The political situation in 15th
century England is tense. King Henry IV has died. His son, young Henry V has
ascended the throne. The scars of civil wars that the country has suffered are
there to be seen. People are still leading a restless and dissatisfied life.
Nor could the newly crowned
King Henry V offer instantaneous solace to the citizens. Of course, people are
slowly realizing that he is no longer Prince Hal: he has shunned his wild adolescent
past—living with thieves and drunkards of the Tavern on the seedy side of
London—and has become a sober-minded willing listener of advice with a strong
will of his own. He, people feel, has at once become a King with high concern
for his country’s welfare and honor.
To overcome the constraints and
to show his royal mettle, Henry V, tracing his relation to the French royal
family and using a technical interpretation of certain ancient land laws, lays
claim to certain parts of France. But the young Prince of France repudiates his
claim by sending an insulting message. This, obviously, makes Henry decide to
invade France. Supported by clergy and the nobles, Henry mobilizes troops for
war.
The mobilization of troops for
invading France, however, affects the common people. Many from the Tavern side,
with whom Henry spent his time as young Prince but disowned them after becoming
the King—such as Bardolph, Pistol, and Nym, the common lowlifes and part-time
criminals—join the troops. As they are getting ready for the war, the news of
the death of an elderly knight, Falstaff, the former closest friend of King
Henry, makes everyone unhappy.
As Henry is all set to sail to
France, he comes to know of a conspiracy to kill him. The trio involved in the
conspiracy at the behest of the French plead for mercy. Ignoring their plea and
ordering their execution, Henry sails out for France.
Against many odds, his troops
fight their way through France. The English troops, being motivated by the
inspiring speech of Henry, conquer the town of Harfleur. As his troops, who
included men from all parts of Britain, march forward winning one battle after
another, Henry, learning that Nim and Bardolph have been looting the locals,
orders their execution. Such is his commitment for forthrightness even in
attacking the French.
The war comes to a climax at
Agincourt. Here, the English troops are outnumbered by the French by five to
one. The night before the final battle, Henry, disguising himself as an
ordinary soldier, moves around his camp, meeting soldiers to learn how they
perceive the day’s battle, level of their spirit and their expectations about
the outcome. At the end of his rounds, sitting alone in the dark, Henry
soliloquizes: “What watch the King keeps to maintain the peace, Whose hours the
peasant best advantages.”
As the day dawns, he prays to God; and before
setting out to attack, he gives one of the most powerful and inspiring speeches
ever to be given by a leader— We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. / For
he today that sheds his blood with me / Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so
vile, / This day shall gentle his condition. / And gentlemen in England now
abed / Shall think themselves accurst they were not here, / And hold their
manhoods cheap whiles any speaks / That fought with us.”—to his battle-set
troops, and leads them from upfront. Miraculously, they win the battle. The
proud French ultimately surrender to the English.
Finally, the peace negotiations
result in: Henry will marry Catherine, the daughter of the French King and
Henry’s son will be the King of France.
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