Examine the Character of Henry V and Refer to Any Performance You May Have Seen. Comment on Shakespeare's Use of Language and Dramatic Device and Stagecraft in His Portrayal.
             William Shakespeare wrote Henry V in 1599. Henry V was written at the time of Elizabeth I a golden era in English history. After being faced against a superior force and with good military tactics they achieved victory in 1588 in the battle of Armada.
             Henry V was written as a follow up to Henry IV part 1& 2. In Henry part 1 & 2 the character of Henry is portrayed as a shallow boy who drinks and is a womaniser and who has not the best of friends. This led the other candidates to the throne to underestimate Henry, as he gave no intention of being a good king. But in Henry IV act 5, Henry V is crowned. Henry V became king of England in 1413 at the age of 24 and he revived his claim to the throne of France, which lead to the battle of Agincourt.
             In this essay I shall examine Henry's character in Henry V. I shall examine the many facets of the character of Henry V. I shall also examine the language, stagecraft and dramatic devices of William Shakespeare. I will also refer to the performance of Divine Right of Kings acted and directed by Kenneth Branagh.
             Shakespeare begins the play with the prologue; he has used this to apologise for the limitation of the theatre and the use of actors as representations of kings and princesses. Inventively Shakespeare uses the chorus to give time for the audience to understand the play but most creatively also asks the audience to use there imagination. This is an example of Shakespeare stage craft as in Shakespeare's day they did not have the technology they have now so to compensate he has add a chorus at various intervals to help the audience. In reference to the performance of Kenneth Branagh in Divine Right of Kings the opening prologue has not been used to apologise for the production but is used to help to give...