Theme Of Gender In Queen Elizabeth

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.

Elizabeth uses the stereotypes of her gender and knowledge of both literature and when to manipulate her gender to explain why she needs

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,

No king would be able to manipulate the subject of love like Elizabeth because she presents her love in a womanly fashion that makes love the most important thing to her. In “The Golden Speech,” Elizabeth mentions her love for the people throughout the speech. Her love is Elizabeth’s main reason for being unable to harm the people. She insists that “above all earthly treasures I esteem my people’s love, more than which I desire not to merit” (765). This is a show of womanly love because she shows more concern for her people’s love than anything else. She uses this love to explain that she could never harm her people and insists that she could not sit idly by while her people suffer. “Yea, when I heard it I could give no rest unto my thoughts until I had reformed it” (765). This also makes her love motherly because like a mother, she wishes no harm to come to her children. In her “Speech to the Troops at Tilbury,” she has a different approach to love. She focuses more on the mutual love between her and the people. She starts her speech with “My loving people” (762). This line is important because she starts out implying the troops are hers and insists that they love her. She continues this when she states. “But I tell you that I would not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people” (762). By continuously telling the people that they love her, Elizabeth forms a bond between them. This