Henry V · Chapter
Scene I explained
The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely discuss a bill that would strip the Church of its temporal lands.
What happens
The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely discuss a bill that would strip the Church of its temporal lands. Canterbury reveals that King Henry V, once wild in his youth, has transformed into a wise and pious ruler. To divert the king's attention from the bill, Canterbury has offered a large sum of money to support Henry's claim to the French throne, and they prepare to meet the French ambassador.
Themes in this chapter
Kingship and Leadership
Canterbury and Ely discuss Henry's transformation from a wild youth to a wise and capable king, emphasizing his newfound leadership qualities.
Legitimacy of Power
The clergy's maneuvering to protect their lands by supporting Henry's claim to France highlights the political use of legitimacy.
Transformation and Redemption
Canterbury describes Henry's sudden reformation from a dissolute youth to a virtuous monarch, a key theme in the play.
Characters to notice
- Archbishop of Canterbury
Canterbury strategizes with Ely to protect church lands by offering financial support for Henry's French claim.
- Bishop of Ely
Ely discusses the threat of the bill and praises Henry's transformation.
- King Henry V
Referenced as having undergone a dramatic reformation from wild youth to wise king, and as the target of Canterbury's offer regarding France.
Key passages
“The breath no sooner left his father’s body, But that his wildness, mortified in him, Seem’d to die too; yea, at that very moment Consideration, like an angel, came And whipped the offending Adam out of him, Leaving his body as a paradise, To envelope and contain celestial spirits.”
As soon as his father died, Henry's wildness died as well, and wisdom instantly replaced his former faults, making him a virtuous and noble king.
Canterbury describes Henry's dramatic transformation upon becoming king.
“The strawberry grows underneath the nettle And wholesome berries thrive and ripen best Neighbour’d by fruit of baser quality: And so the prince obscured his contemplation Under the veil of wildness; which, no doubt, Grew like the summer grass, fastest by night, Unseen, yet crescive in his faculty.”
Just as strawberries grow well near nettles, Henry's wisdom developed secretly beneath his wild behavior, growing unseen but steadily.
Ely suggests that Henry's wild youth was a deliberate disguise for his growing wisdom.