Fluellen, Henry's "Hype Man"
Henry V has left me with many questions about Shakespeare's motivation on how he portrayed characters, but his portrayal of Capt. Fluellen is one that leaves me wondering if Fluellen is more nuanced then I initially thought.
While reading Henry V, I found Fluellen to be nothing more than a bombastic character which provides readers with comic relief, yet I can't help but think there is more to his character then just his humorous lines he delivers throughout the play. Fluellen is made to look foolish to appeal to the audience, but his loyalty to the Henry helps endear him to the audience. Fluellen's humor is on display when he speaks with Gower about Henry's origin story. He says, " I tell you, Captain, if you look in the maps of the world I warrant you sall find in the comparisons between Macedon and Monmouth...is both alike" (842). He goes on to say, "If you mark Alexander's life well, Harry of Monmouth's life is come after it indifferent will" (842). These passage's, while humorous, go directly to why Fluellen is brilliant. He draws connections from antiquity, so he is not a stupid man, but he creates narratives to reinforce the affection and mystic of his liege. This is a brilliant strategy.
Fluellen knows that Henry is a flawed king. He points this out when he relates how Alexander killed his best friend and Henry with his early partying nature helped put Sir John Falstaff in an early grave. Fluellen wants Gower to know the comparison's aren't perfect, but the comparisons should be made to a great leader such as Alexander.
We would all be lucky to have a hype man such as Fluellen. I find it interesting that Shakespeare used a Welsh character to hype Henry. It seems that because Fluellen is a different nationality his perspective on Henry is more credible then a solider or noble from England.
Shakespeare, William. The Norton Shakespeare: Histories. Edited by Stephen Greenblatt et al., W.W. Norton & Company, 2016.
While reading Henry V, I found Fluellen to be nothing more than a bombastic character which provides readers with comic relief, yet I can't help but think there is more to his character then just his humorous lines he delivers throughout the play. Fluellen is made to look foolish to appeal to the audience, but his loyalty to the Henry helps endear him to the audience. Fluellen's humor is on display when he speaks with Gower about Henry's origin story. He says, " I tell you, Captain, if you look in the maps of the world I warrant you sall find in the comparisons between Macedon and Monmouth...is both alike" (842). He goes on to say, "If you mark Alexander's life well, Harry of Monmouth's life is come after it indifferent will" (842). These passage's, while humorous, go directly to why Fluellen is brilliant. He draws connections from antiquity, so he is not a stupid man, but he creates narratives to reinforce the affection and mystic of his liege. This is a brilliant strategy.
Fluellen knows that Henry is a flawed king. He points this out when he relates how Alexander killed his best friend and Henry with his early partying nature helped put Sir John Falstaff in an early grave. Fluellen wants Gower to know the comparison's aren't perfect, but the comparisons should be made to a great leader such as Alexander.
We would all be lucky to have a hype man such as Fluellen. I find it interesting that Shakespeare used a Welsh character to hype Henry. It seems that because Fluellen is a different nationality his perspective on Henry is more credible then a solider or noble from England.
Shakespeare, William. The Norton Shakespeare: Histories. Edited by Stephen Greenblatt et al., W.W. Norton & Company, 2016.
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