Comparison of Henry V's Two Speeches
Henry V’s Transformation
Henry V’s Transformation
Shakespeare’s King Henry V is a man who is extraordinarily gifted in the area of speech. With his use of words, he can inspire his soldiers, persuade anyone, and frighten his enemies. In Shakespeare’s Henry V, there are specifically two speeches that are most well known even to this day, the speech before Harfleur and his St. Crispin’s Day speech. In both speeches, Henry’s goal is to inspire his soldiers to do their best in the upcoming battle. However, Henry uses different tactics in the two speeches, showing a difference in character. With a close comparison with the two speeches, one can see that he keeps his semi indifference with status gaps with an added confident side; he changes from displaying a violent ruthless side to him to a calmer and civilized side of him; and he transforms from someone who worries living up to the past to someone who focuses on the outcome of the future.
In both speeches, Henry searches for his soldiers’ loyalty and devotion. In his Harfleur speech, he creates an egalitarian aura throughout his speech. He starts off by addressing the soldiers as “dear friends” (III. i. 1), allowing the soldiers to feel as if the king views them as equals. Later on in the speech, Henry elevates the stature and status of the soldiers by saying “ Let us swear/ That you are worth your breeding, which I doubt not,/ For there is none of you so mean and base/ That hath not noble luster in your eyes./” (III. i. 27-30). This is uncommon in those times; for a king to put himself the same level as common folk and calling them dear friends. Though he has severed all ties with his old friends, Henry still displays the indifference he has with spending time with common folk. Of course, he uses this to his advantage to earn the loyalty of his people.
In the case of his St. Crispin’s Day speech, Henry adds another device to earn his soldiers’ loyalty. Yes, he does keep his semi indifference with social
Henry V’s Transformation
Shakespeare’s King Henry V is a man who is extraordinarily gifted in the area of speech. With his use of words, he can inspire his soldiers, persuade anyone, and frighten his enemies. In Shakespeare’s Henry V, there are specifically two speeches that are most well known even to this day, the speech before Harfleur and his St. Crispin’s Day speech. In both speeches, Henry’s goal is to inspire his soldiers to do their best in the upcoming battle. However, Henry uses different tactics in the two speeches, showing a difference in character. With a close comparison with the two speeches, one can see that he keeps his semi indifference with status gaps with an added confident side; he changes from displaying a violent ruthless side to him to a calmer and civilized side of him; and he transforms from someone who worries living up to the past to someone who focuses on the outcome of the future.
In both speeches, Henry searches for his soldiers’ loyalty and devotion. In his Harfleur speech, he creates an egalitarian aura throughout his speech. He starts off by addressing the soldiers as “dear friends” (III. i. 1), allowing the soldiers to feel as if the king views them as equals. Later on in the speech, Henry elevates the stature and status of the soldiers by saying “ Let us swear/ That you are worth your breeding, which I doubt not,/ For there is none of you so mean and base/ That hath not noble luster in your eyes./” (III. i. 27-30). This is uncommon in those times; for a king to put himself the same level as common folk and calling them dear friends. Though he has severed all ties with his old friends, Henry still displays the indifference he has with spending time with common folk. Of course, he uses this to his advantage to earn the loyalty of his people.
In the case of his St. Crispin’s Day speech, Henry adds another device to earn his soldiers’ loyalty. Yes, he does keep his semi indifference with social
Cited: Shakespeare, William. “Henry V”. William Shakespeare: The Complete Works. Ed. Stanley Wells et al. New York: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print.