Elizabeth Is Tilbury Speech of 1588 vs. Shakespeares dramatization of Henry Vs St Crispins Day Speech - Assignment Example

6 April Elizabeth I’s “Tilbury Speech” of 1588 vs. Shakespeare’s dramatization of Henry V’s “St Crispin’s Day Speech” Speeches have always been the most impressive ways to espouse the political endeavors and give expression to convey their thoughts to their subjects. They become quite impressive during the time of wars when motivation to the soldiers and subjects become imperative to carry forward their attacks. The two speeches, Elizabeth 1’s “Tilbury Speech” of 1558 and Shakespeare’s dramatization of Henry V’s “St Crispin’s Day Speech”, are considered as the most impactful and powerful speeches by the historians especially Elizabeth 1’s “Tilbury Speech,” which is called as “one of the jewels in the crown of England” (Green 421). Henry V’s “St. Crispin’s Day Speech” is the finest dramatic interpretation of that era reflecting the deep bond of the King with his subjects and “what leadership meant to the men in the Middle Ages” (Price, “St. Crispin’s Day Speech”). Same is the case with Elizabeth as her speech too manifested itself as the most influential among the subjects despite the fact that she was a female. Politically, both the Monarchs through their speeches intended to gain goodwill and support of their subjects rather than materialistic gains. Their forceful speeches contemplated to arouse patriotism among the people to take on their wars with success. Henry V was very clear in his demand and so was Queen Elizabeth. She clarified that people no doubt believed in her as a queen and now they should certainly trust her as a great General too. Both Henry V and Queen Elizabeth proved themselves as the most powerful and influencing of all time as their speeches turned the political events to their stride. Both Monarchs presented themselves as great orators allowing themselves to be closely associated with their forces and subjects. Shakespeare in his play produced the King’s speech in the most original way. The way King started with his speech, clearly reflected his love for his people. He in the clearest tone and rhetorically addressed his companion’s question when he said that his men had gathered to sacrifice for their nation. The words “we are marked to die” (Shakespeare 4.3.20) elucidates the association between both his people and the Royal blood which was there to flow like thin water. However, Queen Elizabethan addressed her people with a feminine grace as she exclaimed “My loving People” (Montrose 148). She displayed her power by making use of, said by Louis Adrian Montrose, “feminine frailty of her body and the masculine strength of body politic” (149) in the most “delicate balance of contrary tactics” (149). She praised her people deeply and reciprocally demanded the same reaction from them too by pleading them to be deeply lawful, generous and adorable like her. She wanted as she had loved them, they too should repay her love by loving their country and remaining obedient towards her. Though there was a marked difference between the two speeches yet the most common element between the two was the humble way, with which the leaders showed their desire to their subjects. They were most willing to be the kith and the kin of their people and wanted to prove that they would always be with their people through any circumstances what might be. Elizabeth’s speech displays the threat from the enemies attack in the most aggressive way. Intimate and violent metaphors used show the intensity and depth of the speech, as if a foreign prince was attempting to rape her and her nation. Elizabeth identified the subtleties of her body with the geo-political boundaries of her land with the great rhetorical force whose voice directly entered into the people’s heart. But along with that, concern for her subjects was equally seen as she used the words “safety and careful” with great force. Particularly Shakespeare language presented King Henry’s faith, courage, sincerity, and motivation to lead his forces into the war with the great use of the metaphors and similes that left an incredible mark not just on his subjects but also on the people of today. Living with the people and dying for the country was the strong hold of both the speeches that made them legendry figures of all times. Both the speeches have several things in common but demarcation between the Royalties and commonalities are still visible. Masculinity and the self obsessed power could be felt as Henry V remarks, “Who doth feed upon my cost” (Shakespeare 4.3.25) showed as a provider of the nation he was deeply worried about it. He was fully packed with the phrases just to impose this concept of his sublimity and dedication towards his nation and subjects as if he was a god’s messenger and his subjects ought to obey him. In contrast, Elizabeth was fully showing her self-possessed pride of being Empress and of a royal blood but within her pride laid her love and passion to protect her nation too. Languages of both the speeches though in different periods and different contexts aroused the emotions of achievements. With their forceful rhetoric’s, they created the situation of “do or die, now or never,” which was enough to get the troops sparked with great valor and energy. Their sentences even after their speech continuously haunted the minds of the troops energizing them to achieve the impossible. The key notes in both the speeches were the mirage of the deep patriotism and emotions for their soil and to cherish for their nation as their biggest blessing. Repetition of certain phrases and their diction, tone, illusion, parallelism, and similes to achieve the purpose showed the way both the speakers had deep concern for about the major issue. They vociferously aroused the emotions of their subjects by showing them the dream for freedom and making them realize their true worth. Their soldiers should show their enemies that they had to regret their decision of conquering their lands. Hence, keeping in view the literary taste of both the speakers, one cannot stay away from appraising what was being conveyed to the listeners. Elizabeth’s saying to the troops, “I myself will take up arms” (Montrose 149) showed the great leadership quality in her and displayed her aggressiveness and deep motivation. In the very first line, she had clearly said that she was not there for recreation or fun but to give a new life to the spirit of the people. She successfully used both the first and the second person to convey her message while Henry V speech intensely turned his army’s gravest problem to its highest caliber and worth. In this speech, he also made good reference of bible, as he linked the battle “to all those of the biblical lore in which the righteous few defeated the heathen mighty…because they had God as their secret weapon” (Silverbush & Plotkin 134). The art of a speech is like a sugar coated medicine for the listeners. It is an easy wind that can blow through their minds to arouse the curiosity and passionate zeal among the people. In short, speech enables the subjects to understand the mind of the leaders and the concerns they have for the subjects. In both the speeches, thematic element was same; both made use of the rhetorical devices to give emphasis to their thoughts and ideologies. Both the emperors wanted to motivate their soldiers for the war, and coax them to take to the battlefields with courage and determination. However the difference lay in their diction and the way of their presentation. In Elizabeth’s speech, there was a feminine touch and touch of passion and mercy for the people though with the force and aggressiveness of a ruler. As contrast to it in the Henry V’s speech, there was only belligerence of a ruler who wanted to lead their less number of soldiers into the battle and even took the help of religious discourses to boost their morale. Works Cited Green, Janet M. ““I My Self”: Queen Elizabeth I's Oration at Tilbury Camp.” The Sixteenth Century Journal 28.2 (1997): 421-445. Print. Montrose, Louis Adrian. The Subject of Elizabeth: Authority, Gender, and Representation. London: University of Chicago Press, 2006. Print. Price, Brian R. “St. Crispin’s Day Speech: Shakespeare’s HENRY V.” The Chivalry Bookshelf. The Knighthood, Tournaments & Chivalry Resource Library, 20 January 1998. Web. 6 April 2011. Shakespeare, William. Henry V. Hertfordshire: Wordsworth Editions Ltd., 2000. Print. Silverbush, Rhona and Plotkin, Sami. Speak the speech!: Shakespeare's Monologues Illuminated. New York: Faber & Faber, 2002. Print. Read More