People
What is honour? A word. What is that word, honour? Air. A trim reckoning! Who hath it? He that died o' Wednesday.
— William Shakespeare · Henry IV Part I, 5:1
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
A sceptical rant that strips honour down to a mere word, then to air. The speaker asks who actually possesses it and answers grimly: someone who is dead. It argues that honour is empty breath, and no use to the living.
Context reviewed