The Histories

William Shakespeare had a talent of writing for all genres, including histories. He wrote about glorious kings and disgraceful dukes and the conflicts in which they struggled through. Two of the works we analyzed in class were: Richard III and Henry V. 

Passage Comparison: 

Richard III is an absolutely brilliant play of how one man with everything against him, can manipulate people into accomplishing his desires. Richard was born premature which brought about his cosmetic deformities. He was "cheated of feature" and therefore cannot be loved by a woman, and because of his own self pity he proclaims that if he cannot love, he will hate and become a villain. Isolate, he devises up an evil plan full of murder and deceit, but in the company of others he hides his thoughts and becomes a whole different person. To ensure his kingship, Richard had someone murder Edward, along with various other royal men. Then during the funeral, Richard woos the now widowed Ann over the corpse of her dead husband. Richard blames the murder of Edward on Ann's beauty, "Your beauty was the cause of that effect; Your beauty, that did haunt me in my sleep; To undertake the death of all the world; So I might live one hour in your sweet bosom (29)." By doing so, Richard with his ad misericordiam, successfully manipulated Ann into becoming his wife though everything was against him. Ann knew Richard killed her husband along with other men of royalty, and yet she was still won over by this two-faced manipulative man. At the end of the scene, Richard alone praises himself and mocks Ann that he took "her in her heart's extremest hate; With curses on her mouth, and tears in her eyes (39)" and that he will have her, but not keep her long. Richard knows that he is disrespectful and maniacal, yet he is proud of that. He is without a conscience, which makes him the villain that he wants to be. 

Henry V is a play about an underestimated and youthful king that battles France in order to obtain his desires. Henry was up against obstacles. He was young and reckless, and therefore was not taken seriously by the French. Exeter, Henry's only support, explains to France that Henry is like a tempest and there will be death if the French crown isn't surrendered. The French deny England of the crown and they go to battle. Henry's army was less superior to the French and each soldier knew it. Henry motivates his men in his cape diem speech that, "The fewer men, the greater share of honor; God's will! I pray thee not one man more (83)." During the most desperate moment of the soldiers' lives, he manipulates them into thinking it will be the most glorious. Henry promises them a day of eternal glory that will never be forgotten and always remembered. He builds morale and confidence in each soldier, though the battle was almost certain to be fatal.  The soldiers were told to die for something bigger than themselves and to seize the biggest moment in their life. Henry was brilliant at manipulating these soldiers in order to obtain his desires of battling France and winning the crown. 

Commentary on Genre: 

The Histories were written in order to please the king in thrown at the time. They were written more for entertainment purposes than factual. The histories involve kings, their wars, and corruption. The histories of Richard III and Henry V had many similarities. The men were each of high social status and wanted more for themselves than they had already. Richard was the Duke of Glouster and that was not good enough for him, so he slaughtered his way into the throne. While Henry was the king of England and wanted France too, so he battled his way for the country. Richard and Henry both manipulated people in order to obtain their desires. Richard manipulated poor mourning women into marriage and Henry manipulated soldiers into fighting for his desire. They also sacrificed the lives of other people in order to keep themselves safe when achieving their goal. Richard murdered anyone in his way of obtaining the throne or threatened it. He murdered family, friends, and children for the crown. Henry sacrificed the lives of his men. His army was the "underdog" in the battle. Defeat was in the air, and yet he had his men fight anyway in order for him to obtain the French crown. 

Personal Reflection: 

Richard III and Henry V were both brilliantly written. I admire William Shakespeare in his abilities to portray such strong characters. I favored Richard III out of the two histories because he was the perfect villain. He also symbolized that if you set your mind to something, you can achieve it. Nothing held this character back. This character was repulsive, murderous, deceitful, and everyone knew it, yet he accomplished so much through them. I almost admire him, though it sounds sick. Just the manipulation that occurred in both histories astounded me. Even Henry's ability to build morale through words was powerful. I completely loved reading the histories.