The theme of conflict in this rousing speech by the Chorus
is mostly related to the way that the English army is depicted and how its might and
bravery is contrasted with the French army in this speech. We are given a vision of an
England stripped bear of every able-bodied man that is able to fight, as all are swept
up in a patriotic frenzy by Henry's call to war and gleefully leave their homes to fight
for Henry. When we arrive at the siege of Harfleur, we are given a picture of the way
that the siege engines are said to have their "fatal mouths gaping" on Harfleur, which
clearly presents the English as being the superior force that is able to crush the
French in their wake. Consider the way that conflict is presented in the following
quote:
Suppose the ambassador from the French comes
back;
Tells Harry that the king doth offer
him
Katherine his daughter, and with her, to
dowry,
Some petty and unprofitable
dukedoms.
The offer likes not: and the nimble
gunner
With linstock now the devilish cannon
touches...
The French are
presented in this quote as being insulting, deliberately offering Henry "petty and
unprofitable dukedoms." Conflict is the immediate response to this paltry and insulting
treaty, as Henry responds with immediate force and violence that shows that conflict is
a means of getting what you want from those who oppose you.
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