"Henry V" of The Hollow Crown Tetralogy

Henry V (Tom Hiddleston) has the makings of a fine king. The French ambassador brings a challenge from the French Dauphin. Inspired by his courtiers, Henry swears that he will, with all force, answer this challenge. The Chorus (John Hurt) tells of England’s preparations for war and Henry's army sails for France, where Henry and his meager forces prove victorious against all odds.

In this excerpt from Shakespeare's Henry V, the king (Tom Hiddleston) rallies his English troops prior to battle with the French. Second only to Hamlet's "to be or not to be," Henry V's St. Crispin's Day speech at Agincourt is one of the most famous monologues in English literature.

Henry V:

This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

Just before fighting begins at Agincourt, the French Herald Montjoy rides up to the English camp with a message from the French Constable - give up or be obliterated. Henry (Tom Hiddleston) tells the Herald that there will be no surrender.

Henry V motivates his men, and no doubt himself as well, so masterfully as to make them believe that not to fight along with him is to bring shame upon themselves forever.  But of course it isn't just this speech that does it for the outnumbered few, but also Henry's balance of fierceness and humility and his on-the-horse and on-the-ground example.  Maybe Shakespeare had Henry V already sketched, and well in mind, when he drew up "Henry IV, Part 1."  After all Prince Hal can speak for the common people, for he has regularly been among them and he knows them well.

Moreover, disguising himself as a common soldier, so we can walk about and talk with his men is a brilliant ploy.  Again we have seen this brilliant little ploy with Falstaff in "Henry IV, Part 1." His intent was not to shake out any man who spoke ill of the King, but earnestly, I think, to know what made his men tick and perhaps to offer them, unwittingly, further incentive to fight for the King.  It is a personal, military ploy that is worthy of Sun Tzu and "The Art of War."

Finally, Henry V is nervous and awkward in courting Kate, who is Catherine of Valois and daughter of the defeated King Charles VI of France.  It takes a whole different set of motivational and influencing skills to woo her.  Nonetheless, it is the same sincere, impassioned Henry V that wins over Kate as well.

Such a brilliantly rendered character by Shakespeare.

PBS makes the entire Henry V available (free) November 7th.  So if you happen to read this article, watch it before then.  This, and the rest of The Hollow Crown series, are a superb production indeed.