Henry V King Fr Analysis

Since the late 1500’s, Shakespearean plays have been analyzing historical figures. Plays such as King Henry V and The First Part of King Henry IV examine Henry (Hal), a reckless prince that grows to become a respected King. Based on medieval beliefs, the King was known to have two bodies. In fact, in both plays Hal deals with the contradictory demands of his double body; the body natural and body politic. As a result of exploring the different aspects of Hal, an understanding of the important attributes of a King begins to develop. Throughout Shakespeare’s famous plays King Henry V and The First Part of King Henry IV, Hal’s actions reveal the crucial components an ideal King possesses through aspects of the body natural and body political.
The body natural is defined as inhabiting one’s own body; the physical body. Throughout Henry V and The
On numerous occasions, Hal includes himself in robberies as a way of pranking Falstaff: “I have a jest to execute…Falstaff, Peto, Bardolph, and Gadshill shall rob those men that we have already waylaid… And when they have the booty, if you and I do not rob them – cut this head off from my shoulders” (Henry IV 1.2.129-134). Participating in robberies is engaging to Hal, especially when it involves a satisfying trick on Falstaff. Barring the fact that Hal enjoys robbing, he also finds alcohol to be a significant component of his body natural. The majority of Hal’s consumption is executed at the tavern in Eastcheap with the commoners. By drinking with them, Hal hopes that they will be on his side when he becomes King: “With three or four loggerheads amongst three or fourscore hogsheads. I have sounded the very bass string of humility. Sirrah, I am sworn brother to a leash of drawers, and can call them all by their christen names, as Tom, Dick, and Francis… when I am King of England, I shall command all the good lads in Eastcheap” (Henry IV