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Act 5, Scene 2
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Henry V, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Kingship
Warfare
England
Appearances
Language
Summary
Analysis
The Chorus enters and describes the preceding play as the author’s “rough” and “all-unable” efforts to portray “this star of England.” Henry V, the Chorus goes on, was succeeded by his son Henry VI, who lost France and crippled England, events which have frequently been portrayed on this stage. He closes by asking the audience to accept the play at hand for the sake of those other plays.
The Chorus delivers a final apology for theater’s shortcomings, recalling the prologue and bringing the play full-circle. This is a play bracketed by doubt in the power of theatre. By explaining how quickly England lost its seat in France, the Chorus similarly implies the ineffectuality of war.
Themes
