Henry V
Dramatis Personae
King Henry V: Prince Hal ripened into noble manhood, courageous, energetic, generous, just, modest, warm-hearted, wise, and practical, "with a stubborn outside, with an aspect of iron." The ruling monarch seen as the ideal Christian King. LINK TO GENEALOGICAL CHART
The Duke of Gloucester: Henry's youngest brother. His function in the play is to illustrate familial loyalty.
The Duke of Bedford: The Kings brother. He is used in the text to suggest the close familial bonds between the two brothers.
The Duke of Exeter: The King's uncle and trusted advisor. He functions as both a statesman and a warrior.
The Duke of York: Henry's cousin, whom he is very fond of. .
The Archbishop of Canterbury: He is a man of great learning and a master of the English language. He is an astute man, supporting Henry's army with heavy levies from the church.
The Bishop of Ely: The King's learned counsellor on the justice of his claims to the French crown. He is an assistant to the Archbishop and functions mainly as a sounding board for the Archbishop's ideas.
The Earl of Salisbury:
The Earl of Warwick: -- --leaders of the English forces in France.
The Earl of Westmoreland:
Gower: A friend of Fluellen's. He is a good soldier and is the character who realizes that Pistol is a cowardly braggart.
Fluellen: an honest Welsh captain in the English army, a man of "much care and valor" but "out of fashion" and absurdly pedantic in his claim to know the "discipline of war." He is a very proud, conceited, opinionated, testy person who argues with everyone about anything.
Jamy: a Scots captain in the English army.
MacMorris: an Irish captain in the English army.
Bates, Court, Williams: common soldiers in the King's army in France.
The Earl of Cambridge:
Lord Scroop:
Sir Thomas Grey:
-- --English traitors who conspire with the French against the life of Henry V. They are discovered and immediately executed for treason.
Pistol:
Nym:
Bardolph:
-- --of the old Boar's-Head Tavern group, now become camp-followers, cheaters, and thieves in the English army in France.
A Boy attending the three rogues in France. Has the quick wit and intelligence to discern the cowardice of Bardolph, Nym, and Pistol.
An English Herald.
Hostess of the Boar's-Head Tavern, formerly Nell Quickly but now the wife of Pistol.
Charles VI: The quiet and dignified King of France.
Isabel: his queen who joins in the negotiations for peace. .
Lewis, the Dauphin: a conceited coxcomb full of hollow and ostentatious valor, who overestimates himself and underestimates Henry V and the English army.
Katherine: charming, coy, and feminine daughter of King Charles and Queen Isabel, betrothed to King Henry, who believes that she has "witchcraft in {her} lips" and is like an angel.
Alice: a waiting-lady attending the Princess, who, because she has been in England and speaks the language--after a manner--serves as Katherine's instructor and interpreter.
The Duke of Burgundy: active as a peace-maker between France and England.
The Constable of France:
The Duke of Orleans:
The Duke of Bourbon:
-- --leaders of the French army at the Battle of Agincourt.
Rambures:
Grandpre:
-- --noblemen in the French army.
The Governor of Harfleur.
Montjoy: a French herald in charge of delivering the various ultimatums from the French to the English.
Ambassadors from the Dauphin to Henry V.
Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Citizens, Messengers, and Attendants.