Davis Rowady
ERH-321WX-01 Power and Politics in Shakespeare
COL Miller
11 February 2019
Help Received: Syllabus and COL Miller. Davis Rowady
Part 1: Ponet breaks down his view of minority voices of political resistance in three ways: resistance of the monarch not allowing people to freely practice their own religion, resistance of the throne and how the king or queen governs and advocating for individuals to contribute in political decision-making. He is the author of Treatise, which was written in 1556, but was not recognized until 1642 because the Catholic Queen Mary and Philip from Spain exiled him to Strasbourg because he was Protestant and furthered the education to scholars (Hodgdon 179-180). England was a Catholic nation at the time and those who were Protestant or did not accept were rebuked by the state. The church and monarch held a lot of power at the time and Ponet did not agree with the way the rule of England was headed. He promoted resistance to authoritarian governmentf and argued that God’s absolute sovereignty principle is established for the wellbeing of the people (Hodgdon 180). Governments are meant to be run with the individuals of a state to be involved in the decision-making process. This idea was ahead of its time, but it would not be long until people listened to Ponet’s message that a nation, which is made up by the people, should be governed by the people, without church interference, and with all members of society contributing to the state. Another minority view Ponet had was contrary to the 1547 Homily of absolute obedience. He believed if civil authority demands obedience to God and others, but if the ruler asks an individual to be dishonorable in a form, the individual should not obey the evil commands (Hodgdon 181). This goes against who God is and what His teachings are and Ponet did accept this to be true. Tyranny and punishment are not done by God, so we must not accept this as reality because God is the creator of good.
The form of resistance comes at the individual level. Ponet believes if individual resistance promotes the act for committing crimes against evil or tyranny will lead to anarchy, so the best way for people to keep themselves and others accountable is through a hierarchical system (Hodgdon 181). Ponet’s disagreements with English Parliament started during Elizabeth’s reign and continued because he was backed by dukes throughout the monarchy. These Puritan ideas and beliefs wanted to separate from a hierarchy and more towards a government made up by the people. Ponet was a small voice in a large kingdom, but his writings and teachings helped form the American democratic system.
Part 2: Act IV Scene I reflects minority voices of political resistance the best from Part 1. At the British camps, the mood is very somber that night before the Battle of Agincourt because many of the soldiers believe they will not return from battle. King Henry V talks amongst his brothers, Bedford and Gloucestor, and wants them to walk around to the soldiers to encourage them for tomorrow’s battle. The brothers obey their orders from the king and leave, but Henry has a plan for himself. He takes a white cloth from Sir Thomas Erpingham and claims he needs to rest, but instead uses it as a disguise to walk and talk amid his soldiers. Henry approaches Pistol to discuss his emotions before going into battle on how he feels about the king, Pistol says, “The king’s a bawcock, and a heart of gold, a lad of life, an imp of fame, of parents good, of fist most valiant” (IV.i.44-46). King Henry V wants his men to have a clean conscience and state of mind because of likelihood of dying in battle against an outnumbered French army. This was very important to the king because he knew if he wanted to win the battle, he needed boost the morale of the soldiers. Henry asks his men to confess their sins to God, so they are fighting with a clean heart. Responsibility for his actions and how they may negatively affect others is a problem for the king and because of this, he does not want to accept the sins of the soldiers even though he is the reason they are at war the French in the first place. The King, John Bates, Alexander Court, and Michael Williams are all having a discussion and Henry defends his honor, in disguise, and how the king is not responsible for tomorrow’s outcome. King Henry V says, “no more is the king guilty of their damnation than he was before guilty of those impieties for the which they are now visited. Every subject’s duty is the king’s, but every subject’s soul is his own” (IV.i.170-173). The three soldiers and the king are discussing the outcome of tomorrow and the events that have led up to the Battle of Agincourt. Williams challenges Henry the most, even though he does not know it is him, because he knows tomorrow could possibly bring death. This was a first hand experience the king has of disapproval of him going into France and fighting a war most do not understand. Williams wants the king to be responsible for those that may die saying, “Ay, he said so, to make us fight cheerfully; but when our throats are cut, he may be ransomed, and we ne’er the wise” (IV.i.188-190). The king defends his honor but knows he cannot guard him so much to give up his identity. He allows Williams to rant and sides with him on certain points. Ultimately, Williams does not actually believe that King Henry is responsible for what happens, because he wants the best for his men.
King Henry V does not experience dislike with his methods on a consistent basis from his men and is taken back by how some feel about his decisions to lead the troops to battle. The minority was finally given a voice and the king knew how they feel towards him and his reign over England. This allows Henry to fix himself and prove he is a noble king and fights for England and its people. Ponet was silenced for his disapproval of the queen at the time, and Act IV.I correlates to that because of how there is a minority that is not always in favor of the king, but still follow him in hopes of England staying great and powerful in the world.
Hodgdon, Barbara. The First Part of King Henry the Fourth: From a Short Treatise of Political Power, William Shakespeare, Boston 1997, pp. 179-182.
Shakespeare, William. The Life of King Henry the Fifth. Edited by Claire McEachern, Penguin, 1999.