Heart of gold: Meaning Then

What was Big Willy Shakes going for?

Henry's trying to figure out what his men think of him (and his war) when he's not around. They might cheer for his speeches to his face, but Henry's smart enough to know they could sing a different tune behind his back. Some of what he discovers isn't so good. It turns out not everyone is behind this war of his.

When he talks to Pistol, he gets some nice compliments. Pistol says the king is:

  • a fine fellow (bawcock)
  • a good guy with morals (heart of gold)
  • in touch with the commoners (lad of life)
  • famous from his parents (imp of fame)
  • strong and brave (valiant)

Now that we know what Pistol really thinks of Henry, let's think about what "heart of gold" means. We know it's a good thing based on the context of what Pistol is saying. Plus, gold is really valuable and rare. So, having a heart of gold is something that's unusual because it's not very often you come across a person with one.

Basically, a person with a heart of gold is kind and giving. That sounds nice enough, but we might ask whether that accurately describes Henry. He is fighting with France just to get some more land under his belt. Is that kind or rare when it comes to a king? Well, Pistol seems to think so.