Author Archives: urszula.glowacka

The Chorus apologize the audience because of the limitations of the stage what makes it difficult to present the events as they really are. It encourages the viewer to imagine the reality and see things that are only mentioned by name. It makes me think how often in real life we skew the facts to work according to our needs or to excuse certain decisions we make.

King Henry a noble man is expected to be a soldier. He knows that English man do not accept his rights to the throne and one of the best ways to keep the people on his side is to go to war and gain the recognition and power. Henry spent his young years in the tavern befriending lowlifes and drunks. When he became King he changed his life style as well as priorities and abandoned his old friends. He presents himself as a responsible, good king, who thinks carefully weather to invade France. Because of his background Henry understands the people and recognizes the devastation of the war to the country and the citizens. I think that despite of his dilemma Henry wants to invade. He knows the benefits that the successful war can bring for him, at the same time he is reluctant to take the responsibility for his decisions. In act I scene I and II we see that Henry welcomes all the arguments that encourage him to proceed with the war. The King asks the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely for the honest and truthful advice concerning his rights to the French throne. The conversation between the Ely and Canterbury in Act I, scene I reveal what is going on behind the scenes. The clergy is corrupt and has little regard for the good of the country. Canterbury and Ely manipulate the King in order to keep their wealth. The advisors with sole intent of guarding their own interests recommend the King to go to war. Once the King gets blessing from the clergy, he passes the responsibility of his decision onto the Church. In act I scene II Henry gets insulted by the French ambassador and he once again finds the reason to excuse his actions.

Just as the audience cannot see the events as they are because of the limited capabilities of the scene, the same way Henry cannot see true motives of his advisors because he follows his own interest. However, Henry recognizes that it is wrong that’s why he delegates the responsibility to others. He thinks that he has the support and dedication of all English man but in fact everybody follows they own needs clergy want to prevent the passing of the bill that will lead to confiscate of its land. Cambridge, Scrope, and Grey conspire against Henry in order to get money from the French, even Pistol, Bardolph, Nim are going to war to steal and rob. The reality is far from what chorus is promoting and what King bases his decision on.