HENRY V SYNOPSIS
The Play
HENRY V opens with something rare in Shakespeare: a Chorus, who asks the audience to suspend their disbelief and imagine that the theater—“this wooden O”—represents a court, a kingdom, a massive battlefield.
From there, the play dives into a complex legal debate: does King Henry V of England have a legitimate claim to the French throne? The French adhere to Salic Law, which prohibits women from inheriting the crown. But in England, women may inherit—and the young King Harry can trace a claim to France through a maternal line. As Henry weighs his options, an ambassador enters with an offensive gift from the Dauphin, or crown prince, of France: tennis balls, an insult that recallsHenry’s prodigal youth. Enraged at this mockery, Henryresolves to invade France and destroy anyone who stands in his way.
The people of the kingdom excitedly prepare for war – Henry has a great talent for connecting with diverse communities and inspires men from all corners to join his cause. But just before his army launches for France, Henry discovers that three nobles have betrayed him. He toys with them, testing their compassion and deception, before ordering their executions for treason.
Soon after, Henry’s army arrives in France and launches a brutal attack on Harfleur, sending wave after wave of men “once more unto the breach.” The English win the day and take the city. Meanwhile, at the French court, the princess Katherine is intrigued by tales of Henry’s valor, and asks her attendant Alice for an English lesson. The result is a bawdy mess of language. Separately, the French nobles dismiss the English threat. They expect to win easily – not least becauseHenry’s troops are hungry and sick after so long on the march.
At the English camp, night falls. The troops huddle around their fires and debate whether the war they are waging is just. Henry disguises himself a commoner and joins the discussion.
The next morning is an English holiday, St. Crispin’s Day, and the Battle of Agincourt looms ahead. The odds are terrible: the English are outnumbered five toone. Even so, King Henry manages to rouse his troops by appealing to their common cause as a “band of brothers.” The battle is a bloody one: the French massacre all of the English boy pages, and Henry has all of the French prisoners killed. But at last England wins the day in glorious fashion: 10,000 French perish, but England loses only 29 men.
Charles cedes the throne, and Henry heads to the French court to take the crown and marry Princess Katherine, though they don’t even speak the same language. The Chorus enters to offer a less-than-happy epilogue, reminding the audience that Henry will die young and England will lose its French territories under his successor, King Henry VI.
The Major Characters
KING HENRY V: Once a rebelliouswastrel, now King of England and claimant to the French throne; known affectionately as Harry
CHORUS: The play’s narrator, who sets the scene at the top of each act and asks the audience to suspend disbelief
SCROPE, CAMBRIDGE, and GREY: Three powerful lords who conspire against King Henry and are executed as traitors
KATHERINE: Princess of France who learns English (poorly) from her attendant Alice; eventually betrothed to Henry
ALICE: A French gentlewoman and attendant to Katherine; teaches the princess English
THE DAUPHIN: King Charles VI’s son and heir to the throne of France until Henry’s conquest
KING CHARLES VI and QUEEN ISABEL: King and Queen of France
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