Episode 13: Henry V - Shakespeare: A Young Prince Delivers the Greatest Speech on War

Hot Takes on the Classics

Description

In this episode of Hot Takes on the Classics, Emily Maeda and Tim McIntosh delve into Shakespeare’s Henry V, a play that captures the remarkable transformation of Prince Hal into England’s greatest warrior king. They discuss the historical backdrop of the Hundred Years’ War, the tension between honor and responsibility, and the timeless power of the Saint Crispin’s Day speech. Tim also delivers his fiery hot take on how Shakespeare should be taught—and why it’s time to move beyond simply reading his plays in classrooms.

Show Guide

00:00 Opening Remarks and Saint Crispin’s Day Speech

01:06 Henry V: From Reckless Prince to Warrior King

04:15 The Insult of the Tennis Balls and the Call to War

09:24 Historical Henry vs. Shakespeare’s Heroic King

12:15 The Betrayal: Conspiracies Against the Throne

17:10 Leadership and Discipline: Justice Among Soldiers

22:00 The Night Before Agincourt: A King Among His Men

25:35 The Saint Crispin’s Day Speech: We Few, We Happy Few

29:50 The Battle of Agincourt: Victory Against All Odds

33:10 Henry’s Marriage to Catherine: Love, Politics, and Power

36:20 Tim’s Hot Take: Stop Reading Shakespeare in Silence

41:00 Closing Remarks and Next Episode Preview

Key Topics & Takeaways

• Transformation of a King: Prince Hal’s evolution into Henry V illustrates the weight of kingship and the responsibilities of leadership.
• Honor and Discipline: Henry’s strict enforcement of justice—even with his former friends—underscores the cost of leadership.
• The Power of Rhetoric: The Saint Crispin’s Day speech stands as one of the most stirring calls to courage in literary history.
• Fact vs. Fiction: Shakespeare blends historical fact with dramatic creativity, creating a heroic yet complex portrait of Henry.
• Tim’s Hot Take: Shakespeare’s plays are meant to be experienced aloud and performed, not passively read as novels.

Questions & Discussion

• How does Shakespeare depict Henry V’s transformation from a carefree prince to a responsible king?
  Reflect on his growth and the burdens of leadership.
• What makes the Saint Crispin’s Day speech so memorable?
  Discuss its themes of camaraderie, courage, and shared sacrifice.
• How does Henry balance justice and mercy?
  Examine the moral and political challenges he faces as a wartime leader.
• Why does Henry’s story still resonate today?
  Explore the enduring themes of leadership, loyalty, and the power of words.
• Should Shakespeare only be read aloud?
  Consider Tim’s argument for experiencing Shakespeare as performance art rather than static text.

Suggested Reading + Resources

• Henry V by William Shakespeare
• The Play’s The Thing Podcast (exploring all of Shakespeare’s plays)
• Performing Shakespeare in Your Classroom on ClassicalU.com