Though fictional, the St. Crispin’s Day Speech, written by William Shakespeare in 1599, is representative of medieval culture. This speech is a part of Shakespeare’s play, Henry V and evokes the way in which kings ruled during those times. This monologue is in response to Westmoreland’s comment about how he wishes there were more men to fight with them.
The point of the King’s speech is to persuade his men that they are better off fighting with less. He begins by giving his thesis, “If we are mark’d to die, we are enow/ To do our country loss; and if to live, / The fewer men, the greater share of honour.” He then begins talking about how the material possessions of this world don’t matter to him, but he does “covet honour.” He speaks about how honor must be earned and how he would not wish to share the honor with a man who “hath no stomach to fight.”
He then does a powerful rhetorical technique; he asks them to visualize what it will be like for them in the future should they succeed by themselves. He says that they knowingly face danger and as a result will gain more honors having come out alive. This honor will be so powerful that it will trump the effects of age that, “Old men forget…But he’ll remember, with advantages, / What feats he did that day.” During this portion, the King speaks in vivid images and this device leaves the audience with memories of vivid images in their minds. He then appeals to their desire for honor and pride as men at war and he uses victimage to bring unite them as a “band of brothers,” exulting their group of soldiers above the men who sleep safely in bed away from war. The king further identifies himself with the audience by using personal pronouns like “we” and “our.”
The values that are praised here are courage & bravery. This is important and appropriate for the audience because the audience consists of a group of men that have been at war for a long time. When one is tired physically, emotionally and mentally as is common in war, it is necessary that their leader continue to inspire them. Henry V does this as he gives them hopes and images of respect, honor and praise. He asserts that what they do in battle will not be forgotten even when the test of age says it should. This indeed would stir and motivate men towards battle.
Further in terms of identification, the audience can identify with the speaker because at this point they have been together, fighting through war for a long time. Henry V calls their group a “band of brothers.” The audience can identify with the topic because at this point they are low in numbers. Henry V is encouraging his men by saying that they don’t need more men from England, that if they die, they die. But, if they are victorious then they will have greater honor. Further, the speech identifies with the situation because Henry V and his men just fought in France and they are about to go back into battle.
