Running head: QUEEN OF SMARTS: HOW ELIZABETH I CHANGED THE WORLD

Queen of Smarts: How Elizabeth I Changed the World Eli Klein Siena Heights University LAS 301

QUEEN OF SMARTS: HOW ELIZABETH I CHANGED THE WORLD Introduction On August 9th, 1588, Queen Elizabeth I strode confidently into the field of combat at Tilbury. A battle was about to take place, a battle that would lead to the Spanish Armada and all the violence and triumph therein that stemmed from Spains belief that Elizabeth was a heretic, and a woman to be defeated. The fight about to be waged was religious, if not also hinged upon the belief that the womanhood of Elizabeth I would hinder her in matters of warfare. However, before a sword was lifted, or a drop of blood was shed, a word was to be spoken by the Queen

herself. As she made her way across the grounds in a regal fashion, outfitted in a breastplate and mounted upon a horse, Elizabeth began to speak. Addressing her troops in her signature succinct, yet eloquent manner, she delivered a straight to the point speech that showcased her intellect and fortitude while hushing critics of the female leader, saying, I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king and of a King of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realm (Wagner-Wright, 2012, par. 12 ). In the end, Elizabeth would defeat Spain. Similarly, throughout her life, Queen Elizabeth proved her naysayers wrong with her brilliant mind and leadership, and in effect, changed the worlds views about faith, art, discovery, and women in power. Origins Elizabeths royal but tempestuous beginnings set her up to have a meaningful impact on our earthly sphere. From birth, she was unwanted and discriminated against for being female. Her mother, Anne Boleyn, and her father, Henry VIII, were expected by England to have a male child in order to provide a proper heir to the throne. When Elizabeth entered the world, the

QUEEN OF SMARTS: HOW ELIZABETH I CHANGED THE WORLD nation of Britain was greatly disappointed, and soon Henry VIII would follow suit. Thankfully,

Anne Boleyn became pregnant again, but, unfortunately, miscarried soon after the announcement was made. Following her miscarriage, suspicions that she could not carry a child to term circulated, as did gossip of engaging in adultery and incest. Ultimately, Anne Boleyn was charged with both, and beheaded by orders of her husband, the King himself. Young Elizabeth, just two years old, was now without a mother (Starkey, 2001, p. 23). This early trauma, although deeply saddening, provided Elizabeth with a strong personality that could triumph over personal adversities. Early Life The beheading of Anne Boleyn in 1536 did not just rob Elizabeth of her mother; it robbed her of her status. The child was now considered illegitimate, due to her parents marital separation by Boleyns death. When Elizabeth was replaced as heir by her half brother Edward, born of Jane Seymour, Henry VIIIs wife following Anne Boleyn, it commenced the trend of Elizabeth being pushed aside in favor of male leadership (Starkey, 2001, p. 25). Yet, Elizabeth would push back. When Elizabeth began her formal education and tutoring, her preciousness and intelligence grabbed her fathers attention, making him reconsider her ex-princess position. Although the two had not had much contact since Anne Boleyns death, when they met again in 1542, Starkey (2001) noted that Henry praised her intelligence and personality so highly upon this meeting that he was already considering restoring her to her place for the throne (p. 30). Elizabeth, already an ambitious intellectual, was already doing the unprecedented, even if she was not aware of it at such a young age. She had, in a very short time, made a King who had

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bemoaned her birth reassess her position in the royal court during a period when even legitimate female children were passed over for the crown. Just as Elizabeth was slowly changing her father Henry VIIIs mind, she would eventually change the very fabric of English life. Young Adulthood Unsurprisingly, the future Queen endured more hardship during her young years when her father died after suffering from health issues like gout and obesity, and her half brother Edward followed, passing away soon after. The young imperial maiden suffered not only personal loss, but also distrust from the royal court when she was suspected of having an affair with Thomas Seymour, who was her stepmother and Henry VIIIs sixth wife Catherine Parrs husband following Henry VIIIs death. However, Elizabeth survived the debacle with her reputation intact (Starkey, 2001, p. 78). Thankfully, Elizabeth was eventually restored to her place in line for the throne, but not before her older half sister Mary beat her to it. The offspring of their father and his first wife Catherine of Aragon, Mary was a staunch Catholic whose rule saw the intense discrimination of Protestants, and any individual outside of the Catholic faith, for that matter. Elizabeth was the subject of some of this aforementioned discrimination, as she embodied the Protestant spirit which her father had displayed as well (Castor, 2010, par. 23). From these experiences of religious persecution, the future Virgin Queen would vow to make a more tolerant England, changing the landscape of belief in Britain. Ascension to the Throne and Religious Reform Before Elizabeth ascended to the throne, she had dealt with personal struggles and public controversies in a manner befitting of a Queen of England. Now it was time to see if her strength

QUEEN OF SMARTS: HOW ELIZABETH I CHANGED THE WORLD could withstand the test of ruling a nation. First on the new Queens agenda was uniting an England that was divided by faith. Her stern half sister Mary had left England in a mess of inequity, with Catholics ruling and Protestants serving under a flag of persecution. Starkey (2001) remarks that Elizabeth wanted religion to be debated in a way that avoided extremes. And she wanted a settlement that avoided extremes as well, uniting instead as many of her subjects as possible (p. 277). Elizabeth, although a firm Protestant, created a religious reform that could reasonably please both sides, creating Communion services that reflected both Catholic and Protestant beliefs, and Prayer Books that were noncontroversial (Starkey, 2001, p. 283-285). Her vision for a more amicable, placid world of differing creeds but likeminded tolerance would not only transform England, but the way in which religion was approach by world leaders in the centuries to come. In a time where religion inspired divisiveness and brutality, Elizabeth was instead creating a positive environment for all faiths by utilizing the powers of her intellect to join individuals instead of parting them. A Woman in Power Just as Elizabeth would change the face of religion by her combination of empathy and strategy, she would change the face of women in politics as well. Lasky (1999) declares that Elizabeth, although aware of how marriage was used a political tool, never submitted to the proposals of marriage hurled at her from every direction, deciding instead to be married to her country (p. 223). These proposals were frequent, and her advisors strongly suggested taking a husband to secure alliances through Philip of Spain and the Duke of Anjou of France. In both instances, the proposals never came to fruition (Starkey, 2001, p. 316). Elizabeth opted instead

for independence, knowing that she, with her powers of both mind and spirit could helm the ship of England on her own. This bold example of a female leader triumphing on her own during

QUEEN OF SMARTS: HOW ELIZABETH I CHANGED THE WORLD turbulent times in her nation transformed the image of a woman in power during her times, and even in the present day.

To illustrate, in Elizabethan times, the Queen altered the fabric of gender in everyday life, whereas in our times, Elizabeths impact, although less explicit, can be felt in the individuals and leaders who cite her as an influence upon their own lives. In Tudor England, Elizabeth switched up the typical gender roles of the period. Men at that time, who overwhelmingly viewed women as subservient to them, were made to serve a female monarch, becoming her compliant subjects (Sharon-Zisser, 1995, par. 1). This cognitive dissonance invoking practice started to shift England towards more gender equality than previously known before Elizabeths reign. That same sentiment of fairness and female empowerment continues on to our times, where Elizabeth remains a role model for not only women, but men in power. As Pryor (2003) observes, Elizabeth I is put upon a pedestal even in the corporate world, where she has been cited as a powerful authority for company executives to refer to (par. 1). So, Elizabeths guts and guile reverberate throughout the centuries, even in unexpected environments, and to both genders. This fact is a commanding testament to her ability to create a change in the way women were viewed then and now. The Flourishing Arts It is only fitting that during Elizabeths rigorous studies as a young girl she poured over plays like those by masters such as Sophocles. Correspondingly, during her reign, a new master playwright would surface and flourish: Shakespeare. His tragic and comedic masterpieces owe a debt to Queen Elizabeth I, as do the rest of the English arts during the time of her reign. Not only was the prosperous economic environment during London at the time encouraging for

QUEEN OF SMARTS: HOW ELIZABETH I CHANGED THE WORLD playwrights, artists, and writers of all kinds, the Elizabeth government also encouraged a new kind of freedom when it came to subject matter for wordsmiths like Shakespeare. Because the Corpus Christi or religious plays of the old regime were on their way out, new sorts of theatrical dramas were on their way in (Montrose, 1996, p. 25). Tragedies, comedies, and farces

became more popular, as the masses had more of a variety of shows to choose from, as compared to before Elizabethan times when such plays were restricted. Shakespeare, of course, was the shining star of the new wave of entertainment in the London sphere. In fact, Shakespeare drew upon Queen Elizabeth I for inspiration in his works, as he introduced increasingly strong female characters into plays such as Loves Labours Lost, which included magnetic, dominant women in a royal court environment (Heale, 1997, par. 2). His Elizabethan characters referenced Elizabeth herself, in a striking tribute to the Queen, who had fostered an English atmosphere perfect for and with the freedom to broadcast Shakespearian drama. The Queen had once again made a mark upon the fabric of the world by encouraging and funding the arts in a way which was unprecedented. This change in the dramatic and creative disciplines plays a part in our own existences, as some of the most loved masterpieces from the period still make appearances in our school curriculums and influence our current entertainment and arts today. Bold New Discoveries While England basked in the glow of its artistic achievements, Elizabeth I was making sure other nations knew its name as well. Elizabeth, with the help of Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh, was exploring and discovering the New World. As trade routes were established and English colonies sprung up in America, England was also establishing itself as a world

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power, thanks to the boldness and success of Elizabeths reign (Lasky, 1999, p. 222). This period of exploration brought the English culture and language to a worldwide audience, along with awareness of Queen Elizabeth herself. Case in point, the state of Virginia was coined so after the Virgin Queen a moniker Elizabeth took up to showcase her chastity and singlehood. Stepping into uncharted territory was not unfamiliar to Queen Elizabeth; she had been incessantly conquering the unknown of reformations, ruling, and revising the arts throughout her life. However, this venture of exploration was different because it would be one of her last significant achievements before her death. Once again, through her fearlessness and intellect, the Queen reined supreme, changing the very world itself by finding more of it. Conclusion Queen Elizabeth I died on March 23, 1603 at the age of 69, and along with her death came the end of her splendorous reign. It was a reign that showcased a woman taking charge like never before, against the advice of advisors. It was a reign that joined combating religious doctrines, and a reign that saw a revival and transformation of the arts. It even had a hand in the discovery of new lands and the founding of new colonies. Overall, Queen Elizabeth I had proved herself through the intellect and will of her own personality, a personality that is reflected even in the marble effigy atop her tomb in Westminster Abbey. It shows an elderly Elizabeth in ornate dress wielding an orb and a scepter, symbols of her royal power (Lasky, 1999, p. 234). Above all, it shows a determined Elizabeth, with a dignified but alert look upon her face, as if she is ready to arise and change the world all over again.

QUEEN OF SMARTS: HOW ELIZABETH I CHANGED THE WORLD References Castor, H. (2010). Elizabeth I: Exception to the Rule. History Today, 60.10, 1. http://www.historytoday.com/helen-castor/elizabeth-i-exception-rule Heale, E. (1997). Passion Made Public: Elizabethan Lyric, Gender, and Performance. The Review of English Studies, 48.192, 522. http://envoy.lcc.edu:2259/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=DA-

SORT&inPS=true&prodId=AONE&userGroupName=lom_lansingcc&tabID=T002&sea rchId=R1&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=AdvancedS earchForm&currentPosition=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA20446702&&docId=GALE|A2 0446702&docType=GALE&role= Lasky, K. (1999). Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc. Montrose, L. (1996). The Purpose of Playing: Shakespeare and the Cultural Politics of the Elizabethan Theatre. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press. Pryor, F. (2003). Elizabeth I: Her Life in Letters. Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press. Sharon-Zisser, S. (1995). Undoing the "tyrranous advantage": Renaissance rhetoric and the subduing of female power. Women's Studies, 24.3, 247. http://envoy.lcc.edu:2259/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=DASORT&inPS=true&prodId=AONE&userGroupName=lom_lansingcc&tabID=T002&sea rchId=R3&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=AdvancedS

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earchForm&currentPosition=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA16736325&&docId=GALE|A1 6736325&docType=GALE&role=. Starkey, D. (2001). Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers Inc. Wagner-Wright, S. (2012). Common denominators in successful female statecraft: the political legacies of Queen Elizabeth I, Indira Gandhi, and Margaret Thatcher. Forum on Public Policy: A Journal of the Oxford Round Table. http://envoy.lcc.edu:2259/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=DASORT&inPS=true&prodId=AONE&userGroupName=lom_lansingcc&tabID=T002&sea rchId=R5&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=AdvancedS earchForm&currentPosition=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA317588347&&docId=GALE|A 317588347&docType=GALE&role=.