Queen Elizabeth Dbq

Gender has played a critical role in history. Different societies at different times in human history have had varying notions of what it means to be a man, and what it means to be a woman. The majority of these cultures thought that men were to lead, govern, and work in the public sphere, while women were to maintain order within their families and in the private sphere. Despite this, there have been some exceptions to this trend, such as Queen Boudica of the Celts, Cleopatra of Egypt, and Queen Elizabeth I of England. In the case of Queen Elizabeth, the fact that she was a woman was not an issue to some people, but a grave one to others. Many people (mainly clergy) often told her a woman had no right to be a sovereign ruler, while her supporters …show more content…

However, the reasoning behind said criticism could vary at times. For example, in Documents 1, 2, and 5, the sources (John Knox, Nicholas Heath, and a group of English Bishops) state that a woman has no place as a religious, as well as secular, ruler because they view men as superior to women. In contrast, Document 7 is from a Catholic priest by the name of Edward Rishton. Father Rishton thinks that the cult of personality surrounding Elizabeth, who was also head of the Church of England, is an insult to the Virgin Mary. When England was Catholic, there was widespread adoration and respect for the Virgin Mary, but Rishton thinks that Elizabeth has eclipsed …show more content…

However, he was perfectly aware of the people who did not want her to be the Queen. Despite this, she seemed to focus more on the loyalty of her subjects than her opponents in her speeches. For example, in Document 11 (an address to Parliament), she, unfazed by the skeptics who view her as weak and unable to rule, asserts her right to the throne, and that her only husband is the Kingdom of England. In Document 12, she is defiant in her stance towards Spain and Parma, even as their fleets approach the English coasts. She does acknowledge that she may be physically weak because of her womanhood, but asserts her determination to rule is that of a man. This clearly exemplifies her ability to ignore her detractors and rule