Look at Act 4 Scene 4 in Henry V.

In what ways does Shakespeare make this moment in the play both amusing and serious?

Act 4 Scene 4 in Henry V was a scene where the one of the low class characters named

Pistol had disarmed a french soldier, and was trying to get him to pay to not get killed. In the

scene, the french soldier and Pistol try to talk to each other, but Pistol does not understand the

french soldier and the french soldier does not know what Pistol is saying. Shakespeare makes

this scene amusing since the scene is all about how Pistol and the soldier have trouble being

able to communicate with each other over the french soldiers life. Pistol interprets what the

french soldier is saying completely different to the actual meaning of the french, which amuses

the audience that is watching at the time since most the upper and mid class understand the

exchange, and how Pistol is butchering the french language unironically.

Another way that this part is amusing is how the french soldier talks to pistol like he is a

worthy soldier, when everyone in the audience knows very well that Pistol is a cowardly, sorry

excuse for a man. Pistol has chosen to have mercy on the french to make a quick buck, which

proves how he is a selfish and dishonorable man.

After the french soldier and Pistol can’t communicate after a while, Pistol pulls Boy over

to help bargain with the soldier. In the end, they eventually agree on 200 crowns for the soldiers

life, and Pistol takes the soldier away as a prisoner. This part of the scene is more serious

because there is no more funny moments of Pistol butchering the french language, and instead

they actually start making a deal for the french soldier’s life. This is more serious because Pistol

could easily end the french soldier’s life instead of bargaining with him to make some money.

Rubric rating submitted on: 2/13/2018, 8:26:07 AM by epobrie2@asu.edu

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