-
Essay / God and War in William Shakespeare's Henry V
In Shakespeare's Henry V, King Henry constantly considers God's position in his war efforts. The king's reflection on God's vision and hand in war continually guides his decisions and methods. Henry's regard for God ultimately leads England to success, although God's hand may not have had the same effect as the king and soldiers believe. Many argue that King Henry acted impulsively and immorally when he decided to go to war. However, we can clearly see that Henry seeks God's wisdom when making decisions regarding his men and his country. Additionally, King Henry's faith elevates his men, proving that his faith contributes to victory. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Although God may not have directly decided that the English would win the war, King Henry's faith in God and his religious ties to the war allow him to influence the hearts of his men, leading him to win the war. Part of King Henry's success in Henry V stems from his moral conscience and his tendency to view the lives of his people as being of great importance, consistent with their virtues. When deciding whether or not to go to war, King Henry was primarily concerned with the morality of war. He warns Canterbury: “Be careful how you immobilize our person, how you awaken our sleeping sword of war. We enjoin you in the name of God to be careful, for never have two such kingdoms clashed without much blood” (I.ii.23-27). Henry is reluctant to shed innocent blood until he is sure that the cause of war is just. His concern shows that he is aware of the morality of his actions as king. This honorable personality trait ends up helping his soldiers trust and respect him more: his virtues lead his soldiers to want to fight for him. He asks Canterbury, “May I make this statement in all conscience and conscience” (119), demonstrating that he will not allow his people to die except for a just cause. Henry's view of the justice of war contrasts sharply with the mocking gift from the Dauphin of France. The Dolphin's gift of tennis balls demonstrates his impulsiveness and willingness to sacrifice innocent lives without any sincere thought. King Henry responds to this small gift with a heavy speech about the bloodshed and horror of war, indicating that his view of war is much more mature. His seriousness inspires his lords, and eventually his soldiers. Towards the end of the play, Henry's soldiers will see his faith in God and his morality, which boosts their morale and helps them win the war. Before the battle, Henry lets it be known that he is a good king by disguising himself and going out to the tents to assess the morale of his soldiers. Noting that his men blame him for being the cause of their deaths, he responds again by connecting the war to God's moral plan. Henry says: "War is his beadle, war is his vengeance" (IV.i.164-165), explaining that a king is not responsible for the sins of his people and encouraging his soldiers to repent of their sins and to fight with their minds open to a higher purpose. He also tells his men that if God grants them the gift of survival, they should be grateful. As he states "and in him who escaped it was no sin to think that, making such a free offering to God, he suffered him to survive this day to see his greatness and teach others how to prepare » (177-181). King Henry's vision of.