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Henry V (Shakespeare Project Lecture) (Patreon)

Published:
2023-09-17 20:00:08
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...'

Our exhilarating journey through the works of William Shakespeare continues with Henry V.

We’re discussing the rise of the Globe Theatre, the Chorus, metatheatricality, Falstaff's death, the king's character arc, and much more.

Timestamps:

  • 0:00 the rebirth of Shakespeare
  • 2:00 on the story of Henry V
  • 5:00 the death of Sir John Falstaff
  • 10:00 the theme of honour in this play
  • 11:00 on the opening of Henry V
  • 12:00 metatheatre & imagination
  • 10:00 the sociopolitical atmosphere
  • 17:00 the rise of the Globe Theatre
  • 19:00 Shakespeare the shareholder
  • 21:00 opening day play at the Globe
  • 24:00 what was the Globe Theatre like?
  • 29:00 appreciating the Chorus in Henry V
  • 31:00 ‘once more unto the breach…’
  • 32:00 the character arc of King Henry V
  • 36:00 the English national legend
  • 37:00 my one passage for this play
  • 41:00 ‘a little touch of Harry in the night’
  • 43:00 the trope of the royal reversal
  • 44:00 the St Crispin's Day Speech
  • 46:00 ‘we happy few, we band of brothers’
  • 48:00 ‘every soldier kill his prisoners’
  • 50:00 on the ending of the play
  • 51:00 my personal thoughts on Henry V
  • 53:00 what are your thoughts on this play?

Recommended Resources:

  • Recommended Adaptations: I continue to recommend the Hollow Crown adaptation with the excellent Tom Hiddleston. You might also wish to try out the Kenneth Branagh adaptation, with Derek Jacobi offering a sublime performance as the Chorus, and the Laurence Olivier adaptation.
  • Monologue Comparison: You may find it rewarding to compare how different actors deliver one of the most iconic speeches in Shakespeare. You can see Tom Hiddleston's version here, Kenneth Branagh is here, Laurence Olivier here, John Hurt here, and Richard Burton here. Which one is your personal favourite?
  • Recommended Edition: The Arden edition continues to make a superb choice as the introduction and footnotes are often incredibly illuminating.
  • Shakespeare's Globe: You can see the Globe as it stands today in its reconstructed form in this video. If you're ever in London, it's well worth checking out a performance and taking a little tour.
  • A Year in the Life of Shakespeare: James Shapiro's book 1599 is one of the most exciting and captivating biographical and historical accounts of Shakespeare's life. For another truly impressive biography, I highly recommend Peter Ackroyd's book.
  • Our Journey Thus Far: If you want to jump into any specific play, you can check out the works we've enjoyed thus far as part of our read-through here.

Questions for You:

1) What do you make of the king's character arc?

2) How would you inspire another to dive into Shakespeare’s histories?

3) What line, passage, idea, or character most resonated with you? And what is your personal grading for Henry V?

Happy reading, Bardolators!

Files

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Comments

Carolyn

After about 5 plays I starting to understand Shakespeare a bit. At first I could read the words but couldn't hold the plot in my mind. Now with Henry V, I could do words and plots. I am looking forward to being able to understand Shakespeare's insights into human nature. That is what I want most from Shakespeare.

Elizabeth Madden
>>118479449

Do you feel you get any insights into human nature through reading about Henry in this play, Carolyn?

Tim Lovelace

Just joined the club today, and I turned my attention almost immediately to the different performances of the St. Crispin's Day speech (for which, thanks, Ben!), as that passage has long been one of my favorite "trumpet-blowers," and several of the included performances were new to me. As I suspected would be the case beforehand, the Branagh rendition remains the nonpareil for me. It was interesting that the soundtrack from the Branagh film was added to the Olivier and Hiddleston scenes, presumably to pump up their emotional effect, a supplement I thought was needed especially for the Hiddleston speech, which was delivered much as Anthony Blinken might have done it. Several of the scenes suffered from dialogue cuts. I found it interesting, btw, that 2 of the performances transposed "see" and "live" in line 44, and that Olivier changed a number of words in his version. I was surprised to find Burton's rendition the most effective after Branagh's. Branagh's "delivery" from a wooden cart elevates, literally, the king's status and yet also hints at a "working man" aspect. "We are but warriors for the working-day." Ominously, such a cart was also used to transport prisoners to execution. Olivier finishes his own address upon a cart.

Ylva

This journey continues to be glorious, Benjamin. I wish I’d have had time to start with this project last year to be not so fashionably late, wonderful as it is not having to wait for the respective lectures and being spoiled by having this amazing pool of readers’ thoughts to look through today. ;) This project is changing me, and I love it. I’ve started quoting the Bard in odd moment during daily life, and not a day goes by during which he isn’t on my mind for a long stretch of time. I love conversing with him and his characters; it’s like having an ever-growing space in my head where great things and new thoughts happen. A perpetual un-birthday party with friends for which I don’t even have to leave the house. An introvert’s paradise! This close reading also teaches me about myself and this is truly beautiful after me believing only two years ago I’d never feel happy or in healthy touch with myself. Shakespeare indeed is healing, and I am so grateful for it, and for having the opportunity now to commit to this project fully, with none of the wild distractions from the last year(s). What I find interesting to play with is the way I engage with the text. I know Shakespeare is meant to be listened to and yet I often notice I actually prefer reading the play by myself. Listening to audio renderings or watching a tv adaptation almost distracts me from the flow of words which I constantly hear in my head as I read even in silence, though I increasingly like to say them out loud as I move through this project. I do watch film adaptations and fell in love with The Hollow Crown series, yet it’s not the same to me as looking at the words and through this feeling them. Watching a performance on the stage is different, and yet I have no access to English theatre performances where I live and the translations, as various attempts show, sadly don’t do it for me. I’m looking forward to my Statford-Upon-Avon visit this fall. Which in turn makes me wonder about language. Do I love English because it’s Shakespearean or are the other reasons I so far held responsible the reason—or is it a combination? Did I fall in love with English as a child because I could feel the language before I could understand it, like it often is with Shakespeare? And furthermore, how much of Shakespeare is imbedded in other languages, like the one I grew up with? How much of Shakespeare gets lost in translation? How much of him can transcend? Does it need to or is it good for various languages to have such various inherent voices? I love the flow of Japanese too, for example. Who shaped that language—which author, if there is one who is responsible—should I make my mentor there? What does it do to me who lives not in England when I engage with the Bard in his original language daily? Is this one of the catalysts for the change I’m experiencing with this project? Anyhow, big love for this project. It’s amazing to think back to me starting this in January and wondering shyly if I’d get as much from it as I’ve heard other club members speak of. And now I’m here, five months later, about to embark on Hamlet and feeling so beautifully alive and wiser, stronger, simply because of all these amazing plays and outstanding lectures to guide me. Thank you, Benjamin! As to Henry V: Richard Burton delivers my favourite rendering of the Caspian speech. Truly beautiful. Falstaff’s death hit me hard. But watching Henry grow into his role was a gift. B- overall. “‘‘Tis true that we are in great danger; The greater therefore should our courage be.”

Quan

I’m finding it really hard to contain myself in reading Shakespeare’s plays in chronological order! So far, I’m loving his history plays. I found myself really enjoying King Henry V. I think it had to do with reading the play with Arkangel production audiobook with Brain Cox reading for the Chorus. He did an excellent job! His voice is amazing. I thought King Henry’s prose were great. I’m looking forward to rereading the history plays in order of the monarchy. My husband and I have been to The Globe and proudly own two bricks there! We went often to Stratford-Upon-Avon and London when we lived there. Stratford was my favorite destination! I have a rubbing of Shakespeare’s curse that he penned over his tomb.