 Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Table of Contents Themes Major Theme The major theme that runs throughout the play and holds its various parts together is the war between France and England. In these wars Talbot is the personification of England and all its ideals of courage and heroism. Every other character and action is dwarfed by the focus on the French wars. The play begins with the death of Henry V. And while his noblemen grieve for him they also grieve for the loss of a warrior who had led them to victory against the English. To their sorrow is added a newer and heavier burden: the news of English losses in France. The end of the first scene shows them gearing up, to take measures against such a blow against their nation. Joan comes into prominence only because she is incidental in leading the French to victory against the English. The significance of her character lies not in itself but in the role it plays in bringing the English down. Talbot, the hero of the play, puts an end to his own life so that the English may triumph. But the real "hero" of the play, England, does not pass away with Talbot’s death. It survives and other men carry its torch. After Talbot’s death both sides reach a stalemate. Further war means loss for both and this leads to a reluctant declaration of peace between the two nations. Neither is satisfied with the truce but they see no other alternative. And so, although the truce is reluctant it is very real nonetheless. Thus, the play reaches its conclusion, foreshadowed as it was by the dynamic interaction of internal disunity within the English and the devious maneuvers of the French. Minor Theme The minor theme focuses on the death of English chivalry and unity, both of which lead to internal conflict and national defeat in war. This theme is manifested by the rivalry between Gloucester and Winchester, quarrel between Somerset and York and the base selfishness of Suffolk. At a time when England needs her noblemen to stand united because she is without a ruler, Gloucester and Winchester engage in petty squabbles threatening the morale of those around them. Winchester is so bent on self-glorification that he sees the matter of causing England ruin through civil war as a matter of no great importance. The quarrel between Somerset and York has grim consequences: it causes England to lose its noblest and most fierce warrior. Their dissension causes his death and thus destroys England’s last hope of living victorious over France. They exemplify the evils of internal disunity at its most vivid. And finally, Suffolk, who totally lacks the loyalty a nobleman owes to his ruler and nation, manipulates the King to further his own personal interest and to extend his ambitions. The King is helpless to fight an enemy who bears the appearance of a friend. This theme serves to show that great danger to a nation need not only come from an outside enemy but can also occur in the form of selfish citizens. And when this happens the nation is left at the mercy of the outside world and forces that seek to destroy it. HUMOR The humor in the play is of the crudest sort. Most of it is in the form of slapstick action shown by the fights between the English noblemen and their servants, the French retreating in indecent haste from the English and so on. The comic matter found in the dialogue is nothing better than feeble puns: Rome, roam; dauphin, dolphin, dogfish; and Pucelle, Pussel (harlot). This play lacks the sparkling wit, gay humor and poetry that are a characteristic of many Shakespeare works. Table of Contents | |
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