Point of View

The story is written in third person from a limited perspective. The point of view is necessary because action occurs in both the French and the English camps and one person could not have been in all places to witness the happenings. An important example of this is seen when Katharine is learning English from her lady-in-waiting, Alice. That scene takes place without any English people watching and Shakespeare’s obvious efforts at humor here would have been impossible without the omniscient perspective. The limitation occurs only with regard to thoughts. For example, Henry learns that three men have been hired by the French to kill Henry. The reader knows that Henry is aware of the murder plot but has no idea what his thoughts are with regard to the situation. It is known that the three men are allowed to accompany Henry as he...