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Henry V Play Analysis

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Written from 1595 to 1599 Shakespeare not only puts an end to his second Lancaster-Tetralogy but also to his histories around English monarchs1 with his play 'Henry V '. While the first Lancaster-Tetralogy focuses on 'Henry VI Part 1-3 ' and 'Richard III ', displaying the conflict between the houses of York and Lancaster in the Wars of the Roses, the second one takes place before those events, reaching from 'Richard II ' and 'Henry IV Part 1 and 2 ' to 'Henry V ', which ends hinting to the first Lancaster-Tetralogy. In 'Richard II ', which is taking place around the year 1389, we follow the “fall from power of the last king of the house Plantagenet, Richard II, and his replacement by the first Lancaster king, Henry IV”2. While Richard …show more content…

Other than Richard II, Henry IV Part 1 shows two main plots that come together at the end of the play. On the one hand the play focuses on Henry 's son, Prince Harry, and “their strained relationship”8, on the other hand it deals with the rebellion against King Henry by another part of the family, the Percys, because he owes a debt to them. At the beginning of the play, King Henry 's plans for a crusade are interrupted by the news that his army has been defeated in the South by the Welsh rebel Glyndwr9. Besides that Harry Percy, named Hotspur, refuses to send the captured soldiers back to the king. He is ordered to the royal court, needing to explain his actions to Henry IV. At the same time, Prince Harry amuses himself in a tavern, joined by several criminals, and shows “a manner unbefitting royalty”10, making him a disappointment to his own father. One of Harry 's best friends is Falstaff, someone who makes a living out of stealing and lying, yet the young prince likes his presence though he often fools around with him, for example in a fake robbery which is only thought to be a joke on …show more content…

At the same time, old Falstaff and his friends have managed to become wealthy and powerful, lying about their deeds in the battle where they had actually been acting cowardly instead of fighting bravely. Falstaff, who is now an army captain, however decides to “recruit young men to serve in the upcoming battles”15. Still, Harry has decided to spend less time with his old friends in the taverns of

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