The Attitudes of the Characters in Act2 Scene4 of Henry V

The constable expresses a different view of King Henry and tries to point out the Dauphin’s mistake, using a metaphor ‘as gardeners do with ordure hide these roots that shall first spring and be most delicate?(39-40), by which he states that Henry’s wild early days were simply fertile soil for the mature flower of his kingship. This shows he is a realistic and sensible character. ing Harry strong?

On the other hand, the Dauphin ?the heir to the French throne ?is arrogant and he is not sensibly optimistic or wise. He is over-confident about the battle, as he says ‘let us do it with no show of fear?(in line23). He meets the French King in order to tell him that Henry demands the King to give up the crow of France and to hands him a family tree to prove the justice of Henry’s claim. He also encourages and urges the king to face up the English ambassadors bravely, as he says ‘let them know of what a monarchy you are the head?and calls English ambassadors as ‘Coward dogs? He frequently talks to the Constable and the King, mocking and underestimating the power of England and King Henry. For instance, although he agrees that ‘defences, musters, preparations should be maintained, assembled and collected as were a war in expectation? he also tells them that extra defences on the French forts are unnecessary because ‘English were busied with a Whitson Morris dance? To the Dauphin, Henry is still the ‘vain, giddy, shallow, humorous youth? and this misimpression makes him deny that English King is a serious threat when the French King and the Constable are concerned about the war. When the French King asks what will happen if he refuses the demands, the Exeter strongly threatens him and tells him that his refusal will bring great suffering and death, which is firmly described in his lexis such as ‘the widow’s tears? ‘the orphan’s cries?and ‘the dead men’s blood? Violence is also suggested by images of storms and other disastrous natural events such as ‘thunder?and ‘earthquake like a Jove?

To conclude, Act 2 scene 4 evokes the different views of the French King, the Dauphin, the Constable and the Exeter by imagery, alliteration, repetition and semantic fields. These diverged French opinions in this may foreshadow or mirror the disunity among the French and encourages the audience to anticipate how the French will fight in the battle. When he shows the family tree, he describes Edward the Third as ‘his most famed and famous ancestor? in which he uses alliteration to emphasize the power of Edward.

The Duke of Exeter enters the scene later as an ambassador from England and he delivers King Henry’s demands to the French court in a very bold and confident way. He also recognizes Henry’s true character, as he uses words including ‘great state? ‘well supplied? ‘noble and ‘modest?to build the semantic field of Henry and England.