King Henry V, formerly the wayward Prince Hal, has recently come to the throne. Spurred on by church leaders and an insulting gift from France, he sets out to conquer his enemy, discovering within himself the vision and leadership to inspire a nation. From his rousing speeches on the battlefield to his tender stumblings as he woos the Princess of France, this young king matures to consider the broader questions of leadership, nationalism and the human costs of war. Ultimately he finds the courage and eloquence to rally his band of brothers in the face of impossible odds.
THE STORY – Henry V
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The Story – HENRY V
In a continuation of the events in Falstaff, the former Prince Hal is now King Henry V. Following his late father’s advice to ‘busy giddy minds with foreign quarrels,’ Henry considers invading France to claim the throne. The clergy encourage him in this endeavor, as they believe he has inherited the right to be King of France through his great-grandmother, Isabelle of Capet (married to England’s Edward II). An insulting gift from the French Dauphin spurs Henry to military action.
As Henry prepares to depart for France, a conspiracy to assassinate him is uncovered and the conspirators are executed for treason. Meanwhile, Henry’s former friends from his Falstaff days - Bardolph, Pistol and Nym - gather at Mistress Quickly’s house as they prepare to join Henry’s army. Mistress Quickly shares the story of Falstaff’s death, and the men and the Boy depart for France.
At the French court, the King of France and his son, the Dauphin, hear of Henry’s claim to the French throne from the Duke of Exeter. In response, the French King sends offer of his daughter, Katherine, in marriage to Henry, as well as ‘some petty and unprofitable dukedoms.’ This offer is not appealing enough to Henry, who invades. In the first battle at Harfleur, Henry inspires his troops and they take control of the French city. When Princess Katherine hears of the English army’s success, she solicits the help of her gentlewoman, Alice, to practice her English. Meanwhile the French King and his noblemen rally the full force of their military powers as they prepare to fight Henry.
As the small English army advances through the French countryside, they become exhausted, weakened and desperate for supplies. As punishment for looting, Henry orders the execution of his old friend Bardolph. The French herald, Montjoy, approaches Henry with the French king’s demand for ransom; namely, a financial settlement in exchange for sparing Henry’s life. Henry rejects this and declares that, although they are ‘much enfeebled,’ his army will turn the ground red with French blood if they are attacked. The herald leaves to report back to the French king while Henry and his army march on.
The French prepare for battle, mocking the English and boasting about how many Englishmen they will kill. Meanwhile, in the English camp, Henry disguises himself as a common soldier to move among the men and hear their conversations. He discovers that they are fearful and doubt the King’s cause. He prays to the ‘god of battles’ to ‘steel’ his soldiers’ hearts. In the morning, Henry overhears his cousin, the Earl of Westmoreland, lamenting the fact that there are so few English soldiers to face so many Frenchmen. As the battle dawns, Henry gives a rousing speech in which he inspires his ‘band of brothers’.
Despite the French advantage, the English win a decisive victory. Henry, with his advisers, then negotiate a peace treaty with the French. His ‘capital demand’ is his marriage to Princess Katherine. In spite of the fact that he speaks very little French and she very little English, Henry woos her successfully. The two kingdoms are thus united.
A Guide to William Shakespeare's Henry V
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Contents
- An Introduction to the play and to Bard’s production
- Who’s Who in King Henry V
- What Happens in King Henry V
- Where King Henry V is set
- When the events of the play took place
Director Meg Roe on Henry V
There is a huge opportunity in having Henry V play in conjunction with Falstaff. It allows us to follow Hal as he continues his journey of self-discovery. If Falstaff is the story of Hal shedding his youth, Henry V is the tale of him embracing life as an adult. He is not just leaving teenage-hood and his friends to put on his “dad’s suit”, but he is on an individual journey to become his own man. Of course this journey is set against an examination of leadership, war and the historical context of the play.
While our production of Henry V will live in the 15th Century, the look of the show will speak to the contemporary world. This means that although it is set in the period, the materials and fabrics will have a modern bent. For example, the costumes will evoke the spirit of a fully armoured warrior rather than having a literal reproduction of the armour and helmets of the times. Weapons will used in both a traditional and non-traditional way.
As for the set, the Chorus asks us to use our imagination to determine where the action takes us. I have trusted Shakespeare’s directions and have not tried to create a physical reality for the scenes. I want the words and our imaginations to establish the locale for us. I see the entire story happening on the battlefield; that is the heart of the story. Veteran designer Pam Johnson will create the flexible platform for the multiple locations.
Music will play a strong role in our theatrical journey as it creates a sense of flow for the action. I wanted one piece of music that stems from the Battle of Agincourt and that takes us backwards and forward through the night. I have commissioned Owen Belton, composer for dance, theatre and film, to create such a score to underpin the action.
I feel strongly that I want to communicate the both the brutality of war and its humanity. In those days the proximity of the soldiers was so close that it was often difficult to tell who was on whose side. The actors will switch sides on dime, so there will be a real sense of men fighting for war’s sake; in the end it becomes hard to tell when or where. This is one of the smallest productions of Henry V I could find – 11 actors have to play some 55 roles and they have to represent an army of thousands. Therefore we are using innovative choreography to evoke the spirit of the calamity and chaos of the actual battles. To help achieve this, I have brought in Bob Kitsos who runs the dance program at Simon Fraser University and who is an internationally renowned choreographer.
Who’s Who in King Henry V
Please note: not all characters in Shakespeare’s play appear in Bard’s production. To meet the needs of staging, many characters have been combined or condensed. Also, while many of the characters in the play were actual historical figures, Shakespeare’s portrayal is not always historically accurate, as he made changes to suit the dramatic needs of the story. In Bard’s production, fifteen actors play the following twenty-four characters
The Chorus sets up the action, establishes the theatrical conventions, provides historical context and leads the audience through the story of the play. Historically, the chorus had its origins in the sacred dances that honoured Greek gods. This evolved into Greek drama, in which a Chorus played a key role. The Elizabethan dramatists revived the tradition, often having a Chorus deliver a prologue, and sometimes an epilogue. The Chorus in Henry V has more extensive role than any other surviving play of the period.
“Still be kind, and eke out our performance with your mind.”
The English:
Henry the Fifth, King of England is, of course, the title character of the play. He was born Henry of Monmouth, the eldest son of Henry of Bolingbroke. At his birth, Henry of Monmouth was not in line to succeed the throne. His father usurped the crown from his cousin, Richard II (and Shakespeare wrote a play about that, performed in Bard’s 2009 season) to become Henry IV. According to tradition, the young Prince of Wales (also referred to as Hal and Harry) lived a colourful and bawdy life. He is mentioned in Shakespeare’s Richard II, and has major roles in the two parts of Henry IV; the first part of Henry VI begins with his funeral. Historically, Henry was instrumental in quelling the rebellions against his father, and led three French campaigns. He was also the first English king in the 350 years since the Norman conquest to conduct his government and his person correspondence in English instead of French. He died suddenly, aged 35, apparently of dysentery, on his third French campaign, leaving the throne to his nine-month-old son, Henry, whom he never saw.
“If it be a sin to covet honour, I am the most offending soul alive.”
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester was the fourth and youngest son of Henry IV. Historically, he was wounded at the battle of Agincourt, and was named one of the protectors of the infant Henry VI. He is a major character in the first two parts of Henry VI.
“‘Fore God, his grace is bold to trust these traitors.”
Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter was one of the children of John of Gaunt (Henry V’and his mistress (later his second wife) Katherine Swynford, so he was Henry IV’s half-brother. Historically, he participated in the peace negotiations at Troyes we see at the end of the play. His character also appears in Henry VI.
“Stand for your own, unwind your bloody flag.”
Earl of Westmorland participates in Henry’s French campaign, and famously laments the small size of the English army before the battle of Agincourt.
“Perish the man whose mind is backward now!”
Richard, Earl of Cambridge, Henry, Lord Scroop of Masham and Sir Thomas Grey, Knight of Northumberland were found guilty of conspiring against King Henry in what came to be called the Southampton Plot. They allegedly planned to murder Henry before he embarked for France, so that Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March, would become King. Mortimer was a direct descendant of Edward III’s, tracing his line through the only daughter of Edward’s second son. So his claim to the throne was, in fact, better than Henry’s. Richard, Earl of Cambridge was married to Mortimer’s sister, and it is their son who is the Duke of York who is the centre of the conflict in Shakespeare’s Henry VI.
“I repent my fault more than my death.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury and The Bishop of Ely are church leaders who persuade Henry that he has a right to claim the French throne and offer him “a mighty sum” of money to support the endeavor. Historians suggest that the reason for this was to distract the king from a bill pending in parliament through which the crown would confiscate nearly half of the land owned by the church.
“God and his angels guard your sacred throne and make you long become it!”
Fluellen is a Welsh captain in Henry’s army. The other characters praise his military skill, and he seems to care deeply about military strategy and discipline.
“By Jeshu, I am your majesty’s countryman, I care not who know it.”
Michael Williams is a soldier in Henry’s army who debates with the disguised king about the morality of war.
“I am afeard there are few die well that die in a battle.”
Pistol, Nym and Bardolph were companions of Henry’s when he was the young Prince of Wales spending time with Sir John Falstaff. They join the king on his French expedition. A Boy who was a page or servant in Mistress Quickly’s place accompanies them to France.
“The King’s a bawcock and a heart of gold...I kiss his dirty shoe, and from heart-string I love the lovely bully.”
Mistress Quickly is the hostess of a tavern, and Doll Tearsheet lives at the tavern as well. They were both among the young Prince of Wales’ companions, but unlike the men, the women remain in England.
“‘Twas the King that killed his heart.”
The French:
Charles the Sixth, King of France was of the House of Valois, and had been on the French throne for about 35 years at the start of the play’s events. According to historians, he suffered from periodic insanity. Shakespeare never mentions the French King’s madness (although it is in the chronicles he used for his source), possibly because he was an ancestor of Queen Elizabeth’s (her great, great, great grandfather).
“A night is but small breath and little pause to answer matters of this consequence.”
Louis, The Dauphin was the eldest son of Charles VI, and heir to the French throne. In Shakespeare’s play, he sends King Henry a gift of tennis balls, which Henry takes as an insulting reference to his “wilder days”. Louis died in the battle of Agincourt and was succeeded by his brothers, John (who was an avid tennis player and actually died after a particularly strenuous match) and Charles (who is the Dauphin in Shakespeare’s Henry VI). Dauphin is the sovereign title given to the eldest son of the king of France, the French equivalent of the English Prince of Wales. Geographically, the name is derived from an archaic word for a region of France, architecturally, it means gargoyle and zoologically, it means dolphin. In the earliest editions of Shakespeare’s Henry V, Dauphin is actually spelled ‘Dolphin’.
“I will trot tomorrow a mile, and my way shall be paved with English faces.
Katherine of Valois was the daughter of the King of France. She speaks most of her lines in French, as she is just learning to speak English. She was fourteen years old when Henry began his French campaign, and nineteen years old when she married him and became Queen of England. There had been discussions of the marriage early in her life, when Henry IV was still alive, and again after his death when Henry V assumed the throne. However, as part of his proposal, Henry demanded a large dowry and an acknowledgement of his claim as heir to the French crown. Their marriage was finally negotiated as part of the Treaty of Troyes. Less than a year later, Katherine gave birth to a son, Henry. Less than a year after that, she was widowed. Many years later, she secretly married Owen Tudor, a Welsh gentleman of her household. It was their grandson, Henry Tudor, who defeated Richard III at the battle of Bosworth and became Henry VII. So Katherine is Queen Elizabeths great, great grandmother.
“Is it possible dat I should love de enemy of France?
Alice is a lady attending Katherine who has spent time in England and serves as Katherine’s chaperone and English instructor. She also speaks most of her lines in French.
“C’est bien dit, madame; il est fort bon Anglais.”
The Constable was the commander of the French cavalry. This was a very important position in France, where the most important weapons of battle were the heavily armoured, mounted knights, as success often depended upon the condition of the horses. Although the French had had considerable success with this military approach in the past, during the hundred years’ war, it proved ineffective, in fact uniquely vulnerable to the English archers with their long bows.
“The devil take order now! I’ll to the throng. Let life be short, else shame will be too long.”
Charles, Duke of Orleans was the son of a younger brother of Charles VI, so the Dauphin’s cousin. He was one of the leaders of the French army at Agincourt, but according to historians, he was a much better poet and troubadour than he was a general.
“The sun doth gild our armour; up, my lords!”
Rambures was a French lord who was killed at the Battle of Agincourt.
“What a wretched and peevish fellow is this King of England, to mope with his fat-brained followers so far out of his knowledge!”
Mountjoy is the generic title given to messengers. The name was derived from the Latin mons jovis or mound of Jupiter, which referred to a mound serving as a direction post on Roman roads.
“O give us leave, great King, to view the field in safety and dispose of their dead bodies.”
Questions (Before attending a performance):
- Which of the characters seem most interesting to you? Why?
- Which of the quotes listed above express things you have felt?
- What do you predict will happen when these characters encounter one another?
Questions (After attending a performance):
- With which of the characters did you identify most? Why?
- Did the portrayal of any of the characters surprise you? Please discuss.
- Did your response to any of the characters surprise you? Please discuss.
What Happens in King Henry V
In a continuation of the events in Falstaff, the former Prince Hal is now King Henry V. Following his late father’s advice to ‘busy giddy minds with foreign quarrels,’ Henry considers invading France to claim the throne. The clergy encourage him in this endeavor, as they believe he has inherited the right to be King of France through his great-grandmother, Isabelle of Capet (married to England’s Edward II). An insulting gift from the French Dauphin spurs Henry to military action.
As Henry prepares to depart for France, a conspiracy to assassinate him is uncovered and the conspirators are executed for treason. Meanwhile, Henry’s former friends from his Falstaff days - Bardolph, Pistol and Nym - gather at Mistress Quickly’s house as they prepare to join Henry’s army. Mistress Quickly shares the story of Falstaff’s death, and the men and the Boy depart for France.
At the French court, the King of France and his son, the Dauphin, hear of Henry’s claim to the French throne from the Duke of Exeter. In response, the French King sends offer of his daughter, Katherine, in marriage to Henry, as well as ‘some petty and unprofitable dukedoms.’ This offer is not appealing enough to Henry, who invades. In the first battle at Harfleur, Henry inspires his troops and they take control of the French city. When Princess Katherine hears of the English army’s success, she solicits the help of her gentlewoman, Alice, to practice her English. Meanwhile the French King and his noblemen rally the full force of their military powers as they prepare to fight Henry.
As the small English army advances through the French countryside, they become exhausted, weakened and desperate for supplies. As punishment for looting, Henry orders the execution of his old friend Bardolph. The French herald, Montjoy, approaches Henry with the French king’s demand for ransom; namely, a financial settlement in exchange for sparing Henry’s life. Henry rejects this and declares that, although they are ‘much enfeebled,’ his army will turn the ground red with French blood if they are attacked. The herald leaves to report back to the French king while Henry and his army march on.
The French prepare for battle, mocking the English and boasting about how many Englishmen they will kill. Meanwhile, in the English camp, Henry disguises himself as a common soldier to move among the men and hear their conversations. He discovers that they are fearful and doubt the King’s cause. He prays to the ‘god of battles’ to ‘steel’ his soldiers’ hearts. In the morning, Henry overhears his cousin, the Earl of Westmoreland, lamenting the fact that there are so few English soldiers to face so many Frenchmen. As the battle dawns, Henry gives a rousing speech in which he inspires his ‘band of brothers’.
Despite the French advantage, the English win a decisive victory. Henry, with his advisers, then negotiates a peace treaty with the French. His ‘capital demand’ is his marriage to Princess Katherine. In spite of the fact that he speaks very little French and she very little English, Henry woos her successfully. The two kingdoms are thus united.
Questions (Before attending a performance):
- Do you think Henry is justified in his invasion of France?
- When do you think Henry is most appealing? When is he least appealing?
- How are the various French characters portrayed?
- What are the various attitudes towards war that appear in the play?
Questions (After attending a performance):
- What differences did you notice in the portrayal of the English and the French?
- What were the most exciting parts of the performance? What were the most moving parts?
- How did the production convey the various aspects of war? What was your response?
Where it all happens:
The setting for the play and for Bard’s Production
The opening scenes of the play take place in England, first at the court of King Henry V, then at a tavern in London. As Henry prepares to leave for France, a scene takes place at the port of Southampton, before the King and his army set sail. The rest of the play takes place In France, alternating between the French court and the open country where Henry progresses on his military campaign. In addition to the famous battles at Harfleur and Agincourt, we also see his army on the march.
- Why do you think Shakespeare changes the scene so often in the play?
- What happens in the language (the way different characters speak) that helps you know where a scene takes place?
- What happens in the theatre (with the set, lighting and the actors’ work) that tells you where a scene is set?
When it all happened:
When the events of the play took place and how the production represents them
The portion of Henry’s campaign that included the siege at Harfleur and the battle of Agincourt took place in 1415, when Henry was 28 years old. He had been on the English throne at that point for only one year. Although Shakespeare makes it seem as if the French and English concluded a peace treaty immediately afterwards, that is done for dramatic effect. In fact, it took another four years of fighting for Henry’s army to reach Paris. The Treaty of Troyes, which secured Henry’s marriage to Katherine and named him heir to the French throne, was signed in 1420.
Bard’s production is set in the 15th century, however, there are modern resonances in the design concept.
- What aspects of the production seemed medieval to you?
- What aspects of the production seemed modern to you?
- To what extent do you find these elements fit together? Please discuss.
Copyright Mary Hartman and Bard on the Beach, 2010. Individuals are welcome to print this guide for their personal use and teachers are encouraged to make copies for their students. All other rights reserved
