Who Is A Corrupt Weapon In Shakespeare's Henry V?

Shakespeare’s Elizabethan historical play, Henry V, is a prime example of how “words are potent weapons”, as desired by the author; to portray both “good and bad” (Manly Hall) in the context of conflict. This is exemplified through Henry’s multifaceted portrayal of kingship, which is commonly contrasted between a courteous, benevolent monarch and a feudal, domineering monarch; one who tempers his ruthlessness with mercy. Other minor characters display similar traits of multidimensionalism through their diction, as intended by Shakespeare.

Through the conduit of Henry’s speeches and diction, Shakespeare depicts the monarch as a benevolent leader. Before the English invasion of Westmoreland, Henry articulates his passion for the English cause

King Henry is further developed as a character through the conflicting decisions he has to make; between his partisans or the righteousness of his throne. When Scroop, Cambridge and Gray betray the English throne, King Henry takes an authoritative stance and states “God quit you in His mercy” and that the three have “received the golden earnest of death”, (II, II) showing his bleak decision making. Shakespeare employs the technique of metaphor, to develop the portrayal of Henry’s Kingship, and show how negativity can be exemplified through the words and the implication of them, specifically to show the bleakness of Henry’s decision making. In this scenario, it leads his former partisans to death. Shakespeare uses language in a negative light in order to further the portrayal of Henry as a feudal monarch; which displays the inner-conflict of Henry in his decision making processes. The French Dauphine presents King Henry with a set of tennis balls, and mocks him for being a “boy king”. In reaction to this, King Henry shows his bleak decision making and justification and judges to go to war. To justify this, Henry states “[this action] shall this mock, mock out of their dear husbands, / mock mothers from their sons, mock castles down”. (I, II) Shakespeare paints Henry as a bleak monarch and addresses the primary motives behind Henry going to war; something that could be viewed as unjustified, further exemplifying how words can be used for good and bad. Outside the walls of Harfleur, during Henry’s speech to the soldiers of England, Henry amasses his soldiers, preparing them for warfare by stating that his soldiers should “imitate the [actions] of the tiger”; that they should “conjure up