each soldier's concerns, positions him as a worthy substitute forHarry's state of mind, which is also incapable of recognizing individual complaints, lest the unity of the army and its people could be compromised. lose your footing. To raise his army to a level of moral consistency, Harry places severe restrictions on individual actions. After the siege of Harfleur, Bardolph was hanged for stealing a Pax, a small religious symbol. When Fluellen gives Harry news of his former friend's crime, Harry harshly declares that the army "should expel all these delinquents" (3.4.98). The lack of emotion in his words is echoed at the Battle of Agincourt, when the Boy, Falstaff's former page, declares that Nim has suffered the same fate as Bardolph (4.4.62-64). Although Harry's reprimands are unsympathetic, he justifies the punishments by telling Fluellen that "when clemency and cruelty play for a kingdom, the gentlest player is the first victor" (3.3.102-103). In this speech, Harry inspires his soldiers to become models of morality, because gentleness and courtesy, in the king's mind, are paramount in all aspects of victory and in defending the righteousness of his cause. Although Harry appears sincere when expressing concern for the moral well-being of his soldiers, he also erects a stoic veil behind which he can hide from the callousness of his actions and the emptiness of his decrees. Harry has neither the patience nor the time to worry about the fate of every soldier. By anthropomorphizing himself into the figure of “mercy and cruelty,” he is able to distance himself from the emotional and psychological repercussions of his actions while deflecting responsibility for Bardolph's hanging. As King of England, Harry must continually present the appearance of morality and certainty before his subjects, regardless of emotional ties to individual character. Because he is the leader of the army, his every move is visible and documented by those under his command, causing him to emit a level of calculability and foreshadowing to all of his actions and emotions so as not to disrupt the image of one's position or the morale of the community. The extent of his authority is a crushing burden that he must bear alone. With the eyes of his army still on him, it is not possible for Harry to express his disconcern outwardly, so he creates an elaborate pretext in which he exchanges his royal costume for the common coat of Sir Thomas Erpingham. Rather than taking this opportunity to individually experience the concerns and anxieties of those under his command, Harry's true intention is to momentarily relieve his royal temper by mingling with ordinary soldiers. While wearing the mantle of Erpingham, Harry takes a respite from the king's daily responsibilities by posing as a common soldier. His rhetoric, however, always maintains a certain distance from the individual soldier. Harry sits in the dark, waiting to meet a passerby, and Pistol approaches Harry as if he is an intruder. Pistol said to Harry: “Tell me: are you an officer, / Or are you base, common and popular? ” (4.1.38-39) to which Harry responds, “I’m a business gentleman” (4.1.40). When asked if it is common, Harry deflects the question, instead placing himself on a moral high ground. Even dressed like an average soldier, it's impossible for Harry to admit that he's ordinary. He understands that it is disadvantageous to give in to his emotions; however, he later tells Bates that "the king is only a man, such as he is" (4.1.99) and that all "the king's senses have only human conditions" (4.1. 101), an indication that emotions are and have always been present, but also that they have been intentionally hidden from the public eye. Harry is.