Henry V

Henry V.

In Henry V, Shakespeare paints a bold and brilliant picture of the English victories in France during Henry's reign. Although Shakespeare's play is grounded in the history of the early fifteenth century, Shakespeare creates in this play a patriotic and more or less idealistic view of the period that has come to represent many modern ideas of Henry's reign.

Attempting to determine the context that led to the play's creation can help one to understand Shakespeare's liberal use of the past, but at the same time the play itself represents an important version of the events surrounding the battle of Agincourt in 1415. On one level it is one of Shakespeare's most triumphant and patriotic plays; on another level it questions the nature of war and the value of unquestioning obedience.

Issues explored in the following pages include:

• The "second tetralogy"
• The hundred years' war
• Victory in France
• More than just history
• Shakespeare's perfect monarch?

See also:

• A modern text of Henry the Fifth.
• Old-spelling texts of Folio 1 and Quarto 1.
• A list of book facsimiles that contain Henry the Fifth.
• The essential facts about the play.*