Shakespeare’s play Essay

Explore the dramatic techniques used by Henry V to inspire his men before the battle of Agincourt. William Shakespeare’s play â€Å"Henry V† is set in 1415, when Henry becomes King Henry V of England. As a young man Henry enjoyed drinking and the company of women. When he became King Henry changed, he wanted to be taken seriously and to be treated like an adult, so he gave up drinking. Henry was angry and insulted by a birthday present of a box of tennis balls from the King of France, Henry thought the King of France was suggesting that he was still a boy and not a man capable of ruling England. To prove he was a man Henry ordered the invasion of France. Henry’s first battle was the Siege of Horfieur Henry V where he inspired his troops with a speech before leading them into battle. Henry said they had to behave like tigers and show no fear only strength. The next battle was the Battle of Agincourt, Henry’s troops were exhausted after their last battle and were out numbered five to one. But Henry tries to inspire them again for the last time he starts off talking dramatically about death, â€Å"if we are marked to die, we are enough to do our country loss. † I think he is saying that if the English are meant to lose the battle then it is better that they die, than thousands more if they wait for help. Then he goes on to say, â€Å"if to live, the fewer men, the greater the share of honour† if they fight there is a chance that only a few will survive and these few men will have gained honour. After this he stops talking about death and attempts to be more positive and tries to get his troops off the subject of death and to think about the honour that will achieve. Henry attempts to make them closer and tries to unite them as a family, by saying, â€Å"I who doth feed upon my cost† and â€Å"It yearns me not if mean my garments wear† which means that he does not mind paying for them all to eat and he also is not bothered if they wear his clothes. Henry also made it clear that any one who did not want to fight that was free to leave, when he said, â€Å"That he which hath no stomach to this fight let him depart. His passport shall be made and crowns for the convoy put into his purse†. I think that by saying this Henry means that any one of his troops is free to go, he will even give them money to get home, but if any choose this option then they would be giving up their chance for honour. And people would remember them as men who were not manly enough to go into battle. Henry continues his speech by reminding his troops that, â€Å"This day is called the Feast of Crispian†, this is a Saint’s day that the English would have celebrated with a feast. Henry says that â€Å"He that outlives this day and comes safe home. Will stand a-tiptoe when this day is named, And rouse him at the name of Crispian† he is telling his troops that when the celebrate the Feast of Crispian they will always remember the battle and remind themselves by showing their old scars to neighbours and friends because men that were not in the battle would not remember it but those that took part would always remember it, â€Å"Then will he strip his sleeve and show his cars, And say â€Å"These wounds I had on Crispin’s day†. Old men forget, yet all shall be forgot. But he’ll remember, with advantages†. Henry mentions some of his troops by name â€Å"Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester†, then offers a toast to them, â€Å"Be in their flowing cups freshly remembered†. By using their names I feel Henry makes it seem like the speech is directed to the troops individually and personally this makes them feel special and inspired them to fight harder for Henry. Again Henry uses this technique to make his troops feel that they are part of his family that he is one of them by saying, â€Å"But we in it shall be remembered. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers†. Henry goes on to say, â€Å"For he today that shed his blood with me. Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile†, by saying this Henry was ensuring that any of his troops who were injured in the battle would be inspired to keep fighting because Henry would regard them as his brother. Henry ends his speech by saying, â€Å"And gentlemen in England, now abed, shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks†, by say this he is inspiring his troops that they are more manly and should feel honoured to be fighting today as any man in England that had missed the battle and stayed at home would feel ashamed when they heard of the great victory and therefore feel less manly. The battle of Agincourt was a great victory for the Henry’s tired English troops, they overcame great odds to win. I feel that Henry used this dramatic speech in the play to motivate and inspire the English troops on to victory against the French by lifting their spirits, promising them great honour, also by making them feel part of his family, almost like brothers fighting side by side and by promising them a battle they would never forget.