Henry V: The Perfect Leader

Shnyar Gharib April 5th, 2018

LIT 403 Dr. Fredrick Monsma

The Perfect Leader Henry V is a history play written by William Shakespeare, it focuses on the story of England’s king Henry V, and the events that happened before and after the battle of Agincourt. Henry is in most ways an example of an ideal king. A king who is wise in using the power he possesses, just in ruling a nation, and courageous in leading an entire army of men to fight his battles for him. According to Machiavelli’s The prince, a book that talks about the monarchal rule and how to be the ideal ruler, Henry V does not seem to be the perfect leader. Because although he seems to have the virtues needed in an English king, he also exhibits some qualities that make him seem

He shows great courage in leading his men into battle by giving motivational and poetical speeches, and also fighting alongside them. Which makes him seem like he considers himself one of them who is ready to die at any moment just like any of these men who come from different backgrounds. He doesn’t act like he is just a leader who gives his army commands, who supervises from afar but is not ready to go down with them. While there is no doubt that this displays Henry’s great character as a leader, especially how he seems to have knowledge on military and war, which is a quality that Machiavelli insists on being a must in a perfect ruler. But later on when they get to Harfleur he makes some outrageous threats that are vile to the point where it takes away from his possibilities of being a perfect leader according to Machiavelli. Because in The Prince Machiavelli clearly states that although cruel acts are sometimes necessary, especially when done to establish one’s power, a perfect ruler knows how to balance between being cruel and lenient. And cruel acts that are repeated more than once make the people go against you and start hating you, which is very different from being feared. A wise leader will not let his people think that he is using favoritism, that he favors a group of people over the other and is being unjust in his merciful acts and rewards or punishments. Henry V giving his speech and

And this is a very important point because compassion and personal honesty are characteristics needed to make a perfect leader. Later in the play when King Henry V is in France, he meets King Charles VI’s daughter Princess Catherine and tries to woo her and make her fall in love with him by sweet taking her and using words to win her heart. This shows a good side of King Henry V in speaking from his heart as a “plain soldier” and someone who is not good with words. But it also shows his dishonesty, King Henry knows that he has already won the battle and that makes him be in a much better place than the French king and his daughter, so he doubts the princess will reject his proposal. He knows that he has gotten her by his side so he puts on the act of being a simple soldier who does not know what to say to win her over, he makes himself look flustered and out of the right words to say to make him seem more sincere. King Henry V is being manipulative and dishonest here, someone who is choosing lies and morally ill actions to get what they want. And this in Machiavelli’s opinion is not something a perfect ruler does, because it is not virtuous. According to his beliefs, although King Henry V has strong will power and energy but since he has chosen