Henry V/French Herald (1989 movie)

[hyarrowen]

Henry V/French Herald: Text, not subtext, as written by Shakespeare
Fandom: Henry V, 1989 film
Pairing: Henry/Montjoy
Word count: 3800
Spoilers: For history, the play, and the film.

Comments

[aunt_zelda]

This is gorgeous and impressive and awesome. (And I'm blushing like a schoolgirl for being included in the fic-list. I mean, I know there aren't a lot, but still, I'm on the page and everything! Eeeeeeeee!)

Dig deep enough into the words they use to each other and the evidence is there all along. Because Montjoy is the only character who consistently uses second person singular to Henry; thee, thou, thy. And Henry lets him get away with it, every time.
*jawdrops* Dear god, you're right! CANON! *SQUEES all night long*

I've had a thing for FoeYay since I first found out about slash, and Henry and Montjoy's polite, intimate conversations, often when Henry is in a particularly emotional state (either furious or stubbornly resolved or, as you said, incredibly vulnerable on the battlefield) really stood out to me. And let's face it, someone holding someone else's life in their hands is really freaking sexy. Plus, Montjoy's use of "great king" in reference to Henry. I mean, even after that horrific battle where all those people (he

P.S.

[aunt_zelda]

Having read the other fics, I have decided that I am SO not worthy to be listed next to them.
Shakespeare attracts some of the more scholarly slash fangirls, and the overwhelming quality of the fanfiction is overwhelming at times. If I made a list of the best fics I'd ever read, most of them would be Shakespeare-slash, with a couple epics from various fandoms I've followed over the years.
I am SO. NOT. WORTHY!

(Flattered to be included, though. *squee*)

Re: P.S.

[hyarrowen]

Very happy that you liked the manifesto, and your insights as someone who has actually been in the play are especially interesting. While I have huge admiration for anyone who can get up on stage and play anything, let alone Shakespeare, I had no idea that it would be such an intense experience (particularly for someone who isn't English!) The ol' magic's still there, obviously, even after 400 years; and you're right, there's such a lot more to it than the jingoistic interpretations some people put on it. Those poor squaddies, the night before the battle, sometimes seem to me to be the heart of the play. Other times it's other things; Henry's awful isolation and his unlikely friendship with the enemy, or the political manoeuvrings at each of the courts. But that's Shakespeare!

*jawdrops* Dear god, you're right! CANON! *SQUEES all night long*That was pretty much my reaction when I realised

Re: P.S.

[aunt_zelda]

your insights as someone who has actually been in the play are especially interesting.
*blushes*

While I have huge admiration for anyone who can get up on stage and play anything, let alone Shakespeare
(It helps when you're on a proper stage, because the lights make it so you can barely see the audience at all! I pretend they aren't there, otherwise I FREAK OUT.)

I had no idea that it would be such an intense experience (particularly for someone who isn't English!)
Shakespeare is just plain FUN for me. It probably has to do with having a great group. I highly recommend it if you get the chance with a little community theater group or something, or a workshop or anything, it's the best thing in the world!

there's such a lot more to it than the jingoistic interpretations some people put on it.
*googles 'jingoistic'* Ah ... now the title to that book of Terry Pratchett suddenly makes much more sense ...

Those poor squaddies, the night before the battle, sometimes seem to me to be the heart of the play. Other times it's other things

[fog_shadow]

Ah, I'm delighted to finally see this! I really love the comparisons you mention across scenes---particularly the contrast between Montjoy's embassy and Exeter's . . . I totally never noticed that before.

Erm, I know we've crossed paths here, but I don't think I've ever formally introduced myself: I'm Zallah from ffdotnet.

[hyarrowen]

Well, I just hope I did the dear boys justice... I don't think I've ever worried so much about an essay before. And it's bizarre that I’m still finding new things in the film after so long. But really, I think KB had such a lot of time to think about it that nothing that's in it is there by chance; it's his masterpiece in both senses of the word.

I'd pretty much figured out who you were BTW though I hadn't liked to blow your cover. But, well, hi!

I just spotted this

[anonymous]

and thought... wow there are others. Makes me want to write for it!

Re: I just spotted this

[hyarrowen]

There are indeed others, and they would all be very happy to see someone else writing in the fandom!

[tekalynn]

WOOT! Very well constructed manifesto. Thank you!

[hyarrowen]

*bounces*

I'm very glad you think it works!