O now, who will behold
The royal captain of this ruined band
Walking from watch to watch, from tent to tent….
For forth he goes and visits all his host,
Bids them good morrow with a modest smile,
And calls them brothers, friends, and countrymen. (Henry V, 4.1.29-35)
A comedy ends in a wedding. A tragedy ends with a pile of bodies. How does a history end? Reality is less thematically cohesive than fiction, so stories based on real events are less often linked by archetypes. Life is full of small comedies and tragedies, and a history can contain either. Histories do not necessarily have a binding format. Shakespeare's histories, however, have certain traits in common that link them strongly. They are legacy stories, a small part of a larger tragedy or comedy. Some end happily, others sorrowfully, but they all focus on the same set of moral values. While his comedies focus on the morality of marriage and his tragedies on the questions of death, Shakespeare's histories expound on the nature of leadership by following powerful men through their often questionable decisions. Star Wars: The Clone Wars takes a similar aim, focusing on the actions of the Jedi, particularly Anakin Skywalker, as they fight against the Separatists.
One set of similarities between Shakespeare's histories and The Clone Wars is the overarching narrative they each tell a part of. Most of Shakespeare's histories tell of a part of The Wars of the Roses, a series of disputes over the throne of England in the 15th century. Two rival factions vied for the monarchy through both political maneuvering and open warfare for several decades. Shakespeare's histories primarily follow the kings from the House of Lancaster, Henry IV, V, and VI. The Clone Wars is also about power disputes. The war began when the Confederacy seceded from the Republic. Both the histories and The Clone Wars often ask the same moral questions about war. When is war justified? Shakespeare asks whether it is right to go to war in order to achieve a position of power in Henry V. Ahsoka considers her part in the war when she meets the pacifist Lurmens, and again when she and Padmé meet the Separatist Bonteris. Should leaders feel responsible for the deaths of their soldiers? Henry V does not believe so, as long as the war is for a just cause. Pong Krell and the Kaminoans also treat the lives of soldiers with disturbing disinterest. The similar circumstances serve as a backdrop for the discussion of similar themes.
Shakespeare was a patron of the royal family. Because of this, he could not safely write overtly negative things about the kings. Instead, he had to express his opinions more subtly. The kings in the histories are often good on the surface. They honor their word. They lead well in battle. Henry V in particular has a strong sense of camaraderie with his men. However, he also has a violent temper and unquenchable ambition. In many ways Henry V is similar to Anakin Skywalker. Both Henry and Anakin appear to have a special fate ahead. Henry is destined for the throne of England. Anakin is the Chosen One, and is fated to bring balance to the Force. These are the life stories of men we already know will become great. Anakin, like Henry, possesses a sense of brotherhood with the men he fights alongside. Both men achieve brilliant military victories against insurmountable odds. These victories display the incredible capability of these two men, but like Henry, Anakin has a dark side. He has a dangerous temper like Henry as well, raising the question of whether Henry will end up like Anakin does. Each is also irresponsible to some degree. Before he was king, Henry kept the company of fools and thieves who frequented taverns and robbed travellers. He says to himself that this is intentionally done to make his rise to the throne more incredible, but once he is king, he still shows a lack of accountability. He places all the responsibility for the war with the Bishop of Canterbury and refuses to accept the weight of the death of his men. Anakin is also irresponsible, though it shows itself differently. Several times he runs away from his forces and disobeys orders in order to take on another mission. There is a difference between the irresponsibility of Anakin and Henry however. While Anakin is presented as an impetuous hero, Henry seems to follow morally questionable ambitions. This is not to say that Anakin does not ever make questionable decisions like Henry. His secret marriage to Padmé was full of potential problems. The same is true of Henry and Katherine's marriage. However, both men pressed on regardless of these difficulties. Henry and Anakin have many of the same weaknesses, concealed by similar strengths and abilities.
Unlike Shakespeare's comedies or tragedies, there are few characters in his histories with a direct analog in Star Wars. C-3PO could be compared to the foolish and pompous Falstaff. An argument could be made for Joan of Arc being similar to Ventress. Richard III's plotting has similarities to Darth Maul's conquest of Mandalore. However, the real similarities between Shakespeare's histories and The Clone Wars are in their themes. Leadership, war ethics, and politics dominate both stories. Though they are part of a larger comedy or tragedy, histories have unique characteristics of their own. They tell the beginnings of the legacies of great men.
