Henry V Romanticism

Gazing afar the galaxy of poets, none shines as brightly as William Shakespeare. Indeed, his ingenious depiction of characters, uncanny medley of vocabulary, and use of rhetorical devices is unprecedented-to a degree that many scholars referred him as the creator of western literature. Yet, his greatness lies beyond his literary prowess. He founded, more than two hundred years ahead of any other counter-enlightenment authors, romanticism. Intermixed with the script, the elements of romanticism - individualism, and emphasis on imagination and emotion - can be perceived throughout his plays, though, despite of having contradictions, most distinctly, in Henry V.

  A romantic play requires an ideal individual as the protagonist. King Henry V, in Shakespeare’s portrayal, has every necessities of being one -responsible for the well-being and strength of his entire nation, brave, prudent, charismatic and has the ability to subdue personal emotions and feelings. His virtues were initially manifested by the contrast between his wasteful youth, and then by the discreet and astute ways he handled affairs. Nevertheless, the ultimate and essential “quest” for Henry V that truly authenticates his heroism was the battle of Agincourt. Before the battle, he walked around the camp to see just how desperate and apprehensive his subjects are - encouraging them, and manifesting once again his charisma and fellowship. He had been, on a number of occasions, offered a ransom – he many live, though his companions have to die. It would have been easy for him to agree, for the odds were greatly against him, though he utterly rejected the offers, once again showing his courage. Despite being outnumbered five to one, leading a cadaverous army, Henry V miraculously defeated the French, proving his worthiness.

  Romanticism promotes the importance of the intangible and often spiritual, though crucial elements such as emotions. You can easily feel the strong passion contained in the lines- love, hate, horror, fear, and nothing manifested it better than the success of the battle of Agincourt. Although battle strategies rationalized, partly, Henry V’s success of the battle, the play suggested that the success was predominantly caused by emotions- desperateness of the English, contempt and pretension of the French. Desperateness had evidently sparked the English men’s will to survive, therefore becoming braver, while pretension and contempt blinded the French men as they charged heedlessly toward the English’s flank, which ultimately resulted in the utter defeat of the French. Without the elements of emotion, it would be very hard to justify Henry’s success.    

  There are, however Romanticized Henry V is, some elements of the play that contradicts the spirit of Romanticism. William Shakespeare believed in exuberant use of language, though the Romantics promoted concise phrases. Before the battle, King Henry V with his rhetorical skills encouraged his subjects by saying that only honor, respect, and positive memories would come out of a battle, which was widely believed by the Romantics, though neglecting the fact that the only outcomes of wars are horror, pain, and death, regardless of whether you are the victor or the vanquished. The battle of Agincourt itself was a mock of Romanticism. With an idyllic field turned into a death pit, the battle showed that the reality of a war is much more daunting than the imagined one. Unlike many Romantics, William Shakespeare’s view of the ideal individual, Henry V, complicates the conventional distinctions between heroism and villainy. In spite of Henry V’s virtues, he is, at the same time, a flawed figure. His ruthlessness accompanies his virtues, sometimes even overshadows them.  For instance, in order to strengthen the stability of his throne, Henry betrays friends such as Falstaff, and he puts other friends to death in order to uphold the law - something that seem unethical to most people. In fact, Henry V’s ruthlessness to the evil is contrary to what Romantics believe: only Christ-like forgiveness and love can annihilate evil.

  There have been many discussions about Henry V. It is, indeed a very intricate play. It contains elements that are much Romanticized and elements that are not. Regardless of the style, Henry V is essentially one of William Shakespeare’s most accomplished plays – one that its fame may outlast time.