”We few, We happy few, We band of brothers.”
Agincourt beckons and Shakespeare’s King Henry V is trying to rally a beleagured English army before they they face the French who outnumber them.
This line is very famous for its patriotic sentiments and potency. Olivier’s film in 1944 was used for propaganda to lift the British spirits. Rhetorically it is a small masterpiece and works superbly. It is perfectly crafted to suit both purpose and audience:
1) ‘We few’– here Henry gains trust as he tells the truth of their situation. Henry is thus AUTHENTIC in his ADMISSION of their numbers compared to the French army. He therefore seems without duplicity. A certain pathos or poignancy caused by the word ‘few’ also rouses courageous reaction and spirit. The use of the pronoun ‘We’ suggests community and being part of a team. In this case, the King is with his men and vice versa. This is no place for hierachies between the men and their leaders. David Cameron tries to use this technique with less success as his sincerity appears doubtful and his very rich lifestyle and background undermine his use of ‘we’.
2) ‘We happy few’– here Henry escalates the sense of community through repetition and the emotive adjective ‘happy’ that reveals and positions his army’s state of mind. He as the KING, is again significantly included in this team. There is no doubt or choice in terms of what state they are in. They are happy BECAUSE they are ‘few’. This gives them a chance to shine and reveal their epic, memorable COURAGE!
3) ‘We band of brothers’– here allegiances are blood deep, familial. They are HEROIC in their connection and LOYALTY to each other. They are united TOGETHER through COMRADESHIP and FATE! ‘Brothers’ is a highly EMOTIVE word and certainly rallies the spirits of a depleted army who have lost faith in their ability to win.
4) A wonderful use of THE RULE OF THREE! The message is direct, memorable and ROUSING. By the time you hear the word ‘brothers’ surely you are waving your weapons and slapping each other heartily on the back?
