Shakespeare's Restless World 6. Europe: Triumphs of the Past
Apr 23, 2012
A close look at Henry V’s real armour and how regal arms doubled as theatrical props. A tour of Westminster Abbey as a shabby Tudor tourist spot with embalmed royals on display. Exploration of the rise of the history play and its role in shaping patriotic memory and civic education. Tales of Henry and Catherine as public celebrities and the odd rituals of burial and sightseeing.
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Objects Hung Over Henry V's Tomb
- Neil MacGregor describes holding a sword and seeing Henry V's shield, helmet, and saddle hung over his tomb in Westminster Abbey.
- He presents these funeral achievements as theatrical props shaping public memory of Henry V.
Abbey Visits Mirror Theatres
- Jonathan Bate notes the strong parallel between visiting Westminster Abbey and attending history plays at the theatre.
- Both offered affordable, public ways for ordinary people to learn national history around 1600.
Henry V As National Symbol
- Susan Doran explains that Henry V's reputation as an ideal chivalric king resonated in late Elizabethan England.
- His image helped rally the nation against contemporary enemies like Spain and Ireland.