Why does this man look worried?
HENRY V PLOT
The Chorus invokes the "Muse of fire" to help the
play do justice to its subject and to rise above the physical
limitations of
the stage. It then calls upon the
audience to use its imagination to visualize the great scenes suggested
by the
author. Finally, the audience is asked
to judge the play kindly.
ACT 1: Scene 1
The play begins in London, in the palace of Henry V. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop
of Ely discuss a proposed parliamentary bill designed to confiscate
many of the
church's possessions. To prevent this,
the Church has offered the King generous monetary support to wage a war
against
France in order to claim the French throne.
We also learn of the King's wild youth (as Prince Hal), then of
his
transformation, on the death of his father, into a responsible
sovereign. Canterbury has prepared
evidence to show
Henry V that his claim to the French throne is legal.
ACT 1: Scene 2
In another chamber in the palace, Henry V asks Canterbury
to explain truthfully whether his claims to France are just. The Archbishop refutes the French argument
that under the Salique Law Henry V has no claim to the French throne
and,
together with the King's counsellors, urges the King to attack France. Together, they assure him that his nobles and
subjects are eager to serve his cause.
Henry V is concerned however, that the Scots will
invade England whilst he is fighting in France.
Canterbury recommends that Henry V take one quarter of his
forces to
fight in France and leave the remainder at home to defend England. On hearing this, the King decides to attack
France.
Henry V
next receives the French ambassador. The
ambassador delivers a French rejection of
Henry V's claim to several Dukedoms in France.
He also delivers a barrel of tennis balls and a message from the
Dauphin
(the French Prince) in which he insults Henry V. The
King now uses the Dauphin's insult as a
means of shifting the blame for the war onto France.
ACT 2:
PROLOGUE
The Chorus prepares the audience for Act 2 by describing
how the youths of the country are eagerly preparing for war and how the
French,
fearful of what is to come, have bribed three Englishmen to kill Henry
V at
Southampton. It assures the audience
that as they will be transported to France in imagination only, none
shall be
made seasick by the crossing the Channel.
ACT 2: Scene 1
Now in London, we meet Nym, Bardolph and Pistol who are
preparing to go to the war as profiteers.
Bardolph and Pistol were once Prince Hal's drinking companions,
as was
Falstaff, who lies in another room gravely ill. Also in this scene we
meet the
characters of Hostess Quickly and the Boy, a young servant of Falstaff.
ACT 2: Scene 2
In Southampton, while Bedford, Westmoreland and Exeter
wait
for the arrival of the King, it is revealed that he has learnt of the
assassination plot. The King enters,
accompanied by Scroop, Grey, and Cambridge (the conspirators) and
others. Henry V orders Exeter to set free
a man who
has been imprisoned for speaking ill of him while drunk.
The three conspirators comment that the King
is too lenient. Henry V gives his three
friends their commissions. As they read
their documents they realize their treachery has been discovered. In response to their requests for mercy, the
King says they have condemned themselves by their own words and
sentences them
to death. Henry V now prepares his
expedition to leave for France. The
discovery of the plot he sees as a sign of God's favour.
ACT 2: Scene 3
In London, Pistol, Bardolph, Nym and the Boy take their
leave of Hostess Quickly and go off to the war.
Falstaff is dead.
ACT 2: Scene 4
In France, in the French King's palace, the French King
exhorts his Dukes and the Dauphin to fortify towns that may be affected
by the
war. Although agreeing that it is right
to be prepared for war, the Dauphin believes that Henry V is too
foolish to be
a serious threat. Both the King and
Constable disagree, saying Henry V is a strong leader whose lineage
must not be
forgotten.
The Duke of Exeter arrives bearing a message from Henry V
demanding the French crown and a note of contempt for the Dauphin. The Duke says that the demands must be met
quickly as Henry V and his army have already landed in France.
The Chorus urges the audience to imagine the voyage of
Henry V and his army to France and the siege of Harfleur, which
commences
following Exeter's return with the French King's response; a response
which
Henry finds unacceptable.
ACT 3: Scene 1
In this scene Henry V rallies his men as they commence
the
siege of Harfleur. In this famous
soliloquy, Henry inspires his men to be united and to fight
courageously.
ACT 3: Scene 2
The scene opens with Nym, Pistol and Bardolph
(accompanied
by the Boy), who are reluctant to join the fighting.
Bardolph parodies Henry's previous
soliloquy. Fluellen appears and forces
the men to enter the fray.
The Boy, alone, reflects on the three cowardly thieves he
has been journeying with and decides that it is against his nature to
be
involved with such villains. He decides
to leave them and seek better service.
ACT 3: Scene 3
At the gates of Harfleur, Henry V urges the Governor of
the
city to surrender for the sake of the city and its citizens. The Governor surrenders because the Dauphin,
to whom he appealed for help, has not yet arrived to protect them. Henry V entrusts the city to Exeter and
because of the approaching winter and sickness amongst his men, takes
his army
back to Calais.
ACT 3: Scene 4
In a room in the palace at Rouen, Princess Katherine
tells
her maid, Alice, that it is necessary for her to learn to speak English. She then asks Alice, who knows a little
English, to teach her some.
ACT 3: Scene 5
This scene is also in Rouen, in another room in the
palace. The King and his noblemen
discuss Henry V's progress. The King
orders his nobles to fight Henry V, capture him and bring him to Rouen. The Constable comments that because Henry V's
army is so sick and small when Henry V sees the assembled French army
he will
want to offer a ransom. The French King
seizes upon this notion and sends the Herald, Montjoy, to ask Henry V
what he
is willing to offer as ransom.
ACT 3: Scene 6
At the English camp in Picardy, France, Fluellen tells
Gower that they have saved the bridge for which they had been fighting. He praises the Duke of Exeter for his bravery
and leadership and also talks of Pistol's courage in the battle. At this point Pistol enters and asks Fluellen
to intercede with Exeter to save the life of Bardolph who is to be
hanged for
stealing a pax from a French church.
Fluellen says he won't intercede because discipline must
maintained. As he leaves Pistol verbally
abuses Fluellen. At this point Gower warns
Fluellen that
Pistol is a rogue. Fluellen decides to
deal with Pistol at another time.
Henry V arrives with his army. Fluellen
tells him of Exeter's heroism. When Henry
V asks what losses they have
suffered Fluellen tells him of Bardolph's proposed fate.
The King replies that this should indeed
occur as it is necessary to gain the loyalty and respect of the French
people.
The French Herald Montjoy arrives at the English camp
with
a message from the French King demanding Henry V consider a ransom. In response, Henry V rewards the Herald and
instructs him to tell his King that he
intends to proceed to Calais peacefully, but if attacked, he
will fight,
despite his sick and depleted army. When
Montjoy leaves, Gloucester says he hopes that the French do not attack. Henry V responds that they are in the hands
of God, not the French.
ACT 3: Scene 7
In the French camp, the night before the battle, the
Dauphin, Constable and others are in high spirits.
The Dauphin is particularly confident and
boastful. On the Dauphin's departure,
however, the Constable casts some doubt over his bravery.
A messenger brings news that the English camp is
nearby. The Constable and Orleans
discuss the foolhardiness of the English continuing to fight in the
face of
such overwhelming odds. Rambures warns
that the English are courageous and should not be underestimated.
ACT 4: PROLOGUE
The Chorus now describes the scene in
both
camps: the French donning their armour and throwing dice for the
English they
plan to overwhelm; the English soldiers, sitting quietly around their
fires
contemplating their small numbers and the dangers they face; Henry V
moving
amongst his men, inspiring them with his calm courage.
Finally, the Chorus apologises for the
inadequacy of what is about to be presented as the great Battle of
Agincourt.
ACT 4: Scene 1
In the English camp at Agincourt, Henry V moves amongst
his
men in disguise. He meets three
soldiers: Bates, Court and Williams.
After some discussion, Henry V and Williams argue.
Henry V says he has heard that the King will
not allow himself to be ransomed.
Williams responds that it won't matter to his men anyway once
they are
dead. This angers Henry V.
Williams challenges him to a fight should
they both survive the battle and meet again.
The two exchange gloves to wear in their caps so that they will
recognise each other in the future.
On the departure of the soldiers, Henry V muses on the
lot
of a King who is blamed for everything and who must bear the concerns
of state
alone.
Sir Thomas Erpingham enters and tells Henry V that his
nobles seek him. The King asks him to
gather them so that he may address them. When alone again, Henry V
prays to God
that his soldiers be full of courage. He
also asks that God not hold the deeds of his father (with his removal
of
Richard II from the throne and his subsequent murder) against him as he
has
already made many reparations for this and intends to make more in the
future.
ACT 4: Scene 2
The scene takes place in the French camp as the nobles
ready for battle. The Constable and
Grandpré make speeches of encouragement.
The French are still supremely confident.
ACT 4: Scene 3
In the English camp at the battlefield the English nobles
discuss the odds they are facing; five French soldiers for every one
English
soldier.
In a speech of encouragement Henry V says that from this
day on this coming battle will be remembered every St. Crispian's day. Salisbury enters to warn them that the French
are ready to charge. Montjoy again
returns to offer Henry V the opportunity to surrender.
Impatiently,
Henry V responds that they will either defeat the French
troops or die, but there shall be no ransom.
As Montjoy exits the Duke of York asks the King for the
privilege of
leading the vanguard. They leave for the
battle.
ACT 4: Scene 4
On the battlefield Pistol captures a French soldier who
offers Pistol two hundred crowns for his freedom. As
the two leave the Boy ponders on the empty
bravery of Pistol, he also reveals that only the boys are guarding the
camp and
its equipment.
ACT 4: Scene 5
On another part of the battlefield the Dauphin,
Constable,
Orleans, Bourbon and Rambures realise that they are being defeated, for
though
they have the greater numbers, there is great confusion amongst their
troops. They then return to the battle
as it is better to die fighting than live in shame.
ACT 4: Scene 6
On yet another part of the battlefield Henry V praises
his
men as they appear to be winning. He
learns of the deaths of York and Suffolk.
An alarm sounds, Henry V realises that the French are regrouping
and
orders his men to kill the prisoners.
ACT 4: Scene 7
Also on the battlefield we learn from Fluellen and Gower
that, although it is against accepted practice of war, the French have
killed
all the boys. Montjoy enters
to say
that the French are defeated and they wish to list and bury their dead. Henry V declares that this battle be known as
the Battle of Agincourt.
Williams enters, the King sees the glove in his cap. Williams explains that he is to fight the man
who wears the other glove. When Williams
leaves Henry V gives the glove he possesses to Fluellen.
He tells Fluellen that if any man should
challenge him for wearing it, then that man is a traitor and should be
arrested. Henry V then sends Warwick and
Gloucester to follow Fluellen to see that no harm comes to either man
when they
meet.
ACT 4: Scene 8
On another part of the battlefield, Williams and Fluellen
meet. Williams strikes Fluellen, who
accuses him of treason. Warwick and
Gloucester stop the fight. Henry V
enters and reveals that it was he who had quarrelled with Williams. Williams stoutly defends his actions saying
that because the King was in disguise it was his fault that he was
spoken to in
such a manner. The King rewards Williams
for his honesty and courage by filling his glove with coins.
The English Herald returns with news of the numbers of
dead. Ten thousand Frenchmen have died,
while the English have lost only twenty nine.
Henry V says that the credit for this victory belongs to God and
orders
that a mass be given for the dead.
ACT
5: PROLOGUE
The Chorus asks the audience to use its imagination to
picture Henry V's departure from Calais and triumphant return to London
where
he disclaims the honours being accorded him, saying instead that they
belong to
God. It then informs the audience that
Henry V has now returned to France so that a peace treaty can be
finalised.
ACT 5: Scene 1
This scene is set in the English camp, in France. Fluellen is wearing a leek in his cap
although it is not St. David's day.
Fluellen explains to Gower that he is going to teach Pistol a
lesson
because Pistol has mocked this tradition in the past.
As Pistol enters Fluellen berates him and
beats him until he eats the leek. After
Fluellen and Gower leave, Pistol decides that he will return to England
and be
a thief.
ACT 5: Scene 2
In an apartment in the French King's palace, the Kings of
England and France and their courts meet to discuss the peace
settlement. Henry V maintains that peace
will be possible
if all his demands are met. He appoints
Exeter, Gloucester, Clarence, Warwick and Huntingdon to negotiate with
the
French. They withdraw to do this.
Henry V and Princess Katherine remain on stage. The King proceeds to court Katherine: he
tells her that he is a soldier, not an eloquent man; that he loves her
and
wants her to rule both countries with him; and that together they will
have a
son. Katherine responds that if her
father agrees to the marriage then, she will be content to marry Henry
V.
The negotiators return.
Henry V is informed that all of his terms for peace have been
met, in
particular his marriage to Katherine and the recognition of him as heir
to the
French throne. As a sign of his
agreement to the treaty Henry V kisses Katherine before all and
preparations
begin for their wedding.
ACT 5: Epilogue
The Chorus addresses the audience for the final
time, once again asking that the playwright's attempts to deal
with
these great events be accepted. It then
informs the audience that Henry V and Katherine did have a son who
lived to
rule both England and France. However,
because so many interfered with his rule, France was lost to England
and
England itself was plunged into the Wars of the Roses.
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