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Authority and the Problem of Other Minds in Shakespeare's 'Henriad'.

The article focuses on the divisive interpretations of Prince Hal's character in the Henriad plays, particularly in "Henry V," and the question of whether he is a heroic figure uniting England or a manipulative scoundrel. The author explores the problem of interpreting Hal's character through the le...

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Published in:Early Modern Literary Studies Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 1 - 34
Main Author: Pensky, David Nathan
Format: Article
Published: Early Modern Literary Studies 2023
Subjects:
Henry V, King of England, 1387-1422
Henry V (Play : Shakespeare)
Opacity (Linguistics)
Kings & rulers
Medieval drama
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Summary:The article focuses on the divisive interpretations of Prince Hal's character in the Henriad plays, particularly in "Henry V," and the question of whether he is a heroic figure uniting England or a manipulative scoundrel. The author explores the problem of interpreting Hal's character through the lens of the "problem of other minds," considering the opacity of the king's mind and the shifting theories of authority in the plays.