Monday, November 3, 2014

How does kingship in Shakespeare's Henry V contribute to national pride?

In Henry IV, part 2, the dying king
advises Prince Hal that the best way to avoid internal conflicts is to focus the country
on foreigners.


At the beginning of Henry
V
, the Archbishop of Canterbury tells the new king  that under Salic Law, he
has a legitimate claim to the French throne.  This is the perfect opportunity to
accomplish two things.


First, he can appeal to his
country's patriotism.  France has been a thorn in England's side for many
years.


Secondly, if he is successful, he will be king of
not just England but also France.  As a member of the Plantagenet family, he has vast
holding in France.


What happened was he became a warrior
king and became a great hero after his huge victory at
Agincourt.


During World War II, Sir Laurence Olivier
produced his famous production of the movie Henry V with a strong
emphasis on patriotism.

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