In Shakespeare's Henry V, King Henry constantly considers God's position in his war efforts. The King's reflection on God's vision and role in warfare continually guides his decisions and methods. Henry's consideration of God ultimately leads England to success even though God's hand may not have had the same effect that the king and soldiers believe it to have. Many argue that King Henry acts impulsively and immorally when he decides to go to war. However, it can be clearly seen that Henry seeks God's wisdom when making decisions regarding his men and his country. Furthermore, King Henry's faith elevates his men, showing that his faith aids in victory. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay While God may not have directly decided that the English would win the war, King Henry's faith in God and the religious ties he establishes with the war allow him to influence the hearts of his men, leading him to win the war . Part of King Henry's success under Henry V stems from his moral conscience and his tendency to regard the lives of his people as of great importance, in accordance with their virtues. When deciding whether to go to war, King Henry is primarily concerned with the morality of war. He warns Canterbury: “Be careful how you impose our person, how you awaken our sleeping sword of war. We beseech you in the name of God, take heed, for never have two such kingdoms contended without great shedding of blood” (I.ii.23-27). Henry hesitates to shed innocent blood until he is sure that the cause of the war is just. His concern shows that he is aware of the morality of his actions as king. This honorable personality trait ultimately helps his soldiers trust and respect him more: his virtues lead his soldiers to want to fight for him. He asks Canterbury, “I can make this statement with reason and knowledge,” (119), demonstrating that he will not allow his people to die unless it is for a just cause. Henry's vision of war justice contrasts sharply with the mocking gift of the Dauphin of France. The Dolphin's gift of tennis balls shows the Dolphin's impulsiveness and willingness to sacrifice innocent lives without sincere thought. King Henry responds to this petty gift with a heavy speech about the bloodshed and horror of war, conveying that his view of war is much more mature. His seriousness inspires his lords and, ultimately, his soldiers. Towards the end of the play, Henry's soldiers will see his faith in God and his morality, which boosts their morale and helps them win the war. Before the battle, Henry proves himself to be a good king by disguising himself and going out into his tents to gauge the morale of his soldiers. Finding that his men criticize him for being the cause of their deaths, he responds once again by linking war to morality and God's plan. Henry says, "War is its sexton, war is its revenge," ( IV.i.164-165), explaining that a king is not responsible for the sins of his people and encouraging his soldiers to repent of their sins and fight with their minds open to a higher purpose. He also tells his men that if God grants them the gift of survival, they should be grateful. As he states “and in the one who runs away, it would be no sin to think that by making such a free offering to God, he allowed him to survive that day to see His greatness and to teach others how they should prepare” (177-181). King Henry's vision of God's hand in war inspires i.
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