Adam Walkner
Jacqui Cain, MA
English 1B
9 May 2016
Henry V In Henry V, one of Shakespeare’s many famous plays, he follows the recently crowned Prince Hal and his endeavor of going to war with France. Henry makes a sudden transition from a common bar drunkard to a notably prosperous king. Henry, in his youth, would spend much of his time, in the bars, with the common man. “Prince Hal is a perplexing character: during his short life, we witness a cynical teenager with a fondness for hard-drinking, low company, and delinquent amusements become a spectacularly successful king and conquerer,” asserts Tim Spiekerman in “The making of A Politician: Shakespeare's Prince Hal at Work and Play.” Once Henry’s father had died, he began cleaning up …show more content…
In “Imperatives of Leadership: Henry at Agincourt,” the author, Charles W. Callahan, names off the many of the possible reasons for Henry’s soldiers willingness to fight. One possibility could have been, simply, that Henry V was a well-liked and respected leader. “Kinship is the first of the imperatives essential to effect leadership,” states Callahan. This feeling of “kinship” probably did contribute to Henry's success as a leader, but there was likely more at play than just Henry being liked in the motivation of his subjects. It could have been that, at the time, it was thought to be honorable and a man’s duty to fight for their country and one who didn't fulfill this duty would risk being considered a coward. “Every successful leader must be able to convey what he expects of his soldiers,” states Callahan. Another possibility is that it was the nature of the English monarchy that drove the lower classes to be willing to fight. Subjects who refused to participate in the war were more than likely faced with some form of extreme punishment whether it be imprisonment or even death. “Henry's soldiers undoubtedly knew they might be beaten or executed if they deserted,” Callahan asserts. Disobeying the direct orders of the King would result in brutal punishment. One of Henry’s old friends, Bardolph, from his past drinking days, was sentenced to death after being caught stealing from a church during an invasion of a French village. Henry had no choice but to continue enforcing the law that had killed his old friend because now that he was king he had greater responsibility then looking after one man. He could not risk losing the respect of his soldiers by picking favorites. He had to keep in mind the well-being of all of his subjects. The day before the most significant battle, known as the Battle of Agincourt, Henry goes to where his men