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Henry V Term Paper

¶ … Henry V, by William Shakespeare [...] how Shakespeare depicts the various nationalities of the play that appear as either enemies or allies to the English cause. Henry himself was Welsh, but what qualities or characteristics constitute the ideal "Englishman?" Is there such a thing? If so, where do the play's cast of "others" fit in? HENRY V

According to Shakespeare's "Henry V," many believe the "ideal Englishman" is brave, bold, and convinced of his own righteousness, and this could certainly describe King Henry as he leads his men off to battle. The perfect Englishman may not enjoy the fight, but he will not turn away from it if necessary. "The sum of all our answer is but this: / We would not seek a battle, as we are; / Nor, as we are, we say we will not shun it" (Shakespeare III vi). Hopefully, this "ideal Englishman" is the king, who embodies all that is English, and all that monarchy stands for. A "monarch" is supreme, and so, the man who rules England should also be supreme - someone other Englishmen can look up...

Is Henry the "ideal" Englishman? At the beginning of the play, when he is manipulated into war by the Archbishop of Canterbury, he is certainly not ideal, and perhaps this is Shakespeare's way of noting Henry is Welsh, and so has some catching up to do to become the ideal of his people.
In fact, at the end of the play, the soldiers make fun of Fluellen, who is Welsh, and does not speak the "King's" English. "I have seen you gleeking and galling at this gentleman twice or thrice. You thought, / because he could not speak English in the native garb, he could / not therefore handle an English cudgel. You find it otherwise; / and henceforth let a Welsh correction teach you a good English / condition. Fare ye well" (Shakespeare V i). Shakespeare portrays Fluellen as a kind of country bumpkin, walking around with a leek in his hat to celebrate a holiday, and so he is ostracized by the…

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Shakespeare, William. "Henry V." University of Oregon. 29 Nov. 2000. 1 March 2003. http://www.uoregon.edu/~rbear/shake/hv.html
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