Strategy or Savagery?: The War Crimes of Henry V Daniel Kure 11th Grade

War is not ethic nor moral on the best of days, but even during the most brutal battles, some war rules must be established in order to protect soldiers of both sides. One of these rules, for instance, is that a warrior must never kill a soldier who surrendered; a woman; or a child. There is also a rule which prohibits warriors to rape the villages of the enemies. If at any time, a soldier breaks these rules, they are considered a war criminal. There are two Henry`s actions described in the Shakespeare`s play that should be considered as crimes of war – threatening the town of Harfleur and killing the French prisoners – making Henry V a war criminal.

The town of Harfleur surrendered because of Henry`s threats of violence, murder and rape towards the town, as we can see in the passage below: can be described, as an attempt to commit a war crime.

If not, why, in a moment look to see
The blind and bloody soldier with foul hand
Defile the locks of your shrill-shrieking daughters;
Your fathers taken by the silver beards,
And their most reverend heads dash'd to the walls,
Your naked infants spitted upon pikes. (Shakespeare, 3.3.)

When Henry`s army fails to concur the French town of Harlfleur Henry threats the governor of the town. He...