The Representation of Masculinity and Violence in Henry V and The Rover

The Representation of Masculinity and Violence in Henry V and The Rover Representing violence as an essential tool to gaining control, Henry V is dominated by masculine power, in this case, with the control of France. The cast is mainly male, containing just four female characters, namely Mistress Quickly, Isabel Queen of France, Katherine her daughter and Alice, the attendant. The chorus sets the scene of war in the prologue, with ‘Then should the warlike Harry’ and ‘That did affright the air at Agincourt’. This image is further represented when the Archbishop of Canterbury is conferring with the Bishop of Ely about the King, ‘List his last discourse of war, and you shall hear / A fearful battle rendered you in music. (I.1. 43/44), and further on ‘His hours filled up with riots’, (I.1. 56). Henry lays responsibilities on others for his actions, justifying these actions by appealing to the church for answers, a Christian King, putting all his trust in God. In his speech to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Henry threatens the violence of war, as he appeals to him with ‘For God doth know how many now in health / Shall drop their blood in approbation / Of what your reverence shall incite us to. / Therefore take heed how you impawn our person, / How you awake our sleeping sword of war.’ (I.2.18-22), placing responsibility on Canterbury for the violence that will ensue from him usurping the French Sovereignty. Canterbury confirms Henry’s entitlement to France with his ancestors having held it, also stating that the Salic law is not upheld in France, this being that ‘No woman shall succeed in Salic land’ (I.2. 39). He states ‘T... ... horror at this sight, that tells thee, / Thou hast not long to boast thy shameful conquest?’ (P.235 The Rover). In conclusion, Henry V seems to maintain gender boundaries, with masculinity being active alongside violence. Whereas The Rover stands between the acceptance of masculine power and female dominance. Bibliography OWENS, W.R. and GOODMAN, Lizbeth, Ed. Shakespeare, Aphra Behn and the Canon (London: Routledge in association with the Open University, 1996). BEHN, Aphra. Oroonoko, The Rover and other works (London: Penguin, 1992). SHAKESPEARE, William. Henry v (London: Penguin, 1968, 1996). Audio / Visual TV 3: The Authentick & Ironicall Historie of Henry V VC 1: A210 Approaching Literature: The Rover Audio Cassette 6: Henry V AC2125 Audio Cassette 7: Henry V AC2126