The Conflicting Nature of King Henry’s Power in Henry V

Sammanfattning: This essay will focus on Henry V, one of William Shakespeare’s historical plays. The protagonist, King Henry V, is a character who holds immense control and prominence in the play and is therefore central to most analyses of it. Previous research has explored how power is portrayed in the play, as well as various aspects of its power structures, such as the relationship between the soldiers and the king as well as the liability for the inevitable death that accompanies battle. Based on this earlier research, this study investigates Henry’s attempted unification of his army as well as the question of responsibility and how these aspects affect the king’s power. It argues that Henry’s dynamic and sometimes ambivalent approach to these aspects help him maintain and further his power, by doubling down on his powerful position while still avoiding any negative repercussions.