Fluellen in "Henry V"

Paper Summary:

The Welshman Fluellen in "Henry V" by Shakespeare is an interesting and quite quixotic individual. The paper explains that he speaks boldly of many things, yet at times he is quite incomprehensible. Both his language and his references are puzzling, even though the intensity of his speech is quite clear in the written text. This paper shows that once his language is understood, however, Fluellen is shown to be a human representation of the unification of the British peoples. He also demonstrates the proper manner in which a vassal may disagree with his sovereign.

From the Paper:

"A further bit of obscurity is the "disciplines of war" (3.2.59, 3.2.72, etc.) and "law of arms" (4.7.2) to which Fluellen refers. He makes reference in 3.2.81 to "disciplines of the pristine wars of the Romans" (emphasis mine) then goes on to urge Gower to "examine the wars of Pompey the Great" (4.1.69). No real explanation is given to these "disciplines". Campbell states that this is really "a quarrel raging in [Queen] Elizabeth's day but not in Henry V's" (302). It is curious that Fluellen is espousing the viewpoint of that the ancient warriors (Agamemnon, Alexander, Mark Antony, et al) are the greater examples of how warfare should be conducted, while noting that historically Henry used a most unorthodox defense against the French cavalry."

More papers on Fluellen in "Henry V":

• Analytical Essay # 121031 : "Speeches in "Henry V"
• Analytical Essay # 145547 : "King Henry's Speech in "Henry V"
• Analytical Essay # 68503 : "Rhetoric in "Henry V"

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