When Queen Elizabeth I ascended on the throne in 1588, she was meant challenged by beliefs about gender. She was a female monarch, but in a world dominated by men. During the 1500s, women’s role were constrained because society saw woman as lacking understanding, ethics, and judgement compared to men. The culture of the middle ages prioritized the position of men that most women were denied the chance to learn beyond. Any education was meant to prepare women for marriage and children. And yet, you would think that being a part of the upper class Elizabeth would have access to all the learning possible, but even she was subjected to just tutors. She not only fought against her gender roles, but she also used them as a political and diplomatic …show more content…
al., p. 392). A prime example of her exhibiting her masculinity is during her speech to the troops of Tisbury. The purpose was to prepare for an invasion by the Spanish Armada and to dismiss any thoughts that being a woman meant she was less than a King. In her remarks to the English soldiers, Elizabeth tackles the obvious and disproves it. What boggles readers like me, is that she apologizes for being a woman. “I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too…” (Elizabeth, Doc 2). Words carry enormous weight. Queen Elizabeth’s remarks to her troops inspired them to action. She questioned who would “dare invade their borders of her realm” and threatened; “I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field” (Elizabeth, Doc 2). As queen, her passion for the State and her people is indisputable. “…to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust” (Elizabeth, Doc 2). She may not be with them in flesh, but what mattered was her sprit (her dedication) that fought alongside her people. Queen Elizabeth not only gave a great speech, but she also looked the part. Most likely mounted on her horse, …show more content…
To not be perceived as weak, she had to show her masculinity with everything she executed. She was both queen and king. With all her triumphs and feats, no wonder why The Elizabethan Era is considered as the Golden Age. I think what made Queen Elizabeth so influential was her pledge and passion for the people of England. It’s evident in all four documents that she put her state first. She even valued their well-being then her own. Through her speeches and portraits, Elizabeth was able to illustrate manliness to give her more control and respect. Without her self-confidence, who knows where England would have
She showed this best when she “took time for leisurely pursuits. She loved music and could play the lute herself,” (bio.com). Because of her love of the arts, Elizabeth gained social power. Social power for a ruler is the ability to use the arts in order to influence a country or a ruler’s image in a way that helps them keep power. Elizabeth loved going to see plays or dances in her free time. This allowed her to gain social power because it was a way to connect with her subjects. It allowed commoners to trust her more and they could feel they were more personally connected to her than they were before. Elizabeth’s complete social control could also be seen when artists would honor Elizabeth “by painting her portrait. These images reveal that she was an early fashionista,” (bio.com). Her image was a very important factor in her reign of power. She was able to present herself as very well respected and almost “God-like”. Elizabeth wanted to show people who would see her or her portraits that she was not just a weak woman. She was a force to be reckoned with and her people could see this. She gained social power because her subjects looked up to her and respected her very much. This also allowed commoners to trust her more because her image showed she was intelligent could make decisions for
In 1558, John Knox declared, “To promote a Woman to bear rule, superiority, dominion, or empire above any Realm, Nation, or City, is against all Nature…” (document 1). Knox’s statement was no different than most English men’s opinions during the 1500s. The majority of the population was opposed to having a women hold any type of political power, as they believed it was a job for solely a man to possess. Leading up to the time period of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign, females had a specific purpose in life: to serve their husbands and provide them with children. All women lacked freedom and liberty, Elizabeth Tudor sought to change this matter. When Queen Elizabeth was coronated in 1559, men were superior in all economic and social aspects; however,
Women in the Elizabethan era were presented as very obedient to their husbands and respectful to them also. They had no power and no say, they were treated badly and nothing would be done to stop the behaviour. In modern society most women have as much say as the men, they are not expected to stay at home and clean etc, and instead they go to work as well. Some women are like Katherina before she was supposedly tamed, very out spoken, yet inequality still exists.
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...
Secondly, Elizabethan women were considered to be inferior to men. The life of Elizabethan women was certainly a tough - arranged marriages, subordination to men, short life expectancy, constant child bearing and no right to education, no voting, not political participation, etc. were crucial facts about Elizabethan women’s life. Elizabethan women were categorized class wise as: Upper Class, Royal Class, Lower Class Elizabethan women. Elizabethan women were considered subordinate to men and they were dependent on males. They were also used for alliance with powerful families through arranged marriages not only in the lower class, but also in the ...
Deeply influenced by her time’s stereotypes of women, some of which she shared, Elizabeth I worked hard to avoid the mistakes of her female predecessors. Perceiving herself as a king at heart (Doc.12), Elizabeth distanced herself from what were thought to be the innate traits of women. Responding to the commonly held beliefs that women were dangerous and inequitable as rulers, yet weak and subservient by nature, Elizabeth strove to be a fair and loyal leader, played up her feminine traits for political gain, and refused to tolerate any form of dissent.
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.
She uses this tactic to explain why she cannot answer Parliament’s concern about her single state. She also mentions “a philosopher whose deeds upon this occasion I remember better than his name” (753) to farther her explanation. While it is possible that she did forget the philosopher’s name, pretending to have forgotten his name would have strengthened her argument by proving that she lacks “both wit and memory” (753). Despite forgetting the philosopher’s name, she is able to recall the name of Clotho from classical mythology at the end of her speech. This shows that she has the capability to memorize such information, but she chooses not to in regards to the philosopher. In the “Speech to the Troops at Tilbury,” Elizabeth uses her gender differently. Instead using her gender as a hindrance, she claims that her female body does not hold her back. Despite the fact she has “the body but of a weak and feeble woman” (763), she also has “the heart and stomach of a king” (763). Even though the army could attack her, she is still there and willing to risk her “royal blood” (763). This show of bravery, despite her gender,
In the Elizabethan society, it was expected for women to be obedient and to be in her place.
Before we move to the main argument, there is a question to be answered: what did it mean to be masculine or feminine in the Elizabethan era? Russ McDonald's The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare is an excellent source in making this distinction. According to McDonald, women were expected to concern themselves with marriage and motherhood only, and to submit themselves to their fathers and then their husbands in all ways. Considered "weaker vessels," women were not held to have either "strength or constancy of mind." Subordination, submission, and skill in caregiving were valued in women, and they we...
Queen Elizabeth I ruled for much of Shakespeare’s life in England and therefore had a great impact on his work. She had a big role in the social arts and culture. Affecting many peoples’ lives in England; she especially affected those in the arts. She supported artists in their work in many different ways. Shakespeare and his theatre being one of the artists she supported. The Queen would come to the theatres to enjoy a show, and whether or not she enjoyed it would be the result of the popularity and success of that play. Shakespeare made a living out of his play writings; the Queen would come and spend many pounds to see a play. This being the reason why Shakespeare would create characters appealing to his Queen.
Queen Elizabeth was a woman wholly devoted to her country and brought it much prosperity and growth; these qualities made her the most respected leader of the entire history of England. Elizabeth nurtured and united England, and built and defeated one of the most powerful navy’s of her time. Elizabeth made England one of the most powerful countries during her reign. Queen Elizabeth I had a long, and a remarkably successful reign.
Queen Elizabeth the first was one of the first woman monarchs to rule alone in the history of Europe. Her character, the way she ruled, and even her gender transformed her country’s go...
Elizabeth has been proven to be one of the most popular monarchs in the history of the British. She had helped steady the nation after inheriting enormous debts from her sister Mary and helped England to avoid a crippling Spanish invasion and also she was able to prevent a religious civil war in England. Many have described her reign as the golden age of progress during which she had inspired her people to greatness. This view has not changed over the ages but has increased and she was credited with the birth of the British Empire
Part of the role that women fulfilled was the role of the weaker sex. Women were not considered equals to men, just merely side objects. They were viewed as frail and were to show no physical strength. In Pride and Prejudice, Austen writes, “ ‘To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ancles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! what could she mean by it?’” (Pride and Prejudice Austen 32). This talks of the headstrong character Elizabeth. It was unacceptable for a woman to have put herself in such a situation. This showed strength of independence in the character that was un-relatable to the other characters because women were expected to be weak and frail, such as when the one character Jane became sick with a sore throat and a headache she was laid up in bed for almost a full week. Jane wrote in a letter, “ I find myself very unwell this morning, which, I suppose, is to be imputed to my getting wet through yesterday. My kind friends will not hear of my returning home till I am better… excepting a sore throat and headache there is not much the matte...