Toxic Masculinity in Henry V
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The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research Volume 21 Article 2 2020 Toxic Masculinity in Henry V Abigail King [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/ur Part of the Dramatic Literature, Criticism and Theory Commons, Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, and the Literature in English, British Isles Commons How has open access to Fisher Digital Publications benefited ou?y Recommended Citation King, Abigail. "Toxic Masculinity in Henry V." The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research 21 (2020): -. Web. [date of access]. <https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/ur/vol21/iss1/2>. This document is posted at https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/ur/vol21/iss1/2 and is brought to you for free and open access by Fisher Digital Publications at St. John Fisher College. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Toxic Masculinity in Henry V Abstract Toxic masculinity motivates the characters and plot of Henry V by William Shakespeare. The play revolves around King Henry V and how he is a model leader of England during the Hundred Years War. Henry uses what a “true” man should be to inspire his soldiers when morale is low. Further, manlihood is seen in the characters or lack thereof. Characters that fail to follow the high expectations of masculinity are killed. Audience members recognize the importance of masculinity throughout the play, although the outcomes of those stereotypes are dangerous seen in the superficial friendships and suppression of authentic self. Keywords toxic masculinity, Shakespeare, friendship Cover Page Footnote I would like to thank Dr. Deborah Uman for encouraging me to submit my work and always helping me develop my writing. This article is available in The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research: https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/ur/ vol21/iss1/2 King: Toxic Masculinity in Henry V Toxic Masculinity in Henry V Abigail King Henry V is a story of brotherhood and victory. It in Shakespeare’s Henry V and Troilus and is about the lengths of what men can achieve Cressida,” discusses the role of the Chorus and when they work together, no matter their other modes of paratext relating to masculinity. background or status. However, when the According to Harlan, the Chorus sets the stage audience analyzes each male character and how of Henry V with the importance of “militant they interact with one another, it is obvious that masculinity” and imposes how the audience their friendships are surface-level, revealing that themselves can benefit from acting masculine toxic masculinity influences their every move. while watching or reading (24). The Chorus Toxic masculinity is the concept concerning introduces the first act with what the audience how men act in order to maintain a positive should expect to come and how they should image of themselves. This includes suppressing understand the events happening. He says: emotions with the exception of physical aggression. Men act dishonestly in order to be Suppose within the girdle of seen as a “true man.” The Boy is the only person these walls Are now confined two in Henry V who identifies the insincere ways of mighty monarchies, whose high, men and shares his critical thoughts of Upreared and abutting fronts the masculinity with the audience. Others, including Perilous narrow ocean parts asunder. the Chorus and King Henry V, abide by toxic Piece out our imperfections with Your masculinity and preach it to the audience in thoughts: Into a thousand parts divide implicit and explicit ways. Masculinity one man and make imaginary Puissance. motivates the characters’ actions and functions (Prologue 19-25) as a central theme in Henry V. Most characters associate attributes of honor and bravery with If the audience gains nothing else from the masculinity, yet they neglect to recognize the Prologue, it is that “mighty” masculinity is to consequences it has on them, such as superficial take place in the play. Even though the second friendships and suppression of the authentic self. monarch mentioned is the enemy in the play (King Charles of France), which would predict Henry V is in a series of Shakespeare’s historical an insulting description, he is still referred to as plays about the Kings in England and how their “mighty,” showing that any military body of rule affected the culture and time period. The power is worth recognizing and acknowledging previous play, Henry IV, also followed Henry V as an impressive man. Additionally, the Chorus while growing up and how he transitioned from is relaying to the audience that the confines of being a rebellious adolescent to a respected the stage are not able to portray the full glory of royal. Henry V mainly follows England’s war, so readers or viewers will have to use their conflict with France and, therefore, England’s imagination. The real soldiers who fought in this involvement with the Hundred Years War. King war deserve recognition beyond what the stage Henry has to make decisions for his country, his and actors can offer. Furthermore, the Chorus people, and the soldiers that are fighting for him believes that the men deserve the “perfect” and, eventually, with him. memory because of how honorable being a soldier is, which is not able to be represented in Henry V uses the Chorus to instruct and warn the the play (Harlan 30). Henry V functions as a audience before each act, treating the audience patriotic celebration of England and its power like soldiers. Because of this, it is evident that a through the reign of King Henry V. Toxic purpose of Henry V is to recognize the value of masculinity is reinforced before the play even war and obedience. Susan Harlan in “Militant starts, let alone any fighting since the Chorus is Prologues, Memory, and Models of Masculinity revering the men. All killing and fighting is Published by Fisher Digital Publications, 2020 1 The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research, Vol. 21 [2020], Art. 2 justified because they were doing it for their aught else but place, degree, and form, / king and, more importantly, their people. Creating awe and fear in other men? / Wherein thou art less happy, being feared, / Than they in The Chorus is an example of how toxic fearing” (4.1.251-254). Even though he masculinity affects Henry V. The Chorus also recognizes that his people fear him, he does not treats the audience as a masculine body (Harlan get true satisfaction and happiness through 28). Harlan suggests that “the Chorus attempts ruling like that. Toxic masculinity uses fear and to arm his audience, to transform them into violence as a motivator. However, Henry is masculine bodies in war” (30). In many of his obviously unhappy with the lifestyle of monologues, the Chorus is instructing readers or threatening and punishing his citizens because of viewers to think a certain way. The Chorus treats his obligations as king meaning that he does not the audience as his own soldiers. If the audience like to live under the confines of toxic follows the Chorus’ orders, they will get the best masculinity. He does not work to make a change experience from the play, at least that’s what the because he knows he will be rejected since toxic Chorus suggests. In the Act V Prologue, the masculinity is so widely accepted. He holds Chorus says, “Then brook abridgment; and your what others see him as above his true identity. eyes advance, / After your thoughts, straight His masculinity reigns supreme as king and that back again to France” (Prologue 5.44-45). The image cannot be tarnished. phrase “straight back” is direct, like a military command. Furthermore, the verbs used in this Henry embodies masculinity because of his role excerpt are imperative, meaning that they are as king to his soldiers, even though he expressed command-like. “Brook abridgment” and “Your disdain for what it means to be a man. Just two eyes advance” are phrases with verbs that make scenes after Henry contemplates the many it forceful upon the audience. The Chorus acts disadvantages of being king, such as having to like the audience needs the instructions to follow use fear as a motivator, he is forced into his role along with the important plot. Since the only as king and has to perform once again. When soldiers in the Hundred Years War would have morale is low, Henry knows that the best way to been men, the Chorus associates soldiers with motivate his “crew” is to use masculinity as a masculinity. Toxic masculinity is also known to rallying cry. These men may not have be associated with violence and aggression, voluntarily signed up for the war, but they can furthering the connection between the audience leave with what is perceived as a man’s biggest and men. Toxic masculinity influences the goal in life: honor. Before he gives the famous Chorus to find value in treating the audience as a “St. Crispian’s Day” speech, men start to feel masculine body to reinforce the audience’s sorry for themselves since they are so ability to follow orders and, therefore, become outnumbered compared to the opposing force. A more honorable. concept within toxic masculinity is that men are not to express emotions, especially sorrow or King Henry’s character is fueled by toxic fear. Henry uses their sorrow as ammunition: masculinity demonstrated in his many attempts “That which hath no stomach to this fight, / Let to impress his subjects and appear as a strong him depart... / We would not die in that man’s front to France. Henry’s true self is juxtaposed company / That fears his fellowship to die with with how he acts under these constraints in Act us” (4.3.35-39).