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Elizabeth I Queen at a time of change in views of womens roles
The Reign Of Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I Queen at a time of change in views of womens roles
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The imagery of Elizabeth Tudor has captured audiences for centuries, and continues to do so today. Notions of the great “Gloriana” and the patriotic “Virgin Queen” are still alive in our popular consciousness and widely studied by twenty-first century historians. Elizabeth’s popularity has contributed to a complex collection of imagery surrounding her, and as a consequence, one of the greatest challenges scholars are faced with is to separate the real Elizabeth from the legend. In my research, I will focus on the queen’s speech at Tilbury in 1588, a speech delivered to the English troops as they were awaiting an impending attack of the Spanish Armada. The Tilbury address is one of Elizabeth’s most frequently quoted speeches, despite recurring debates regarding its authenticity. The speech offers an alternate understanding of Elizabeth’s role as a female ruler, since it depicts the queen on the battlefield as opposed to the royal court. Elizabeth I’s speech at Tilbury, whether fact or legend, provides historians with important clues to the imagery surrounding the queen, and the opportunities, limitations, and expectations that faced a female ruler of the sixteenth-century.
Elizabeth’s speech at Tilbury was recorded by Dr. Leonel Sharp in a letter to the Duke of Buckingham in 1623. Sharp’s version first appeared in print in 1654, and is the most commonly cited version of the speech. An even earlier version of the Tilbury address was printed in 1612 and penned by William Leigh. However, this version is quite different and has enjoyed less popular and scholarly attention. Nonetheless, both of these printed recordings will be invaluable to my research, since they both provide an image of Elizabeth as a warrior queen who suppor...
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...izabeth’s speech at Tilbury has been referred to as an expression of “militant Protestantism.”In this initial stage of research, I am hoping that my sources will validate the following provisional thesis: Elizabeth’s speech at Tilbury in 1588, provoked a new imagery of the queen that served to unify the English people under a single monarch, a monarch that embodied both masculine and feminine virtues and also came to symbolize Protestantism in England.
As all historians, I will be at the mercy of my sources, and my thesis is very likely to change during the course of research. Yet, I do want to focus on the gender aspects of Elizabeth’s speech, and the way in which concepts of gender can manipulate acts of representation. Also, I hope to explore how gender is tied to religion, and how Elizabeth’s imagery could be manipulated to promote Protestantism in England.
The Elizabethan Deliverance - Arthur Bryant Reformation and Revolution 1558-1660 - Robert Ashton Elizabeth and her Parliaments - J.E. Neales Elizabeth and her Reign - Richard Salter Elizabeth I and religion 1558-1603 - Susan Doran Tudor England - John Guy Elizabeth I - David Starkey
Elizabeth I was born in 1533 to Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Although she entertained many marriage proposals and flirted incessantly, she never married or had children.
Queen Elizabeth was an intelligent, courageous person. She could be described as the ideal queen of all times. Her bravery is one of the most admired traits which caused everyone in England to love her, based on her grand encounters. It was quite a popular detail of Elizabeth’s life th...
Among the thirty-two biographies summarized here are the four royal women who ruled, or tried to rule in her own right: these queens regnant are Empress Matilda, Lady Jane Gray, Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I. They each received the same level of attention in the author’s previous work, Lives of England’s Monarchs (2005), as was given to their male counterparts. The major events in the lives of these reigning queens are readily available from the previous companion work, and in many other sources; thus, the lives of reigning queens are only briefly reviewed in the present study.
“’I am already bound unto a husband which is the Kingdom of England.’” (Briscoe). These words were spoken by none other than Queen Elizabeth I, one of the most prominent monarchs of England. Elizabeth’s childhood impacted the decisions she made as Queen of England. The Queen is well known for the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots as well as for defeating the Spanish Armada. Being the ‘Virgin Queen’ also added to her popularity. Elizabeth’s reign is considered to some to be an “era of glory” (Trueman), but her early years leading up to her reign were less than favorable.
Queen Elizabeth I was said to be one of the best rulers of England. Unlike rulers before her, she was a Protestant and not a Catholic. She was not stupid though. She did go to church and did everything that Catholics did to prevent getting her head cut off under the rules of her sister Mary. Elizabeth was very young when she came to rule. She was only 17 years old when her sister Mary died and she took over.
Upon the death of her sister--in November of 1558--Elizabeth ascended to the thrown of England. Until Mary’s rule, no woman--apart from the unrecognized rule of Matilda, daughter of Henry I--had ruled England of her own right1. Much like her sister, Elizabeth began her rule widely accepted and welcomed2. There were, however, still many who felt that women were unable to rule, being that women were said to be the weaker sex. John Knox argued that, “God by the order of his creation hath spoiled women of authority and dominion, [and] also that man hath seen, proved and pronounced just causes why that it so should be.”3 Women had always been no more then property, first to their fathers and then their husbands. If a women were to be the anointed queen of a realm of her own right and then marry, whom was beholden to whom? A woman was to do as instructed by her husband in all things, yet a sovereign was to be under the command of God only.
Gender was the leading cause of distress in the 1500’s: King Henry VIII wanted nothing more than to have a son, yet was “cursed” with the legacy of a sickly son, whom died before the age of 18 and two daughters, one of whom broke every convention of her gender. Queen Elizabeth I never married nor had children, yet can be considered one of England’s most successful monarchs. By choosing King James VI of Scotland as her heir, unbeknownst to her, she created the line that leads to the modern Queen of England, Elizabeth II. The question posed is then, how did Elizabeth I’s gender affect her rule?
Using Caroline Bingley as a foil to Elizabeth, Austen critiques the aspirations and achievements that are traditionally considered to be of value to women. Caroline’s outlook regarding what makes women accomplished finds resonance with James Fordyce’s Sermons to Young Women (1766). These stereotypical regency-era ideals encourage ‘instruction in the fine arts’ (Fordyce, 127), including the study of embroidery, drawing, music and dance and completely discount the value of academic achievements. In contrast, Elizabeth is deeply interested in intellectual pursuits yet has not received a typical female education with ‘steady and regular instruction’ (Austen, 161) administered by a governess. Although Austen contrasts these two methods of education,
Queen Elizabeth I’s gender appears as one of the main topics in her speeches. Elizabeth’s common mention of her own female gender, despite the fact that she could refer to herself with masculine terms, allows her to use gender stereotypes. Using these stereotypes along with mentions of motherly love and her knowledge of literature and when to manipulate her gender, she can rally others to her side, explain why she delays her answers to Parliament, and explain why she cannot knowingly harm her subjects, but by doing this, she provides people with evidence that women are unintelligent and incapable of ruling.
Through the use of two main characters in the film, Queen Margot, a critical examination will be made to further understand the importance of developing characters and their respected standard historical interpretations. By heavily characterizing the protagonist, Margaret of Valois, audience members were given the ability to identify with her. Similarly, the Queen regent, Catherine de Medici remained heavily mythologized in the film to advance the plotline. The overall success of the film can thereby be attributed to the prominence of the representation of historical figures.
Queen Elizabeth I, also known as the “Iron Queen”, was a remarkable woman of her time, she ruled with great power and longevity. She was one of the greatest feminist of time. Coming to the throne in 1558, she took the place of her father, Henry VIII. She was given one of the most difficult jobs fit for a man or King, ruling England. At the time women were second class citizens, they could not vote nor own properties and such. Surprising England with her intelligence and fierce rulings, she changed herself to make better decisions. She proved through her rulings, to everyone that females were strong and could rule just as well as a king. She refused to marry, giving a feeling of “I don’t need a man for anything.” The Queen was responsible for giving females a voice in literature and it is shown through Shakespeare’s writings.
Queen Elizabeth masterfully used imagery in her speech to boost the soldier’s morale and gain loyalty and respect as a woman leader. In the beginning of the speech, Queen Elizabeth said, “Let tyrants fear, I have always so behaved myself that, under God, I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects”. The queen’s intent was to paint her as a trusting and respectful leader an...
"QUEEN ELIZABETH I & THE CHURCH." Elizabeth I and the Church. Web. 22 Mar. 2014. .
The Tragedy of Mariam focuses on Elizabeth's Cary's desire to develop a platform from which women can speak, thereby offering a fuller understanding of women as individuals. By examining issues of public and private language, Cary shows her interest in female voices. As an early-17th-century female playwright, Cary was described by the Earl of Clarendon as `a lady of a most masculine understanding, allayed with the passions and infirmities of her own sex'. This description could be interpreted as a complement to Cary, although the Earl adheres to the patriarchal boundaries placed upon both men and women. The connection that he makes between Cary and masculinity reinforces the stereotype of male authority. This essay will examine Cary's exploration of gender, language and silence in The Tragedy of Mariam. The play's expression of these themes is sometimes open, and at other times covert. By concentrating on the issues of public and private speech, this essay will determine the effects that crossing patriarchal boundaries had on women in early modern England.