Summary: Act V, Prologue
The Chorus relates that King Henry has returned to the
port city of Calais in France and, from there, has sailed back to
England. The women and children of England are overjoyed to have
their men returned to them, and everyone is also glad to see King
Henry. When Henry returns to London, the people flock to see him
and to celebrate. But Henry is humble and forbids a triumphal procession
to celebrate his victory.
Henry returns to France again, and the Chorus orders the
audience to return its imagination to France, with the understanding that
some time has passed.
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Act V, Prologue →
Summary: Act V, scene i
Fluellen and Gower converse at an English army base in
France. Gower is curious about why Fluellen still wears a leek in
his hat, since St. Davy’s Day was the previous day. (St. Davy is
the patron saint of Wales, and on St. Davy’s Day, March 1,
Welsh people traditionally wear a leek in their hats as a show of
patriotism.)
Fluellen explains that, the day before, the obnoxious
soldier Pistol insulted him by sending him bread and salt and suggesting
that Fluellen eat his leek. So, when Pistol appears, Fluellen starts
to beat him with his cudgel until Pistol agrees to the condition
that will satisfy Fluellen’s pride: Pistol himself must eat the
leek that Fluellen has been carrying in his hat. Pistol eats the
leek, and Fluellen gives him some money to ease the pain of his
cudgel wounds. After Fluellen leaves, Pistol vows revenge for having
been force-fed the leek, but Gower says it was Pistol’s own fault
for making fun of Fluellen—and for underestimating him simply because
he speaks with a funny (Welsh) accent.
When he is left alone, Pistol turns serious; we learn
that his wife, the hostess, has died of venereal disease (presumably
syphilis) and that Pistol no longer has a home. He decides to become
a pimp and a thief back in England.
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Act V, scene i →
Summary: Act V, scene ii
At the palace of the king of France, King Henry has come
to meet with Charles VI and his queen, Isabel. The goal of the meeting
is to negotiate a lasting peace between France and England. Despite
his military victory, King Henry will allow Charles to retain his
throne. However, Henry has a list of demands, the first of which
is that he get to marry his distant cousin, Princess Catherine of
France. That way, Henry and his heirs will inherit France as well
as England.
