Benjamin Banneker Laquasia LeGrand

Period 8 March 22, 2012

English Honors

1. The conscience of the King Henry during the preparation of the war is very over

wealhming. He is very stressed and nervous for the war that is about to take place.

Henry grapple with his self concept by convincing himself that he is on the side of God.

Also, by having a desire to not only leave a great name but also a great legacy. This is

portrayed in both act four and the scene play, when Henry is praying to God , asking

him to protect him and his soldiers and asking to give them the strength to win the war.

Henry is forced to deal with what others think about him, in act four scene one, by

putting on a robe (disguise), and talking to his soldiers to see what his soldiers think

about him, the war and also to see how loyal his solders are.

2. The king can be described as “but a man” because he has a conscience, he shows

affection, he takes authority and he has a pride that he would like to sustain. The king is

different from other men because in act four, scene one, when he was talking to

conscience he stated, that he has a difficult, and stressful position he must sustain. Also

he lacks the necessities human beings need to survive in life, such as water, food and

sleep. Henry isn’t able to sleep because as a King, he is always thinking of a new

strategy. The King’s affections are not higher mounted than other individuals, because

to be a leader and to show that one have power, individuals have to make decisions,

and decisions that are not based on emotions. For example, when Henry exiled

Bardoulph, his long time friend, because he disobeyed his order, which was to not take

anything that was not paid for. Although Henry was sad about his decision, which was

also shown when he was crying, he had to set an example to his soldiers, that he is

very powerful and that the soldiers and a man of his word.

3. I believe the King place a high value on the merit of his soldiers. In act four, scene

one, “every subjects soul is his own” lines 134-154, Henry denies that the king should

be held responsible for the salvation or damnation if they die in the battle. I think he

believes this to be true because in act four scene one Henry states “for they purpose

not their death when they purpose their services,” meaning that the soldiers knew, when

they enter war, there’s a probability that one can lose their life, but that shouldn’t be a

burden of the king. It’s up to the soldier to have their gaurds up at all times.