Essay On Henry Iv

One of Shakespeare’s most acclaimed playwriting techniques is the play within a play that we constantly see in plays like Hamlet and A Midsummer night’s dream. Laurence Olivier pays homage to this technique in his 1944’s Henry V by opening the film as if the audience is in the Globe watching a performance dated to the 1600’s. We submerge into this magical realism, guided by the chorus, by stepping into the backdrop painting on the stage and getting transported into Southampton, act II scene II, and into a traditional film experience. This unique technique is simply flawless and well-ahead of its times. Olivier knew how to perfectly execute the play within the play to an extent that makes us forget how small the set actually is, or the lack of budget for anything else but said set and costumes, and we are truly inside a magical realm where there are no boundaries to imagine whatever we want. Olivier reminds us how magical film can truly be.

The play narrates the story of young Henry V, who has just taken over his dead father, Henry IV, throne and has to deal with a torn nation that is in discontent because of recent civil wars and, also, that doesn’t trust him as a king because of his wild past. In a political movement trying to distract the country Henry V proclaims that he is the rightful heir to the throne of France, but the Dolphin of France insults him in response to those claims and Henry V declares war on France. The English make their way across France winning every battle and Henry’s powerful words inspire his troops to keep fighting. The tables completely turn at the battle of Agincourt where, against all odds and with his army being outnumbered one to five, Henry V defeats the French army and these don’t have any option but to surrender. In the end, Henry marries Catherine, the princess of France, and successfully unites the countries in