A common soldier who Henry V argues with while in disguise. The two exchange gloves, swearing to fight in the future. When Henry V eventually reveals himself, he pardons and rewards Williams even though Williams challenged the justness of the war and questioned the king’s right to risk so many soldiers’ lives.
Michael Williams Quotes in Henry V
The Henry V quotes below are all either spoken by Michael Williams or refer to Michael Williams. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 4, Scene 1
Quotes
I think the king is but a man, as I am.
Related Characters:
Henry V (speaker), Michael Williams, John Bates, Alexander Court
Related Symbols:
Accents
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
But if the cause be not good, the king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make, when all those legs and arms and heads, chopped off in battle, shall join together at the latter day and cry all ‘We died at such a place.’
Related Characters:
Michael Williams (speaker), Henry V
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Henry V LitChart as a printable PDF.
Michael Williams Character Timeline in Henry V
The timeline below shows where the character Michael Williams appears in Henry V. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 4, Scene 1
Three common soldiers - John Bates, Alexander Court, and Michael Williams - enter and ask Henry V who he is. Henry says he is a soldier...
(full context)
Act 4, Scene 7
Henry V calls in Williams and asks him about the glove in his cap. Williams recounts his oath to fight...
(full context)
Act 4, Scene 8
Williams and Fluellen are in hot dispute over the glove. Gower tries and fails to calm...
(full context)
