What are your impressions of the lowlifes in ‘Henry V’?
...he peace maker out of the group because he doesn’t seem to be interested in getting involved in their disagreement. The lowlifes often try to sound more intelligent and sophisticated than they actually are: “That is my rest, that is the rendezvous of it” This shows the lowlifes to be stupider than their trying to sound because Nym uses ‘rendezvous’ in completely the wrong context. To make these people seem even more common, Shakespeare uses them to make comedic sexual references: “We keep a bawdy house straight” The term ‘bawdy’ means prostitute. Shakespeare doesn’t allow the other characters to behave in such a vulgar manner and use of sexual innuendo to make sure the audience can distinguish how different the nobles and the lowlifes are; the Elizabethans would have found this entertaining and funny. Nym is shown to be quite threatening: “I will scour you with my rapier” This shows the lowlifes as being quite violent, or at least hostile with their words. In act two, scene one Pistol once again mixes up his words: “For the only she; and – pauca, there’s enough.” This again would entertain the audience as it shows the lowlifes as seeming to be illiterate which again is a contrast to the nobles such as King Henry. Shakespeare makes a joke out of Pistol by having him speak in a mixture of poetry and prose; this is particularly funny because Pistol speaks in such a heroic language when he’s really a coward. It’s also comical for a rough and nasty character like Pistol to speak such a fancy language. Shakespeare portrays the lowlifes as being motivated by money: “Unto the camp, and profits will accrue” Pistol suggests that the only thing he thinks war is good for is the money he will make from it; this shows he has dishonourable intentions. Being able to see into the way the lowlifes live, shows a different opinion on Henry: “The king hath run bad humours on the knight” This shows a criticism of Henry, as they believe he has made Falstaff ill with melancholic humour. This proves that not everyone sees Henry in such an epic light. Another comment is made on Henry by Nym in act two, scene two: “He passes some humours and careers” In this quote Nym is suggesting that Henry has a wild mood. When we once again get an insight into the lowlifes’ lives in act two, scene three it yet again shows a complete contrast to Henry’s mood who is feeling cheery and confident, while the lowlifes are feeling the opposite: “Boy, bristle thy courage up; for Falstaff he is dead” This quote shows the lowlifes are feeling discouraged after Falstaf...