"Methinks the truth should live from age to age": The Dating and Contexts of Henry V

Abstract

overleaf 72. It only really surfaces—this in both versions—in Henry’s private prayers on the eve of Agincourt, where he asks that his father’s “fault ... in compassing the crown”(4.1.290–91) be not visited on him that day, where—perhaps perversely—it registers most strongly as one of the burdens the king has to carry rather than as a questioning of his status. This content downloaded from 157.55.39.78 on Sun, 19 Jun 2016 06:07:26 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms abstract Richard Dutton discusses Henry V as a succession play and analyzes the differing registers of that theme in its 1600 Quarto and 1623 Folio texts. He considers its chronicle history genre, noting how such works typically introduced fictional romantic elements that allowed for an oblique (and apparently acceptable) topical allusiveness, by contrast with the “politic”histories of Daniel, Jonson, and Chapman in the mid-1600s. Henry V appeared in the wake of the dramatic shifts in European politics in 1598, especially confrontation with Spain, now intent on placing the Infanta Isabella on Elizabeth’s throne. This coincided with outright rebellion in Ireland as well as possible threats from Scotland. Dutton traces how the two texts register these issues, arguing that the Folio version (the only one that mentions Ireland) is likely to date from after the decisive Battle of Kinsale (1601) rather than from 1599, and therefore to celebrate Mountjoy rather than Essex.Richard Dutton discusses Henry V as a succession play and analyzes the differing registers of that theme in its 1600 Quarto and 1623 Folio texts. He considers its chronicle history genre, noting how such works typically introduced fictional romantic elements that allowed for an oblique (and apparently acceptable) topical allusiveness, by contrast with the “politic”histories of Daniel, Jonson, and Chapman in the mid-1600s. Henry V appeared in the wake of the dramatic shifts in European politics in 1598, especially confrontation with Spain, now intent on placing the Infanta Isabella on Elizabeth’s throne. This coincided with outright rebellion in Ireland as well as possible threats from Scotland. Dutton traces how the two texts register these issues, arguing that the Folio version (the only one that mentions Ireland) is likely to date from after the decisive Battle of Kinsale (1601) rather than from 1599, and therefore to celebrate Mountjoy rather than Essex. This content downloaded from 157.55.39.78 on Sun, 19 Jun 2016 06:07:26 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms