Historical plays: Characteristics

• The majority of the literary works treats of "the human passions ", in major or minor degree and of different forms, because of that it is not possible to affirm that this one should be a proper characteristic of the historical works of Shakespeare and also his works are based on mythological roots.

• The historical works of Shakespeare include those that he wrote being based on the lives of some English kings. His source of information were the Chronicles of Raphael Holinstead's English history. Some of his historical works treat on the Tudor because Shakespeare lived under the reign of Elizabeth I.

• The historical works treat about the dangers of the civil war, the problem of the royal succession, the deterioration of the political medieval system and the consolidation of the Tudor's power.

• The style of Shakespeare changed along his career, a monotonous blank verse is used in the early works, and he introduces innovations as he matures as writer.

• The blank verse consists of verses not rhymed in pentameter iambic. The magnificent musicality refers to the rhythmic patron of the pentameter iambic.

List of Shakespeare's histories

The William Shakespeare's plays are traditionally divided into the genres of tragedy, history and comedy.

The historical plays are here according to the order in which they are given in First Folio of 1623.

- King John
- Richard II
- Henry IV, part 1
- Henry IV, part 2
- Henry V
- Henry VI, part 1
- Henry VI, part 2
- Henry VI, part 3
- Richard III
- Henry VIII

HENRY V. The play by William Shakespeare

Introduction
Henry V is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed that the play was first performed between 1598 and 1599, and later printed in 1600. This history play is based on the life of King Henry V of England and focuses on events immediately before and after the Battle of Agincourt (1415) during the Hundred Years' War.

The play is the final part of a tetralogy, preceded by Richard II, Henry IV, part 1 and Henry IV, part 2. Henry V is one of Shakespeare’s so-called history plays. It's one of the most popular of Shakespeare’s history plays. It contains a host of entertaining characters who speak in many accents and languages. The play is full of noble speeches, heroic battles, and valiant English underdogs who fight their way to victory against all odds.

THE KING HENRY'S CHARACTER IN THE STORY
He seems to be a perfect leader: brave, modest, and fiercely focused, but with a sense of humor to match.

Henry is a model of traditional heroism. His sense of honor leads him to invade a nonaggressive country and to slaughter thousands of people.

Whether or not he appears to be an admirable man. Henry is presented as a nearly ideal king, with an intractable resolve and the willpower to subordinate his own personal feelings to the needs of his nation and his throne. It is worth noting the radiance of his speeches and his careful cultivation of his image make him an effective and inspiring leader.

CHARACTERS LIST IN HENRY V PLAY

Here it is the list of the all characters in Henry V play by Shakespeare.
The Characters range from comedic to tragic.
Dramatis Personae:

- King Henry the V

- Humphrey (Duke) of Gloucester --> a brother of King Henry V, he is one of the lords who fights with Henry in France.

- Duke of Bedford --> also known as Duke of Clarence. He is a brother of King Henry V.

- Duke of Exeter --> the uncle of King Henry V, he plays a significant role in the war effort against France.

- Duke of York --> a nobleman who offers to lead Henry's troops at the battle at Agincourt, he is killed in battle.

- Earls of Salisbury, Westmoreland and Warwick --> an earl and two lords who fight with Henry at Agincourt.

- Archbishop of Cantebury --> a representative of the church who tells Henry that he has a legal right to claim the throne of France. Canterbury also promises that the church will give Henry a monetary gift to fund the war effort against France.

- Bishop of Ely--> a companion of Canterbury who also helps to legalize Henry's claim to the French throne.

- Lord Scroop and Sir Thomas Grey --> two traitors against Henry V, they are put to death by Henry when the plot is discovered.

- Earl of Cambridge --> also known as Richard, he is another traitor against Henry V

- Sir Thomas Erpingham --> an old soldier whose coat Henry borrows the night before the battle at Agincourt.

- Gower --> an Englsih captain

- Fluellen --> a Welsh captain

- Macmorris --> an Irish captain

- Captain Jamy --> a Scottish captain.

- Bates, Court, Williams --> three Englsih soldiers.

- Pistol, Nym, Bardolph --> three formers companion of Falstaff

- Boy

- A Herald

- Charles the VI --> he is the King of France

- Lewis, the Dauplin --> the son and heir of King Charles VI of France, he is a vain prince who sends Henry tennis balls at the beginning in an effort to mock him.

- Duke of Burgundy --> a French nobleman who mediates the peace agreement between King Henry and King Charles.

- The Constable of France --> a French nobleman who fights at Agincourt.

- Lord Rambures and Lord Grandpré --> two French nobleman at Agincourt.

- Montjoy --> he is the French Herald who serves as King Charles' messenger to Henry.

- Governor of Harfleur --> he yields the city to Henry after a bloody bombardment.

- Ambassadors to England --> sent to England by the Dauphin, they present Henry with tennis balls. They are the French ambassadors.

- Isabel (Queen of France) --> the wife and queen of King Charles VI.

- Katherine --> the daughter of King Charles VI and Isabel. Henry woos her at the end but she never declares her love for him.

- Alice --> an older gentlewoman who serves Catherine, she teaches the princess how to speak English.

- Hostess of the tavern (wife of Pistol)

- Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Citizens

- Chorus --> serves to introduce each Act of the play.

Text /Script of the story

William Shakespeare never published any of his plays. None of his original manuscripts have survived. One of his works did not appear until 1623 (seven years after Shakespeare's death).
Then two of his fellow actors, John Hemminges and Henry Condell, recorded his works and published 36 of Shakespeare's plays in the called First Folio.

The script of this play (Henry V play) is extremely long. And because of of his extensive history we can separate the story (text) in five acts.
The number of words in the script, according to the Complete Public Domain Text is 27.684

THE STRUCTURE

As we have said before, the play is structured and separated in five acts inside them there are some scenes and also a prologue at the beginning of the story.

This is determinated like this:

· PROLOGUE

The audience have to use the imagination: The Chorus appeals to the audience.

· ACT 1

- Scene 1: The Bishops discuss the new bill presented in Parliament. Then the Archbishop of Cantebury has a scheme how do it.
- Scene 2: King Henry is reluctant to go to war without just cause, but the Archbishop's argument is persuasive; war is declared when the French ambassadors deliver an insulting message from the Dauphin.

· ACT 2
The Chorus directs the audience's thoughts.

- Scene 1: Still in London, the King's old friends forget their quarreling when they are called to the sickbed of Sir John Falstaff.
- Scene 2: The King forces them to condemn themselves, then departs for France.
- Scene 3: The Hostess describes the death of Falstaff to Pistol and his friend.
- Scene 4: The French King prepares to defend his country. Exeter delivers Henry's challenge.

· ACT 3
The chorus describes and offer peace, which is rejected.

- Scene 1: King Henry V urges his troops forward to the battle of Harfleur.
- Scene 2: Pistol and his friends have caught up with the army, but they are no fighters.
- Scene 3: National stereotypes: the captains argue amongst themselves.
- Scene 4: Surrender of Harfleur.
- Scene 5: An English lesson for the French Princess.
- Scene 6: The French King prepares for a fresh onslaught.
- Scene 7: Pistol pleads for Bardolph's life, but Llewellyn is adamant. King Hery hears the message of the French herald. Then he returns a defiant answer.
- Scene 8: The Frech lords joke as they wait impatiently for dawn.

· ACT 4
The night before Agincourt: the Chorus sets the scene.

- Scene 1: King Henry visits the English soldiers in their camps, and meditates on the responsabilities of the monarch.
- Scene 2: The French anticipate an easy victory.
- Scene 3: The English lords are gloomy, but the King is resolute.
- Scene 4: Pistol bargains with his prisoner.
- Scene 5: The French sustain heavy losses, but they fight on.
- Scene 6: King Henry orders the killing of French prisoners.
- Scene 7: King Henry is angry because the French have ransacked the English camp. Then he prepares to retaliate but the English are victorious .
- Scene 8: Practical jokes in the English camp.

· ACT 5
The King has returned to England, but the audience must remain in France.

- Scene 1: Llewellyn takes his revenge on Pistol.
- Scene 2: King Henry struggles with his new role as suitor to Princess Katherine.
- Scene 3: The Chorus speaks an epilogue.


A SHORT SUMMARY

King Henry IV has died, and his son, the young King Henry V assumess the throne.
The Archbishop explains to his Bishop how he plans to convince the king to enter into a war with France.
The King Henry V is convinced of the validity of his claims. Then The king Henry V plans on entering into a war with France over some disputed lands and titles.

After that, an amassador from France arrives with a rejection of the claims and he also delivers an insulting barrel of tennis balls from the French Dauphin.
Henry responds by preparing to invade France. Three of the king's friends, Scroop, Cambridge and Grey, are discovered to be plotting against him and he condemns them to death. Pistol, Nym, and Bardolph, the companions of Henry's dissolute days in London, join the king's forces and set off for the wars. The news comes of Sir John Falstaff's death.
The English take the town of Harfleur and the king moves on towards Calais. The two armies prepare for battle near Agincourt. The night before the battle the king visits his troops in disguise. The French numbers are superior but Henry inspires his troops with a powerful patriotic speech. The battle begins and the French are defeated, with heavy losses, whereas the English losses are light. Henry returns to London in triumph before making peace with the French king. Henry woos the French Princess Katherine and their marriage links England and France.

Theme

The play is categorized as a history as a history.
The ruthlessness of the good king
The diversity of the English

Motifs

- Male interaction
- Parallels between rulers and commoners
- war imagery

Symbols

- The tun of tennis balls
- Characters as cultural types

Richard III. The play by William Shakespeare

Introduction

Shakespeare's main source of information was Raphael Holinshed's "Chronicles" .
The action is in England, in London, Salisbury, a camp near Tamworth and Bosworth Field.

Characters

• Richard III: Also called the Duke of Gloucester, is deformed in body and twisted in mind. Is the protagonist and the villain. Is evil, corrupt, sadistic, manipulative and he won't stop at nohting to become king.

• Buckingham: Richard's right hand. Is as amoral and ambitious as Richard.

• King Edward IV: Richard's brother, he's the king of England at the start of the play.

• Clarence: The other brother of Richard, born between Edward and Richard.

• Queen Elisabeth: The wife of Edward IV and mother of the two young princes, heirs to the throne, and their older sister, Elisabeth.

• Dorset, Rivers and Gray: The kinsmen and allies of Elisabeth.

• Anne: The young widow of Edward (the son of the former king, Henry VI).

• Duchess of York: Widowed mother of Richard, Clarence and Edward IV

• Margaret: Widow of Henry VI and mother of prince Edward.

• The princes: The two young sons of Edward IV.

• Young Elisabeth: Queen Elisabeth's daughter.

• Ratcliffe and Catesby: Two of Richard's flunkies on the nobility.

• Tyrrell: A murderer wanted by Richard to kill the young princes.

• Richmond: Member of the Lancaster family.

• Hastings: A lord loyal to Edward IV.

• Stanley: The stepfather of Richmond.

• Lord Mayor of London: A man who Richard and Buckinghamm use to crown Richard.

• Vaughan: A friend of Dorset, Elisabeth, Rivers and Gray executed by Richard.

Script

After a long civil war between the family of York and the family of Lancaster, England enjoys a period of peace under King Edward IV's reign. But Richard want Edward's power and the happiness around him, and decides to kill anyone he must kill to be king.
Because of his manipulation skills, Richard marries Lady Anne, even he knows that she murdered her first husband. He executed his brother Clarence and shifts the guilt into Edward IV to accelerate Edward's illnes and death. When he dies, Richard becomes lord protector of England while his sons grow up.
Next, he kills the princes' loyal nobles and the kinsmen of the queen.
Then he began a campaign for being crowned king. He imprisons the princes in the Tower and sends murderers to kill them.
By this time, his reign of terror has caused the common people of england to fear an loathe him, and he has alienated nearly all the nobles of the court. When some rumours begin to circulate, about a challenger to the throne gathering forces in France, the noblmen join his forces. That challenger is the earl of Richmond, a descendant of the secondary arm of the Lancaster family.
Meanwhile Richard tries to consolidate his power. He murdered his wife for marry young Elisabeth and secure his claim to the throne. But he has begun to lose control of the events and Elisabeth promises to marry her daughter to Richmond secretly.
Richmond finally invades England. The night before the battle, Richard dream abaut the ghosts of all people he murdered appear to curse him, telling him that he will die next day. In the battle Richard is killed and Richmond is crowned King Henry VII and betrothed to young Elisabeth in order to unite Lancaster and York.