The play is set in England in
the early fifteenth century. The political situation in England
is tense: King Henry IV has died, and his son, the young King Henry
V, has just assumed the throne. Several bitter civil wars have left
the people of England restless and dissatisfied. Furthermore, in
order to gain the respect of the English people and the court, Henry
must live down his wild adolescent past, when he used to consort
with thieves and drunkards at the Boar’s Head Tavern on the seedy
side of London.
Henry lays claim to certain parts of France, based on
his distant roots in the French royal family and on a very technical
interpretation of ancient land laws. When the young prince, or Dauphin,
of France sends Henry an insulting message in response to these claims,
Henry decides to invade France. Supported by the English noblemen
and clergy, Henry gathers his troops for war.
Henry’s decision to invade France trickles down to affect
the common people he rules. In the Boar’s Head Tavern in Eastcheap, some
of the king’s former friends—whom he rejected when he rose to the
throne—prepare to leave their homes and families. Bardolph, Pistol,
and Nim are common lowlifes and part-time criminals, on the opposite
end of the social spectrum from their royal former companion. As
they prepare for the war, they remark on the death of Falstaff,
an elderly knight who was once King Henry’s closest friend.
Just before his fleet sets sail, King Henry learns of
a conspiracy against his life. The three traitors working for the
French beg for mercy, but Henry denies their request. He orders
that the trio, which includes a former friend named Scrope, be executed.
The English sail for France, where they fight their way across the
country. Against incredible odds, they continue to win after conquering
the town of Harfleur, where Henry gives an impassioned speech to motivate
his soldiers to victory. Among the officers in King Henry’s army
are men from all parts of Britain, such as Fluellen, a Welsh captain.
As the English advance, Nim and Bardolph are caught looting and
are hanged at King Henry’s command.
The climax of the war comes at the famous Battle of Agincourt, at
which the English are outnumbered by the French five to one. The night
before the battle, King Henry disguises himself as a common soldier
and talks to many of the soldiers in his camp, learning who they
are and what they think of the great battle in which they have been
swept up. When he is by himself, he laments his ever-present responsibilities
as king. In the morning, he prays to God and gives a powerful, inspiring
speech to his soldiers. Miraculously, the English win the battle,
and the proud French must surrender at last. Some time later, peace
negotiations are finally worked out: Henry will marry Catherine,
the daughter of the French king. Henry’s son will be the king of
France, and the marriage will unite the two kingdoms.