More than one critic has argued that in “Henry V,” Shakespeare presents his ideal version of a king. “'Henry V‘ is ... a dramatization of what makes for excellence in a good king,” wrote Shakespeare scholar Gideon Rappaport in his excellent book “Appreciating Shakespeare.” “In Henry, Shakespeare’s ideal king, we find virtue, justice, self-knowledge, wit, the power to inspire his followers, and humility before God.”
Assuming that’s the case, what’s the value of a play about ideal kingship today, when the age of kings is long over? Here, we must conceive of kingship more broadly than we’re used to. Many of us fill the role of a “king” in some limited sense: a father, a business leader, a priest. The principles of kingliness remain valid and valuable for anyone who holds a position of authority, paternality, and leadership. Studying kingship—particularly Shakespeare’s depiction of its ideal form—teaches us about just rule and the traits necessary for a leader to achieve excellence.
