Identity Crisis

Henry, through many instances, portrays himself as a merciless and cruel character. (violent threats of rape and pillage, punishing friends by death, killing french prisoners of war, etc.) How much of this is due to personal insecurities with his new position as king?

Influenced by the shock of his father's death, the promotion of position, and overwhelmed with responsibility of the people and the fate of England, perhaps Henry is having trouble assuming his new identity. Insulted by the episode with the tennis balls (undermining his authority?), Henry "steps up" to the challenge of claiming the throne of France, which also intricately involves the claiming of his own identity as king. This (war) is Henry's first real challenge (trial?) as king--and a huge one! He is still unsure of himself and even unsure, at the beginning of the play, of the legitimacy of his claim to being king in the first place. All of his actions can be seen as determinations to "prove" himself while commanding respect through fear and discipline,  exhibiting the characteristics that he thinks he should to fulfill his role as king. I think that it's out of Henry's uncertainty and instability of himself come his not-so-nice ways of handling situations.