Date
4-7-2026
Department
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree
Master of Arts in Literature (MA)
Chair
Sarah Rice
Keywords
Henriad, Shakespeare, Henry V, Richard II, Henry IV, humanism, Providence, divine right
Disciplines
English Language and Literature
Recommended Citation
Cornell, Katherine, "The Fate of Kings: Providence and Humanism in Shakespeare's Henriad" (2026). Masters Theses. 1445.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/masters/1445
Abstract
Shakespeare’s Henriad offers a picture of the rise and fall of kings, engaging with the integral concepts of Providence, humanistic responsibility, and the divine right of rulers. This analysis will consider the ideas of divine right and humanism as they appear within the Henriad and argue that the plays reconcile the two seemingly competing philosophies of divine right and humanism by depicting a world in which God establishes kings, but gives those kings free agency over their actions. The fortune and fate of kings is first expressed in Richard II, when Richard’s selfish actions cause his own demise, opening the door for usurpation at the hands of Henry Bolingbroke. Bolingbroke’s reign; however, remains equally tenuous, as rebels who question his legitimacy rise up all around. His only redemption is in raising up a son who will unify the nation through strong character and a dedication to both God and country. Henry V becomes that ideal king, continuously honoring God and upholding moral law. Through Henry V and the events which lead up to his memorable reign, the Henriad shows a thoughtful weighing of both providentialist and humanist ideas, concluding that the ideal king must be one who combines public and private virtue, representing the nation for the people as a ruler instated under God, and also maintaining true, personal morality. Through the Henriad, Shakespeare depicts a world in which divine order still prevails, but the king must prove himself worthy of his place by fulfilling his duty to serve God and the people. Kings who choose to pursue their own ends will lose God’s favor, while those who rule with humility and justice will see God’s favor renewed. Shakespeare’s Henriad weighs the competing values of providentialist and humanistic philosophies, determining the fate of the nation to be in God’s hands, but the fate of the individual in his own.
