Part 1:
The ideals of civic order and rebellion, with respect to the ruler or king, were controversial topics in the 16th century. The first and most widely accepted concept of political order was natural law. Natural Law says the ruler or king gets their power directly from God, and that authority is “independent of a ruler’s individual will.” (Hodgdon 170) Natural law is a definite entity and doesn’t change. This idea was becoming increasing popular during this century, because it meant that rulers could get away with a lot more without being checked. Everything they did was a direct reflection of God’s will. During this time, many also wanted to unite the entire state based on these Christian principles. Following these thoughts, however, is a push-back to absolute ideas like those stated previously. The emerging idea was based on the social structure of an obedient servant. At this point to only clear example of an actual rebellion during Queen Elizabeth’s reign is the Northern rebellion. (Hodgdon 171) Regarding church, there was strict scrutiny on who attended. You could be either fined or imprisoned for not attending church. “An Homily Against Disobedience and Willful Rebellion” was a specific Homily concerning correct behavior and discipline. The Homily is split into five parts. The first part has to do with the beginning of time. More specifically, the creation of heaven and hell, and explicitly lays out the rules and regulations of good order. Lucifer was actually the first “rebel” and God made his Ten Commandments centered around reestablishing good order because of what Lucifer had done to disobey him. The second part gives specific and clear examples of obedience to superiors. It also provides the broad definition of “good vs evil.” The third part paints a crystal-clear picture that rebellion itself is the “most dangerous violation of all God’s commandments.” (Homily 173) The fourth part zones in on the other side of the argument i.e. calling for the excluding of rebels and not acknowledging them as a valid argument. The fifth and final part basically says how those who are easily lead into rebellion are weak minded and ignorant. Referring to the third part, rebellion is not only unacceptable but it will flip upside down your social and family structures. In other words, it will curse everyone within the family with the wrong mindset, therefore cursing the children yet to be born as well. Not only will it curse them but it will bring dishonor to anyone around them, and anyone who knows them. Even worse than civil war, rebellion is the worst of all war, and the most gruesome. You must be weary of how close rebellion can infiltrate into your life, because most of the time it will be a close friend or advisor that are the partakers of rebellious thoughts and temptations.
Part 2:
Regarding Henry V, the ideals and temptations of rebellion can’t get much closer than where they ended up. There is not only rebellion outside of Henry’s circle in other countries, but also within Henry’s nobility and closest advisors. There are two main connections between Henry V and the culture of this time that the play brings to light. The most notable themes are the close proximity that rebels ultimately are to you when they are exposed and the extreme violation of the Ten Commandments and how unacceptable rebellion is. The first part of rebellion in Henry V was, in Henry’s eyes, the parts of France that he claims is his. Henry says that he has the rights to this land so when the Dauphin and France laughs off the fact and mocks Henry for saying it’s his land leads to war. However, the main, and most important portion of rebellion that reflects the cultural aspects of this time, is the rebellion with Henry’s people. First, is the plot to kill Henry amongst three of his people, including his old friend Scrope. This reflects perfectly the ideal that rebellion happens closet to home. Another portion of rebellion, not against Henry himself, but did rebel against the ideals that Henry was standing for, was Nim and Bardolph being caught looting. Although it wasn’t directed at Henry himself it punched holes through the values Henry was enforcing and expected so it was taken as rebellion against him. Going from that ideal is the last point, that rebellion is the most extreme violation of God’s Ten Commandments. It’s very cut and clear how unacceptable rebellion is at that time. That idea is expressed explicitly in Henry V. Shakespeare does this by having Henry immediately execute the traitors threatening his life and the looters. The ironic part, however, is not only does Shakespeare have Henry be ruthless and unwavering in his punishments because of the values of that time, but also because Henry himself, used to participate in those “rebellious” activities when he was younger.
Works Cited:
Shakespeare, William. The Life of King Henry the Fifth. Ed. Claire McEachern. New
York: Penguin, 1999. Print.
Hodgdon, Barbara, ed. Civic Order and Rebellion. The First Part of King Henry the
Fourth: Texts and Contexts. By William Shakespeare. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 1997.
“An Homily Against Disobedience and Willful Rebellion”. The First Part of King Henry
the Fourth: Texts and Contexts. By William Shakespeare. Ed. Barbara Hodgdon. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 1997.