Erick on St. Crispin’s Day

St. Crispin’s Day (Erick Mendoza)

The scenes before Henry’s speech reveal to the reader that Henry’s troops have become demoralized, afraid, and regret their part in this battle. Upon hearing Westmorland’s regret that their numbers are so few, Henry launches himself into another one of his eloquent and heart-moving speeches. Henry’s speech relies heavily upon glorifying the idea of death on the battlefield and the traditional promises of “wealth and prestige” if they should succeed. Henry presents himself, and invites those around him to do likewise, as a man who cares not for the materialistic trophies of the war but as someone for whom honor means a great deal. To back up this claim from his part, Henry assures those around him that they are free to leave if they so wish and he will go as far as to give them money for their journey home because that man is not worthy to die by their side. By making this claim, Henry make sit clear that he places no value on coins and all value on the idea of a glory and honor filled death upon a battlefield. This part of his speech reminds me a bit of Lord Tennyson’s poem “The Charge of the Light Brigade,” in which the soldiers charge to their deaths without questioning the danger they are in solely because they must follow their orders and die with honor. In an earlier conversation with his soldiers while in disguise, Henry says something that sounds to me like he’s saying that death and war are God’s instrument for punishing soldiers who have committed crimes in their homeland. By this point, Henry sounds somewhat cold-hearted and immune to the suffering and impending death of his soldiers. But to set their minds at ease, Henry says “we band of brothers” then again, “For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother.” By using the word “brothers” Henry gives the soldiers the privilege and pride of being called “equal” with the monarch of England. I believe this was said as a way to revitalize their moral and instill them with a sense of pride and dignity. With the stakes higher than ever before, the massive French army before them, the tattered English forces, and the demoralized spirits of the English army, Henry once again proves his ability to rouse up his army through his eloquent and powerful speeches.