Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-788cddb947-tr9hg Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-10-10T10:35:43.501Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 4 - ‘Now thrive the armourers’:

Henry V and the Promise of ‘Hungry War’

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2022

Andrew Hiscock
Affiliation:
Bangor University
Get access

Summary

This chapter focuses upon the ways in which Shakespeare’s play not only engages with historical accounts of Henry V, but the way in which it probes the status and function of violence in the consolidation of a dynasty and the political redemption of a kingdom. As this discussion unfolds, it also become apparent how the investment in violence may not only constitute a deliberate attempt to forge group affiliation, but may also provide markers for gendered identity, political engagement and spiritual allegiance. Shakespeare’s play clearly interrogates the stunted concept of Bolingbroke’s government which Henry V has inherited, questions whether we should in fact demonise those (like Falstaff) who have refused in the past to participate in the Lancastrian political project, and continues to query in a most urgent manner how violence may be legitimised in the public exercise of nation-building.

Type
Chapter
Information
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×