Posted on

Rape and Romance

In Act Three, Scene Three of Henry the Fifth, Henry threatens Harfleur with the rape of their virgins:

And the fleshed soldier, rough and hard of heart,
In liberty of bloody hand shall range
With conscience wide as hell, mowing like grass
Your fresh-fair virgins and your flowering infants.
...
What is't to me, when you yourselves are cause,
If your pure maidens fall into the hand
Of hot and forcing violation?
...
If not, why, in a moment look to see
The blind and bloody soldier with foul hand
Defile the locks of your shrill-shrieking daughters;

— III.iii.11-14, 19-21, 33-35

Continue reading “Rape and Romance”

Posted on

Say Goodbye to the Tavern Life

Yesterday, we talked some about the boy in Henry the Fifth being, for Hal, the last link to the tavern-life. Just to be clear:

  • Falstaff dies, of a “heart…fracted and corroborate” (II.ii.119)
  • Bardolph is hanged “for robbing a church” (III.vi.98)
  • Nym, too, has been “hanged” (IV.iv.72)
  • The boy is killed (IV.vii.1) by the French
  • Word from England comes that Pistol’s “Doll” (V.i.77) is dead of venereal disease (“malady of France” [V.i.78])

Continue reading “Say Goodbye to the Tavern Life”

Posted on

Hal, the Boy

King Henry the Fifth “was not angry since (he) came to France // Until th(e) instant” (IV.vii.54-55) he discovers that the boy has been killed by the French. The king’s been insulted, has faced military losses, and has had to allow a childhood friend to be hanged, but only NOW is he angry. Why? What is it in the character of the boy that elicits such a response?
Continue reading “Hal, the Boy”

Posted on

Podcast 71: Henry the Fifth: DVDs

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This week’s podcast continues our month-long discussion of Henry the Fifth with a synyopsis of the final two acts of the play. Then, we’ll finish up with our usual recap of this week’s blog entries.

The War of the Roses available at the Bill/Shakespeare Project YouTube page .
Continue reading “Podcast 71: Henry the Fifth: DVDs”

Posted on

Henry’s Greatest Hits: St. Crispin’s Day

What's he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin:
If we are marked to die, we are enough
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honor.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires:
But if it be a sin to covet honor,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England:
Continue reading "Henry’s Greatest Hits: St. Crispin’s Day"

Posted on

Henry’s Greatest Hits: The Siege of Harfleur

How yet resolves the governor of the town?
This is the latest parle we will admit;
Therefore to our best mercy give yourselves;
Or like to men proud of destruction
Defy us to our worst: for, as I am a soldier,
Continue reading "Henry’s Greatest Hits: The Siege of Harfleur"

Posted on

Henry’s Greatest Hits: Once More

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility:
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Continue reading "Henry’s Greatest Hits: Once More"

Posted on

Podcast 70: Henry the Fifth: Plot, Conclusion

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

This week’s podcast continues our month-long discussion of Henry the Fifth with a synopsis of the final two acts of the play. Then, we’ll finish up with our usual recap of this week’s blog entries.
Continue reading “Podcast 70: Henry the Fifth: Plot, Conclusion”