English history provides us pieces of information about remarkable events and people as well as their contributions to the world. The English language and the great writers, who had contributed a lot to the world literature and knowledge, have been drawing the learners’ interest and affecting their lives since English literature became part of every school’s curriculum. One of these authors is William Shakespeare whose plays led England to achieving fame and glory. “Renaissance spirit reached its height in the work of the poet and playwright” (Perry 331). Greek and Roman dramas had been recalled through his plays, and later were redefined as the playwright made his women character, who used to be submissive in Greek and Roman dramas, influential just like Portia and Jessica in “Merchant of Venice.” He based most of his stories on the experiences of real-life kings and queens, princes and princesses and others. Thus, he came up with plays of great insights on real-life emotions, struggles and triumphs, issues on gender, race and power, ideas which are not observed in most writers and which have brought Shakespeare to the peak of his career and made his works the focus of literary studies especially those that mirror human struggles and triumph and that tell story of believable and illustrious political figures that belonged to England’s royal families.
Nobody has ever claimed that Shakespeare wrote historically exact plays. Despite that, he has been admired by both scholars and common readers for his writings exhibit depth and essence of human nature and feature the dynastic history and its principles. Henry V, who was introduced as Hal in Henry IV, now has grown to be a fine and valorous successor of his father. He led the war against the French in Agincourt and won it. As Henry V died his son Henry VI succeeded him to the throne. This literary piece emphasizes England’s pride which lasted for hundreds of years and its union with France as Henry V married the King Charles’s daughter – Catherine (Perry 191). Further, it shows the efficient leading of Henry V as he applies Henry IV’s examples. Just like his father Henry V is a Machiavellian leader who exhausts all his means to realize his ends. He pretends to be someone else to spy on his enemies and uses his excellent speaking ability to make his men fight against the French men whose population is greater than theirs. He speaks of keeping peace and order in his kingdom yet when his kingship is threatened he orders for the killing of his friends. Here, Shakespeare explicitly illustrates Henry V’s wisdom and logical thinking as the latter orchestrates each of his plans well for his political and social survival. The same philosophy is reflected by Polonius as he advises his children to do good and be true always when in fact he himself does the opposite of what he instructs.
Shakespeare was said to be a man of profound knowledge despite his lack of degree in formal education and probably his close association with members of royal families and fellow writers like Christopher Marlowe contributed to it. His ability to strategize a plan of attack is exemplified by Henry V in the battle against the French men, by Henry IV as he uses impostors to fight for him, and by Hamlet as he thinks of a better way to execute his revenge towards his uncle. In Greek and Roman dramas, women are maltreated and “are read as naturally sacrificeable” (Little 2). Helen was forcibly wedded to Menelaus whereas her sister Clytemnestra obediently accepted Agamemnon as her husband. This same thing is experienced by Catherine as her father forced her to marry Henry V. She is even taught to speak English because her language is French. Catherine sacrifices herself merely for his father’s desire to keep the throne, a clear exhibition of a Patriarchal principle, which at the time of Shakespeare was very evident.
The father dominates everyone in the family and nobody is given the right to oppose his decisions, not even the mother. The emotions and wishes of the women were set aside unlike Portia and Jessica in “Merchant of Venice.” Portia proves her love to Bassanio by doing a favor for the latter’s friend whereas Jessica defies her father’s will and elopes with Lorenzo. Here, the women’s intellectual power overcomes the men’s as Shylock and other men in the play never hint that the judge is up to something when “he” asks for a weighing scale. Emilia in “Othello” speaks on her opinion concerning unfaithfulness. Here, the writer’s view on women’s importance and his idea of feminism philosophy prevail. Women’s rights to speak, to choose, to participate in a legal process are illustrated well by the playwright.
Wickedness and how this affects the person’s entirety can be mirrored in the play . King Richard exhibits such as he tries to annihilate all the possible inheritors of the crown in “Richard II”. When Henry V threatens for the massive execution of the children should the governor not surrender, his diabolical side prevails. Hence, it can be said that Shakespeare has not exhibited his ethical purpose in his plays. His philosophical purpose surfaces in every play as previously narrated but not his ethical purpose. For example, most of his characters kill, steal and lie for them to get what they want in life and although the author imparts the idea that evil begets evil still the values that he wants to share are not underscored considering that tragic events overpower the pleasant ones. Another, children in his plays are more of defiant rather than obedient. Henry V as Hal is the most convincing example. He connives with the thieves of his society and does not comply with his father’s wishes. His father, Henry IV instructs him to practice frugality and decent living but he does not abide by his rules. He only heeds his father as the latter gets sick and Hal as Henry V is put in charge of everything. Moral retribution is Shakespeare’s emphasis in Henry V but it is not observed as the king despite his wickedness keeps on winning wars and still is highly regarded by the people. Peace as often thought by Henry V is not given form for absolutism empowers it. Henry, being the king decides about everything. When his father dies, absolutely, he plays the role of a king, the same thing is experienced by his son and exercising such a philosophy hinders the purpose of reflecting ethics as observed with Henry V. Because others are not given the freedom to express their opinion and exercise their rights, they don’t have any means to do them but to rebel. Hence, rebellion has become prevalent in chronicle plays.
Shakespeare is the only writer/author who has the ability to offer comedy, tragedy and history at the same time. His unusual grammatical structures and eccentric characters make people ponder on the story or play. Shakespeare can make a supporting character overcome all the other characters in a play just like Polonius in “Hamlet.” He dies even before the play ends but his presence is still felt as the play concludes with a fight between Hamlet and Laertes. These ideas are not observed in any modern novel, play and others.
The playwright mixes history and comedy for the purpose of informing at the same time entertaining the audience. He presents interesting ideas through unlikely characters in inconceivable yet convincing ways, which most often than not, leave the viewers and readers crave for more. Shakespeare explicitly spoke of his views of human nature basing on the life of real people, a unique style which earned him the title “the world’s finest dramatist and the greatest writer in the English language” (Perry 331).
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