The Ignorance of Pistol

Pistol's lack of french is quite apparent when reading through Act IV, Scene IV. He mistakes the french word moi for a unit of currency and makes feeble attempts to speak french; "Owy, cuppele gorge, permafoy..." This scene helps to reinforce the feeling of confusion in a battle between two peoples who speak different languages. It is interesting to note that Pistol's way of treating his french prisoner is surprisingly more merciful than Henry's; for while Pistol made threats, Henry really did kill his prisoners, all of them in fact.