The qualities I believe a leader should possess are the ability to keep control but be firm and forceful against the people causing trouble for them and their country. Good manners are also important as with anyone, regardless of whether a leader or not. They should also believe in equality and be able to make decisions that will benefit their country, and not be over serious and maintain a good sense of humour.
In Henry V, Shakespeare paints Henry to be a charismatic leader whom motivates his troops into battle. Section 8. In this section, Henry is preparing to go to battle. He is making the famous St. Crispian’s day speech. The section begins with Westmoreland somewhat doubting if they can win the battle with only 10,000 men, as said in this line: ‘But one ten thousand of those men in England That do no work to-day! ’. However, Henry responds with: No my fair cousin; If we are mark’d to die, we are enow’ /‘The fewer men, the greater share of honour. ’ Henry is saying that ‘if we are meant to die, then we will with 10, 000 men, because it is better for our country, but if we are meant to win, then there will be a greater share of honour for each of us.
Henry is telling the soldiers that any soldier that does not wish to fight with them shouldn’t because even though there are fewer men, there will be a greater share of honour between them. ‘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. Henry here is saying that, in God’s name, he is begging that no one wishes for more men and that he is not looking for money, not looking for gold as he cares more about winning and receiving the honour. He is saying that he doesn’t care who eats at his expense, and he doesn’t care if people borrow his clothes, because he doesn’t care about such concrete things. ‘But if it be a sin to covet honour, I am the most offending soul alive. ’ Here he is going onto say that if it is therefore a sin to be selfish about honour, then he is the one who offends the most. This shows that Henry is interested in honour and not how many men are on his side.
Henry carries on making his famous St Crispian’s day speech in which he is motivating his soldiers to fight. Using lines like: ‘That he which hath no stomach to this fight, Let him depart; his passport shall be made,’ Shakespeare is showing that Henry is determined to have only the best and only the soldiers that are determined and have courage in his army. Basically, those who have no courage and those who are not as motivated and determined as the rest of the army should not be there. We would not die in this mans company’ This line shows that Henry would not die with a man whose heart is not in the battle. He wants his soldiers to prove that they are worthy of fighting for him. He is saying that he would not want to die in the company of a man who fears to die with them. St Crispian’s day is also painted to be very important, and Shakespeare writes that ‘he who outlives this day, and comes safe home, will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam’d. ’ So basically saying, whoever lives through this day and comes home safe and sound, can stand on tip toes, stand high, because they should be proud of himself.
Henry adds that every peasant who fights with him will become his brother, and all the Englishmen that chose to stay at home and not fight will have regret for the rest of their life that they were not there to witness and share in the honour of winning. The St Crispian’s speech is obviously very inspirational. His men are extremely outnumbered so to encourage them to fight, Henry obviously put out a very charismatic speech. He is motivational and is encouraging his soldiers that they can win even if they are outnumbered from as much at 5 to 1. The fewer men, the greater share of honour’ connotes the image of a king who wants to motivate his troops. He is saying that the fewer men they have, they will feel more proud if they win. ‘By Jove, I am not covetous for gold’ shows that he does not care about such concrete things like winning for money, he just wants to win for honour. Section 6. This is the section just before the battle of Harfleur. Henry is explaining that the soldiers have basically got to get their act together or the gap will be filled up with English corpses.
He goes onto say that there is no better quality in a man than restraint and humility in peacetime. But, when the battle comes, Henry explains that as soon as the trumpet blows, his soldiers need to act like the tiger, act strong. This is metaphorical language because a tiger growls, a tiger is strong and fierce, which are qualities needed in a battle to fight. Henry continues to motivate the soldiers and encourage them, telling them to grit their teeth and let their nostrils flare and face up to what they have to do.
Henry then goes on to compare the fathers of his men to Alexander the Great and that during the battle they should not dishonour their mothers, and do their mothers proud. I think this is a sign of tough love because although he is motivating his troops, he is saying if they don’t do well then their mothers will not be proud of them. Also, Henry is obviously very proud to be English in this section. Whilst making his speech, he says that the troops should show that they are worthy of their English upbringing, and that their limbs were made in England.
But, Henry does not doubt that they are worth of their birth for a minute. This shows he is just getting them to be strong but doing it in such a way that they want to do him and their heritage proud. Section 1. This is the opening section. It is the chorus speaking, introducing the play and King Henry. It says that King Henry was ‘warlike’, that he resembled the God of War which shows he fought for what he believed in. Also, ‘famine, sword and fire crouch for employment’ ie crouch at his feet and obey him and worship and look up to him.
However, this play is great as Shakespeare writes, the audience need to forgive for trying to act out a story so great on such a humble stage that does not reflect the victory of Henry and his troops, by such plain and ordinary men. The battle of Agincourt, was frightening, and there is no way the actors can act out such a historic and powerful moment when Henry won. Language such as ‘thousand parts divide one man’ means, divide each men into one thousand and you will have the army that you desire. Henry certainly comes across in this play as someone who is strong and fights for what he believes in. Even though they were outnumbered.
Author: Angel Bell