Henry V | Falstaff

Although Falstaff never appears in Henry V, his absence has a significant impact on the tone of the play—as the following critical excerpt discusses.

Although Falstaff never appears in Henry V, his absence has a significant impact on the tone of the play. Critics including John Middleton Murry have asserted that Falstaff had to be removed from the play in order for Henry to mature into his position as king. Michael Platt explores the absence of Falstaff from the play and Henry's absence from Falstaff's death bed. He maintains that Falstaff was afraid to die, and that this fear is seen in other characters throughout the play. He also contends that Henry, although he never speaks of Falstaff's death, learns from it and...

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