Where’s the love? King Henry and Bardolph’s Execution

Having read “Henry IV Pat I”, it was surprising, for me at least, to see King Henry’s reaction to being informed that Bardolph was been sentenced to death after being found guilty of stealing from the French in Act III Scene VI. While the fact that Bardolph actually stole isn’t at all surprising, King Henry virtually not even caring is. After all, the two were actually very close friends before Henry took on the crown and was still a young prince. In “Henry IV”, the Henry we see today was once known for hanging out with the wrong crowd. He was constantly criticized for associating himself with “common folk” and befriending them. Bardolph, along with characters such as Mistress Quickly and Falstaff, were a very tight knit group of friends that were often found causing trouble and drinking with one another. So one would think that whenever he’s faced with the news, that he would show Bardolph the same mercy he showed to the random drunkard he didn’t even know in Act II Scene II where he clearly states, “Enlarge the man committed yesterday That railes against our person. We consider it was an excess of wine that set him on, and on his more advice we pardon him”. Here, Henry shows mercy and compassion to someone he doesn’t even know and yet when something similar happens to a good friend, he’s far more concerned with other matters, more specifically how the French are being treated almost brushing it off as he says, “We would have all such offenders so cut off. And we give express charge that, in our marches through the countyr, there be nothing compelled from the villages, nothing taken but paid for, none of the French upbraided or abused in disdainful language..”. Why do you think this is? That he would so blatantly be okay with his friend being executed while he spared a man he didn’t even know?

Maybe Henry is trying his best to rid himself of that young, playful image that was associated with his younger self, “Prince Hal” and truly prove to the French, who have openly insulted his maturity, that he’s not a king to be trifled with. If he’s willing to have an old friend executed for stealing, then he’s damn sure going to take out anyone who threatens the new morals he’s taken on with the crown. Falstaff has already died, a man who was almost like a father to him in “Henry IV”, and with the exceution of Bardolph, it’s another piece of his history that he can completely be rid of, like getting rid of these characters of his past is getting rid of the childish ways he’s been associated with. In a way, Henry could even have some sort of resentment for Bardolph now that he’s king and is in a way saying it’s what he deserves, to finally suffer from his crimes. But in that case, wouldn’t karma come around back at Henry…? That’s just my theory on the matter. I would love to hear what you all think.