Analysis of St. Crispin's Day Speech

📌Category: Plays, Speech, William Shakespeare, Writers
📌Words: 613
📌Pages: 3
📌Published: 08 April 2022

In the St. Crispin’s Day speech, Shakespeare effectively conveys a tone of motivation and optimism through multiple rhetorical devices to work together to achieve Henry’s purpose of inspiring the soldiers. 

As Henry starts his speech, it is clear his main goal is to inspire the soldiers. When Henry begins, due to the army being extremely outnumbered, he tries to encourage the soldiers to fight. He expresses, “If we are mark’d to die, we are enow / To do our country loss; and if to live / The fewer men, the greater share of honour” (Shakespeare 1). Shakespeare’s if then structure delivers a tone of motivation and patriotism. When Henry states, “If we are mark’d to die, we are enow” and “if to live. . . the greater share of honour” he motivates the soldiers to believe in each other and be devoted to their country (Shakespeare 1). This supports Henry’s purpose of encouraging the soldiers to fight their best and be strong. Furthermore, Henry continues his development of a motivational tone when he adds to his idea of surviving the war. He continues, “That he which hath no stomach to his fight, / Let him depart; his passport shall be made, / And crowns for convey put into his purse; / We would not die in that man’s company / That fears his fellowship to die with us” (Shakespeare 1). Henrys words craft a pathos appeal that develop the motivational tone of the speech. When Henry explains, “which hath no stomach to this fight, / Let him depart; his passport shall be made” he tries to inspire the soldiers to fight and not be a coward (Shakespeare 1). These words support the pathos appeal because they make the soldiers feel guilty and shameful if they do not fight to their best abilities. Thus, continues to motivate them to do the best they can. Henrys motivative and optimistic tone through rhetorical devices ultimately allows the soldiers to put effort into their fight. 

Henry continues this tone of optimism and motivation. He encourages the soldiers that today is the day they will win. Henry cheers, “This day is call’d the feast of Crispian / He that outlives this day, and comes safe home / Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam’d / And rouse him at the name of crispian / He that shall live this day, and see old age” (Shakespeare 1, 2). When Henry adds, “Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam’d” he suggests this day will be remembered with pride. He continues that the soldiers will stand proud because they will be reminded of their heroism on that day (Shakespeare 1, 2). Henry confirms his army will survive which continues the tone of optimism and pride for the soldiers. Additionally, because Henry continues his speech with, “He shall live this day, and see old age” he persists the tone of optimism. Henry suggests the soldiers will not be defeated, and instead survive and “see old age” (Shakespeare 2). In addition, Henry maintains his motivative and optimistic tone when he continues about how this day will be remembered. He states, “This story shall the good man teach his son; / And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by, / From this day to the ending of the world, / But we in it shall be remembered” (Shakespeare 2). Henry includes the line, “Be we in it shall be remembered” to inspire the soldiers to do the best they can because people will remember it forever (Shakespeare 2). This supports the overall motivational and optimistic tone of the speech through encouragement. Which allows the soldiers to fight to make St. Crispin’s day a day of remembrance. Henry employs an motivative and optimistic tone throughout the entire speech to further support the overall purpose of encouraging the soldiers. 

Overall, in the St. Crispin Day speech, Shakespeare builds a motivational and optimistic tone to support his purpose of encouraging the soldiers to fight and win.

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