# King Henry V — Henry V character guide

> King Henry V in Henry V by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Harry, King Harry, Henry le Roy, Harry of England, Harry Monmouth, Henry Plantagenet

**First appearance:** 0000-henry-v

## Snapshot

The newly crowned king whose wild youth is said to have died with his father, now weighing a French crown, a shrinking army, and the conscience of every man he leads.

## Who they are

Once Prince Hal of Eastcheap taverns, he now sits at the center of a court where churchmen quietly calculate how a French war might save their lands from taxation. Canterbury marvels that his reformation came 'in a flood,' but the play keeps testing whether that change is sincere or strategic. Walking the camp at night in disguise, he argues with common soldiers about whether a king answers for the souls of those who die in his quarrel.

## Relationships

### [Bardolph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_v_se/characters/bardolph)

_professional_

Bardolph is a former friend of Henry's youth, now a common soldier whom Henry must execute for theft, showing the king's harsh justice.

### [Pistol](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_v_se/characters/pistol)

_professional_

Pistol is a braggart soldier in Henry's army, but the king has little direct interaction with him beyond the military hierarchy.

### [Bardolph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_v_se/characters/bardolph)

_professional_

Bardolph is a former friend of Henry's youth, now a common soldier whom Henry must execute for theft, showing the king's harsh justice.

### [Bardolph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_v_se/characters/bardolph)

_professional_

Bardolph is a former friend of Henry's youth, now a common soldier whom Henry must execute for theft, showing the king's harsh justice.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_v_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i)

Referenced as having undergone a dramatic reformation from wild youth to wise king, and as the target of Canterbury's offer regarding France.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_v_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii)

Seeks legal and moral justification for his claim to France, then responds defiantly to the Dauphin's insult.

### [Scene II: The Southampton Conspiracy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_v_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii)

Reveals the conspiracy, confronts the traitors with a mix of righteous anger and sorrow, then orders their execution before turning his focus to the French campaign.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_v_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Leads the charge and delivers the 'Once more unto the breach' speech.

### [The Siege of Harfleur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_v_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iii)

Delivers a fierce ultimatum to the Governor of Harfleur, threatening destruction and violence if the town does not surrender.

### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_v_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-vi)

Receives Fluellen's report, issues orders against plundering, and delivers a resolute answer to Montjoy's demand for ransom.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_v_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i)

Disguised, debates soldiers about king's responsibility; soliloquizes on ceremony; prays before battle.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_v_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iii)

Delivers the St. Crispin's Day speech, rejects ransom, and leads the English army with defiant courage.

### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_v_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-vi)

Hears Exeter's account of York and Suffolk's deaths, is moved to tears, and orders the killing of prisoners.

### [Scene VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_v_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-vii)

Names the field of Agincourt, gives Fluellen a glove as a favor, and expresses anger at the slaughter of the boys.

### [Scene VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_v_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-viii)

Reveals himself as the disguised soldier Williams struck, pardons Williams, rewards him, and leads the army in giving thanks to God for the victory.

### [The Wooing of Katherine and the Treaty of Troyes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_v_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii)

Woos Katherine with a blend of charm, self-deprecation, and royal authority, ultimately securing her hand and the peace treaty.

### [Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_v_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii)

Celebrated as 'this star of England' who lived greatly in a short time and achieved conquest of France.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_v_se/characters/king_henry_v
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_v_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_v_se/characters