Kingship Comparison of Henry V and Beowulf Essay Example for Free

Kingship Comparison of Henry V and Beowulf Essay This essay is a comparison of the kingship of King Henry V in the play â€Å"Henry V† written by William Shakespeare and Beowulf in the poem â€Å"Beowulf† translated by Seamus Heaney. The specific texts to be used for this purpose is the â€Å"Henry V† book of the Folger Shakespeare Library series and the â€Å"Beowulf† poem found in The Norton Anthology of English Literature 7th edition Volume 1, respectively. Henry the Fifth and Beowulf are ideal kings fit to become role models for the leaders of today because they have great ideas of their kingship and leadership which made them rule over each of their kingdoms with strength, courage and faith in God’s providence as their source of power. These similar qualities and characteristics make their kingship successful and fruitful. Henry the Fifth is worth emulating for he is a great and powerful king who holds his role as a king with highest regard. He manifests his ideas of kingship through his deeds throughout the play. First, he sees his kingship as a serious matter. Thus, he acts responsibly forgetting the â€Å"wildness† of his youth. This is evident in his sudden transformation from the wild Prince Hal that he was in the past to a responsible and mature King Henry V. This is what Canterbury observes and states: â€Å"The breath no sooner left his father’s body But that his wildness, mortified in him, Seem’d to die too: yea, at that very moment, Consideration, like an angel, came, And whipp’d the offending Adam out of him, Leaving his body as a paradise, To envelop and contain celestial spirits. Never was such a sudden scholar made; Never came reformation like a flood, With such a heady current, scouring faults; Nor never Hydra-headed wilfulness So soon did lose his seat, and all at once, As in this king† (Shakespeare, 13). This change in him is probably because of his desire to be respected as a ruler of his people. Indeed, he has matured over the time that he is required to stand up as a king. Second, he considers that his kingship depends on the will of the people. Hence, he consults his leaders before he makes a decision. He specifically asks information from the leaders of the church, the Bishops, about the Salic law and his rightful claim to France and if there should be a reason for him to go to war if the king of France won’t accede to his claim. He also expresses his worry about leaving the country to go to war against France. He finally decides to go to France after hearing the advice of the bishops and after listening to the insult of the Dauphin through his messenger (19-23). Third, he believes that a king should have restraint and self-control. That is why when he was insulted by the message of the Dauphin, he did not react irrationally. He showed cool-headedness with these words: â€Å"We are glad the Dauphin is so pleasant with us; His present and your pains we thank you for. When we have matched our rackets to these balls, we will in France, by God’s grace, play a set to strike his father’s crown into the hazard. † He also adds: â€Å"But tell the Dauphin, I will keep my state; Be like a king, and show my sail of greatness† (35). Moreover, he could have prevented the Dauphin’s messenger from coming out alive from England. Instead, he allowed him safe passage. If he were some other irrational king, he would have taken revenge right away. But he did not and thus, he showed his greatness as a king. He also chose his words well in sending his message to the Dauphin through his uncle Duke Exeter (75). Fourth, he assumes that a king should be brave and courageous to lead his soldiers to war. Therefore, he is not afraid to go to war even if it will cost his own life. He does not leave his soldiers on their own to fight for the country instead he goes along with them and encourages them to move on. Henry V admonishes his soldiers with these words: â€Å"But every rub is smoothed on our way. Then, forth, dear countrymen. Let us deliver Our puissance into the hand of God, Putting it straight in expedition† (65) and â€Å"We are in God’s hand, brother, not in theirs. March to the bridge† (119). Fifth, he has concern for his subordinates and his soldiers. When he was still contemplating to go to France to claim his rightful place, he thought of the women and the children who will be left behind when the men will go to war (29) especially that another country might attack their country if the king and all the men are away. He also became worried for his soldiers after he disguised as an ordinary man and talked to some of his soldiers (153). This concern is also demonstrated when he prays â€Å"O God of battles steel my soldiers’ hearts. Possess them not with fear† (155). Sixth, he knows that his kingship is not a reason for abuse. So when he and his troops have taken over the town of Harfleur, he commands his soldiers not to loot and he tells them to respect and show mercy to every citizen in that town. He charges Exeter to have mercy on the people and show fairness and justice because he wants to win the people’s loyalty and respect (99). Seventh, he understands that a king should practice impartiality. Thus, he gives punishment to anyone who violates a law of the land or his word even if the person is an old friend, and he gives rewards to anyone who deserves it. King Henry V manifests this characteristic when Lord Scroop who was very close to him, Earl of Cambridge and Sir Thomas Grey who are also old friends conspired with France to kill him. He then ordered that they be arrested for treason (59). Another instance was when he allowed the execution of Bardolph, a former companion in his younger days, for stealing a communion plate from a church (115). Eight, as a good leader he believes that a king needs to delegate work to his subordinates. This is what he did when he tells his uncle Exeter, brothers Clarence, Warwick and Gloster, and Huntington to go with the King; And take with you free power to ratify, Augment, or alter, as your wisdoms best Shall see advantageable for our dignity, Anything in or out of our demands† (219). And most of all, he believes on a greater power who is the Almighty God whom he considers as his source of power. He continually refers to God in the play. King Henry says: â€Å"But this lies all within the will of God, To whom I do appeal† (37) when he decided to go to war against France. He expresses his anxiety by saying â€Å"God’s will, I pray thee wish not one man more. By Jove, I am not covetous for gold† (163) while his soldiers are fighting in the war. At the end of the battle, he speaks to God with these words: â€Å"O God, thy arm was here, And not to us, but to Thy arm alone Ascribe we all! When, without stratagem, But in plain shock and even play of battle, Was ever known so great and little loss On one part and on th’ other? Take it, God, For it is none but thine† (199). King Henry V does not take the glory of the victory in the battle but he praises God for it. Similarly, Beowulf even before he was made a King of the Geats has the qualities of a good and great king as Henry the Fifth is and he is also worth imitating as a leader. The following are the ideas of kingship he manifested. First, Beowulf is compassionate as a leader. When he heard of Heorot’s predicament because of Grendel’s deeds, he went to Heorot to fight Grendel and freed Heorot of its miseries (lines 400-460). He has compassion towards people that is why he sacrifices even his own life to save others. Second, he uses his strength which is the gift that God has given him as a way to help people who are in need. This is the means by which he was able to defeat Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the Dragon in order to free the people who are attacked by these creatures. There are times when he is about to be defeated but because of the great strength which he believes comes from God, he is able to overcome his deadly and monstrous foes. Third, he is a brave and courageous warrior who never steps back from a challenge especially when he fights Grendel and Grendel’s mother. His bravery and courage can be seen throughout the poem. This was once again proven when as a king who is already old in age still hopes to fight the Dragon that has besieged his own land. Unfortunately, after he killed the Dragon, he also died. Fourth, he knows that a king should rule with discretion. He is even praised by Hrothgar with these words: â€Å"The Lord in his wisdom sent you those words that Beowulf is fit to be king of the Geats and they came† (lines 1840-1860). Fifth, as a leader, he has great concern and responsibility for his men. Thus, when he was about to go and fight Grendel, he asks Hrothgar to take care of his men because he might no longer come back alive with his fight against the monster. And the most important of Beowulf’s qualities as a warrior and ruler is that he looks up to God as his source of power, guidance and protection. Throughout the poem, God is praised with such words as: â€Å"in triumph and gladness. The truth is clear: Almighty God rules over mankind and always has† (line 700). Beowulf also expresses in the poem: â€Å"But the lord of Men allowed me to behold- for He often helps the unbefriended† and â€Å"If God had not helped me, the outcome would have been quick and fatal† referring to his fight with Grendel’s mother. In addition, he says: â€Å"So I praise God in his heavenly glory that I lived to behold† (line 1779). In conclusion, Henry the Fifth and Beowulf exhibit the good qualities of a great king anchored on strength, courage and faith in God’s providence. Both of them are wise, strong, brave, and devoted to God as their one and only source of power. They have very admirable traits which any king, ruler or leader in these modern days should pattern after. References â€Å"Beowulf†. Translated by Seamus Heaney. The Norton Anthology of English Literature 7th edition Volume 1. Eds. M. H. Abrams and Stephen Greenbalt. USA: W. W. Norton Co. Inc. , 1999, 29-98. Shakespeare, William. â€Å"Henry V†. The Folger Shakespeare Library. Eds. Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. New York: Washington Square Press. 1995.

What is a Community? Essay -- Sociology

A community is established when more than two people share the same values and through time this personal connection evolves into a fellowship governed by rituals, traditions, and a particular form of communication that when taken together makes a group of individuals whether living in a specific geographical area or connected by ideals so distinct that their distinguishing marks allow them to stand out from among the crowd. They do not just believe in something like an organization but they need each other to survive and thrive. A good example is the Old Order Amish Mennonite community wherein the community serves as source of identity, strength and provides the reason why they should sustain the community’s way of life. It is important to understand that in order for a community to exist at least three conditions must be met: a) place; b) interest; and c) communion (Smith, p.1). There must be a territory or place where people can congregate or can be seen (Smith, p.1). The location also helps identify the community and differentiate its members from other groups. The common interests shared by the members create a tight-knit community. Some examples of interests found in communities are religion, occupation, ethnic origin and even hobbies. Aside from location and interest one of the most important components is communion. There must be a connection between the members of a particular community. Without this communion, the coming together, a profound sharing of ideas, resources etc., there can be no community but a group of individuals banded together simply because of proximity such as those living in a gated community in an upscale neighborhood but the residents do not know each other. A more technical definiti... ...rd the Amish Mennonite community exemplifies the meaning of community. The community is established and continues to develop because it is a source of identity, strength, and sustainability – the reason why they must exist and perpetuate their way of life until the end of time. Works Cited Cnaan, Ram & Carl Milofsky. Handbook of Community Movements and Local Organizations. New York: Springer Science, 2008. Schwieder, Elmer & Thomas Morain. A Peculiar People: Iowa’s Old Order Amish. Iowa: University of Iowa Press, 1975. Smith, Mark. â€Å"Community.† Accessed 21 October 2010. Available from http://www.infed.org/community/community.htm Bellah ET AL., Robert. "Community, Commitment, and Individuality." Literacies: Reading, Writing, Interpretation. By Terence Brunk. Second ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2000. 74. Print.

An Analysis of Hammurabi’s Code of Law Essay

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind†. This was said by Gandhi many years after the fall of the Babylonian empire. Judging by the laws of the Babylonian people, there was no insightful Mahatma Gandhi to spread his thoughts on equality and forgiveness. Though they were an advanced and organized society, the Babylonians were also extremely strict, almost cruel, when it came to law making. Revenge, faith in the gods’ sense of justice, and inequality all made up a portion of the eight foot tall stone tablet that we now know as Hammurabi’s Code of Law (Horne). Hammurabi’s reign lasted from 1795 until 1750 BC (Horne). Up until Hammurabi took control, there had been no ruler to publicly establish an entire set of laws. Written in order to regulate the organization of the Babylonian society, this code, consisting of two hundred laws, begins and ends by addressing the gods. Revenge played a large role in the laws, as it was seen as the only way to truly be compensated. Almost all of the laws lack a true explanation; they were simply accepted as fair justice by the people. However, one law in particular does have a reason behind it. â€Å"If an accused man claims to be innocent, he will be thrown into the river. If the man drowns, he is proven to be guilty. However, if he makes it to the opposite bank safely, the accused man is indeed innocent (Hammurabi).† This law gives us an important insight into the lives of ancient Babylonian society. Obviously, the people had a strong sense of faith in their gods. By tossing the man into the raging river, the people are putting the accused man’s life into the hands of the gods. If the man was guilty and lying, the gods would see that tribute was paid to them, as well as to the village, in the form of death. However, if the accused was indeed innocent, the Babylonians would allow the man to safely leave the river, hence living. Not so unlike our court systems (with which you must swear on a bible before testifying), the Babylonian people had strong religious convictions that were reflected in their code of laws. Another aspect reflected in Hammurabi’s Code of Laws was the belief in revenge. To the ancient Babylonians, revenge wasn’t seen as revenge: it was seen as fair and just compensation for a committed crime. To Hammurabi’s  people, â€Å"an eye for an eye† was not just a say: it was a way of life. â€Å"If he break another man’s bone, his bone shall be broken (Hammurabi).† The same was true for putting out another man’s eye, knocking out someone’s teeth, and many other bodily injuries between two man (or woman) or the same class. Though these laws seem cruel and inhuman, they were meant to keep crime and violence at a minimum. Getting your arm hacked off was probably much more intimidating than a prison sentence to the people of Babylonia, hence the laws successfully fulfilled their duties the majority of the time. Though the laws were more often than not effective, they were by no means fair. Women were dignified and treated as equals, but all social classes were not. Ancient Babylonia had a hierarchy consisting of three main social classes: the amelu, high ranking, rich court officials, patricians, and kings, the muskinu, landless and poor, though free, and the ardu, who were the lowest class (Johns). The ardu could marry and hold property, but nonetheless they were low-ranking slaves. The laws clearly reflected these social classes. Punishments were not the same for different social classes, even if the same crime was committed. For example, if a free-born man strike the body of another free-born man or equal rank, he shall pay one gold mina. However, if a slave were to strike the body of a freed man, his ear shall be cut off. Even though the exact same crime was committed, the slave would get a harsher punishment than the free, higher-ranking man. Even in ancient Babylonia, power and money seem to have the same value as they do in the present day. Not every aspect of the Babylonian culture was perfect. The social classes were strictly divided and people were treated as fairly as their birth allowed them to be. Vengefulness was accepted and expected, as was the belief in owning slaves. However, the Babylonians, under Hammurabi’s reign, were also a very admirable culture. Women were treated as equals: they were dignified, respected, and allowed to own land and property. The most important, positive aspect of the Babylonians was certainly Hammurabi’s Code of Law. As an unchangeable, fairly indestructible written code, it not only influenced other cultures (such as the Syro-Roman and Mahommedan) later in history, but it also gave us a first hand account of what life was like in a  culture that was lost so many centuries ago. BIBLIOGRAPHY â€Å"The Code of Hammurabi† by Richard Hineshttp://www.wsu.edu/~dee/MESO/CODE.HTMBryant, Tamera (2005). The Life & Times of Hammurabi. Bear: Mitchell Lane Publishers. Mieroop, Marc (2004). King Hammurabi of Babylon: a Biography. Cambridge: Blackwell Publishers.

The History Of The American Flag - 1557 Words

The History of The American Flag In this paper I am going to talk about the history of the American Flag and what makes it uniquely American. There are many reasons why the flag is uniquely American, one being that it is the American Flag. I am going to cover a lot of important facts about the flags history all the way to the present day flag. Ill cover the process of creating the flag and much more. The flag of the United States of American, also known as the American flag, is the national flag of the United States. The flag consists of thirteen equal stripes, starting with red and alternating with white. In the upper left corner the flag has a blue rectangle with fifty small, white, five-point stars. The stars are arranged in nine†¦show more content†¦While it is true that Ross sewed many American flags throughout her life, there is no evidence to support the claims of her descendant’s that she did in fact create the first American Flag at the request of George Washington. In 1794, the Flag Act authorized a new 15-star and 15-stripe flag. This went into effect on May 1st, 1795, and the Star Spangled Banner became the new official flag of the United States. The two additional stars and stripes were added to the original design in order to represent the admission of Vermont in 1791 and Kentucky in 1792. This edition of the American Flag is known as the Star Spangled Banner because it was the actual flag that flew over Fort McHenry and served as the inspiration for Francis Scott Key’s song that would become the national anthem, â€Å"Star Spangled Banner†, of The United States of America. The Act of April 4th, 1818 presented a new policy that provided for a constant of 13 stripes on all American Flags and one star for each state. The act stated that the flag would be officially modified on the 4th of July following the admission of each new state. This edition of the flag added five new stars for the admission of the new states including: Tennessee (1796), Ohio (1803), Louisiana (1812), Indiana (1816), and Mississippi (1817). The1819 flag had 21 stars and 13 stripes. A star was added for the state of Illinois, which was admitted to the United States of American on