 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 SCENE Summaries and Notes Act I, Scene I Summary King Henry V is dead; his captains are gathered about his bier mourning his untimely death. They see it as an act of fate against England or as a result of sorcery used by the French. One messenger after another interrupts their council with tidings of cities last to the French and of English armies scattered in defeat. The reason, behind this, lies in the internal disunity of the English. Lord Talbot, one of the bravest English generals has been defeated and captured by the French. This occurs because he is deserted by a cowardly Sir John Fastolfe, in the midst of battle. Swearing revenge Duke of Bedford leaves to go to prepare for battle in France. The Duke of Gloucester, who is protector to the King leaves to organize the ammunition and make arrangements for Henry VI’s coronation. The Duke of Exeter, the young king’s special governor departs to ensure the King’s personal safety. Left alone, the Bishop of Winchester discloses his intention of becoming the real power behind the crown. Notes Scene I is a key scene, it introduces all the key elements of the play. Henry V, the hero-king is dead and is mourned by the entire nation. It had been his initiative that had led to English victories in France. His nobles look upon his death as something preordained by "the bad revolting stars." They suspect that the French used black magic to destroy a man who proved invincible in the earthly realm. It is important to observe the strong superstitious beliefs that the noblemen hold. They ascribe events to supernatural causes and see the French as "conjurers and sorcerers." The death of Henry V is followed by monumental English losses till all they have left are " some petty towns of no import." The losses described in this scene actually occurred over a period of twenty-two years. But the playwright compresses this time period, to that of just one day, for the purpose of dramatic effectiveness. This scene also reveals the reason for the English loss. One of the messengers has the explanation "you maintain several factions" he informs the noblemen. The English generals lack unity of purpose and vision and are thereby weakened and defeated. This scene also serves as an introduction of Lord Talbot. He is one of the main characters in the play, with the largest number of lines. He is a valiant general and very highly esteemed by the English. He is defeated and captured by the French, not due to any lack of valor on his part but because he is betrayed by the cowardly desertion of one of his men, Sir John Fastolfe. This is symbolic of a greater theme that runs throughout the play. Lord Talbot is the personification of the valor and bravery of the English soldiers. Fastolfe personifies the disunity that exists in the English ranks. Thus, it is his desertion, not the French might that leads to Talbot’s defeat. The French victories are due to weakness in the English, not due to any inherent strength in the French themselves. The noblemen gathered during the funeral have key positions in the English hierarchy of power. And the animosity that exists between two of them, namely Gloucester and Winchester is underlined by their acrimonious exchange of insults. Through this exchange, too, runs the thread of disharmony that is sapping the English strength. Exeter reminds those present of their oaths to the dead king, namely, the destruction or subjugation of the Dauphin. This is the central theme of the play; it deals with the French wars and subsequent losses that occur during the reign of Henry VI. The scene ends with matters closer to England: the upcoming coronation of Henry VI as King. Winchester’s words, said aloud when he is left alone, reveal that his ambitions run in the direction of assuring real power behind the crown of the child king. With his words the focus shifts from the action in France to the political undercurrents in England. Table of Contents | |
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