SOURCE: Wilcox, Lance. “Katherine of France as Victim and Bride.” Shakespeare Studies 17 (1985): 61-76.

In the following essay, Wilcox comments on Henry's character through an analysis of Katherine, demonstrating how Katherine's personality and role within the play are used to salvage Henry's image.

Criticism of Henry V has long concentrated on two issues: the “epic” structure of the play and the moral character of Henry himself. The latter has provoked critical attacks and rebuttals of remarkable stridency since Hazlitt first raked the king in 1817.¹ Henry has been viewed as everything from a ruthless, irresponsible military adventurer to the model Christian prince.² Henry so dominates the play, and his actions are so morally ambiguous throughout, that it becomes almost impossible to discuss any thematic implication of the work without passing some sort of judgment on him. By the same token, no discussion of any other character in the play can...