Desire for a good king

The English Desire for a King



In Henry V, there are multiple perspectives about Hal's transformation into Henry. The public viewpoint is that Henry has become a good king and therefore is respected immensely enough for men to fight and die for their king's god given right to rule France.
Throughout the play, many men comment on Henry's role as king. They are all pleased that their king is a good representation of English power. Archbishop Canterbury is the first to devote himself to the new king,

"when he speaks,

The air, a chartered libertine, is still,

And the mute wonder lurketh in men’s ears

To steal his sweet and honeyed sentences;" (1.1 47-50" 

There is a great amount of respect that is given to Henry. Even though he is not present in the conversation, the memory of his speeches and air of authority still remains with the men as they discuss Henry's fulfilled role as a good king. 

Then, with the common men, Henry is also revered as a man to look up to. Pistol, a model for the common solider, speaks to a disguised Henry about the king, 

 

"The king’s a bawcock, and a heart of gold,

A lad of life, an imp of fame,

Of parents good, of fist most valiant.

I kiss his dirty shoe, and from heartstring

I love the lovely bully" (4.1 44-48)

This is an acknowledgement of how highly Henry is perceived by his soldiers. Pistol, a man quick to anger and judgement, speaks highly of Henry, even though Henry had disgraced Pistol by abandoning him before his kingship. Pistol's desire for a good king overthrows his attitude towards the individual (Hal). Yet, as Henry speaks to other men he finds that there are whispers of Henry's cowardice and self-imposing attitudes towards this campaign against the French. But, the men understand their roles as the king's subjects and find the fault in their king, rather than themselves because their duty is to their king, 

 

"for we know enough if we know we are the king’s subjects. 

If his cause be wrong, our obedience to the king wipes the crime of it out of us" (4.1 126-129)

 

As noted, the public's view of Henry is very strong. Henry has a way with language-- as Canterbury spoke of-- which is incomparable to any other. He uplifts his army and whenever he is in the public sphere he uses a strong dialect to show his lordship. This outward appearance of a strong and impenetrable king gives his subjects a role model to look to and support because he shows no signs of weaknesses or doubt. He is owed the crown because is  father was king, not because he took it. Then he wants to take the crown away from the French, showing English authority. Henry/Hal had the god given right to the crown and he transformed for it. This is a good example the public sees that this appointment to be king is defined by God, not by man. Hal changed into Henry for this, which the English loved, and then flourished as king. The English desire a good king (which has been apparent since Beowulf) is all encompassing. Henry is the perfect example of why the English crave a monarchy, because it is God's choice in lordship, not Henry IV. Furthermore, his people's desire for war, for Henry to move forward with invading France just shows how much the people crave for power and a strong leader to follow. But, they are also aware that the possible failure of invading France is no skin off their nose because Henry bares the burden. He is their savior and also their scapegoat is necessary. 

Henry V is an interesting narrative on how fleeting subjects can be. Yet Henry was able to gain their respect because the people desired a strong leader who was not about ruining English soil, but taking it across the Channel and creating a strong nationalism against the evil French. Henry did everything right to gain his people's trust. He was a common man, then denied his role as such and owed up to being king and a very efficient king, for fulfilling his obligation. He also did not scheme or live in the shadows, he was very publicly perceived and the English people finally had a strong leader they would desire to follow.