Comparing the Real Elizabeth
to the Movie Elizabeth (1998)
Young Adult Story Analysis
Written by DJ Hadoken
The 1998 movie, Elizabeth, starring Cate Blanchett, is about the rise to power and reign (1558 - 1603) of Queen Elizabeth I of England. Despite the fact that major historical events were highly compacted and altered to fit within the movie’s limited running time, the movie helps one understand how life during Elizabeth’s era may have been, and serves as a useful visual representation of her life.
As for birth dates and succession dates, the movie seems to hold true to these aspects of history. Her father was Henry VIII. Her mother, Anne Boleyn, was executed shortly after Elizabeth’s birth. Although not mentioned in the movie, Elizabeth became an illegitimate daughter because of Henry VIII’s decision to have Anne Boleyn executed. But he later convinced the Parliament of England to re-legitimize her. In the movie and in history, she succeeded her half-sister, Queen Mary I (Mary Tudor), to the throne.
Her physical appearance in the movie appears mostly accurate to history. Historically, her hair is described as a “curly golden red”. Most depictions of Elizabeth in classic paintings show her as having short hair, curly hair, or both. She was known to wear a variety of hair pieces and wigs (known as Periwigs). But in her coronation portrait, she is depicted as having long, flowing hair. In the movie, Elizabeth has straight, long hair that is frequently styled up into a bun or curls. Only towards the end does she cut her hair short and don her iconic appearance of a wig with curly hair.
In the movie, her struggles to maintain peace were interesting to watch. Because like Catherine the Great, she was a woman struggling to rule in a society dominated by men.
Francis Walsingham, an anti-Catholic Protestant and former exile, served an influential role for Elizabeth both in history and in the movie. In history, his secret service helped foil multiple assassination plots against her. But the assassination attempts and assassination plot depicted in the movie are not completely accurate to history.
The historical “Mary of Guise” also appears as a character in the movie. In some scenes, she is referred to as “Mary of Scots”, which can be confusing because in history, her daughter (also named Mary) is referred to as “Mary, Queen of Scots”. In the movie, “Mary of Guise” is the Duke of Anjou’s aunt, but in history they were not related.
Elizabeth was known as “The Virgin Queen”, “Good Queen Bess”, and “Gloriana”. The movie only mentions the name of “Virgin Queen”.
Her romantic life with Lord Robert Dudley is one of the central themes in the movie and adds an entertaining love story aspect for the audience to enjoy.
In history, Elizabeth and Lord Robert had been deeply in love. The movie portrays them as having a very close relationship. According to historical accounts, she and Lord Robert had been friends throughout childhood. The movie also portrays Lord Robert as loving Elizabeth for herself, not just because she was a queen, which Elizabeth greatly appreciated; historical accounts suggest this to also hold true.
The movie depicts a scene where she is confronted by her chief adviser (William Cecil) who mentions rumors that she is pregnant with Lord Robert’s child. In history, Elizabeth is said to never have married or to have had children.
Lord Robert however, was already married. In history, Elizabeth was always aware of this, but in the movie, she does not find out until she is told by William Cecil. The question of marriage between Lord Robert and Elizabeth posed many problems in history as it did in the movie. Her marriage to him would not have been politically beneficial for England. It would have stirred up resentment throughout the competitive nobility and caused her to lose the support of many of them.
The movie does not depict a significant historical event that occurred in 1560, where Lord Robert’s wife was found dead, freeing him to marry Elizabeth, but was followed by suspicions floating about of his own purposeful involvement in her demise. The movie does, however, convey accurately that the relationship between Lord Robert and Queen Elizabeth was the subject of much gossip.
Lord Robert’s father, the Duke of Northumberland, who had historically been executed for treason, is also briefly mentioned in the movie. In history, Lord Robert’s grandfather, as well, was executed for treason. The movie does not touch much on that subject, however. In history, Lord Robert was also imprisoned for his own involvement in his father’s plot of treason, but he had already regained his freedom by the time of Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne.
The movie also accurately portrays Elizabeth as being fond of dancing. She and Lord Robert are shown dancing together often, as they did in history. In history she is described as also being a very active horse rider, animal hunter, and spectator of different sporting events.
Besides Lord Robert, the historical Elizabeth was courted by many suitors
from various countries after her ascension to the throne. Among them: the
King of Spain, Prince Eric of Sweden, the son of John Frederic (Duke of
Saxony), and the Duke of Anjou (from France). The movie concentrates mainly
on the King of Spain and the Duke of Anjou’s marriage offers, however. The
movie also accurately conveys that Elizabeth was not as eager to marry as
other were for her to do so. In history, she rejected the King of Spain,
which the movie also depicts.
The Duke of Anjou plays a notable role in the movie. In history, he did indeed visit England to court Elizabeth. In the movie, he is portrayed as a comedic character, such as when upon his and Elizabeth’s first meeting, he kisses her and speaks dirty to her. History describes him as being less handsome than her other suitors, with an appearance mangled by the attack of smallpox.
In history, Elizabeth was more fond of the Duke of Anjou than is suggested
in the movie. It was also convenient for her to use him (as well as her
other suitors) for political manipulation. Such as during his historical
second visit to England, when she “played the part” of an eager bride, by
kissing him and placing a ring on his finger, declaring her intention (a
false one) to marry him. The movie has a similar scene where she attempts to
hand a ring to him, but this depiction is not completely accurate to
history.
It should be noted again, that many of the historical events that are depicted in the movie (including those related to Lord Robert and the Duke of Anjou) are highly compacted and altered to fit within the movie’s limited running time. Some events actually occurred about 10 or more years apart from each other in history.
Considering that Queen Elizabeth I reigned for about 44 years, it is understandable that some creative alterations were made in order to effectively convey her historical significance. It succeeds in conveying the major aspects of her life to an audience that would otherwise have very little knowledge about her without some sort of visual representation like this movie.
The Duke of Anjou plays a notable role in the movie. In history, he did indeed visit England to court Elizabeth. In the movie, he is portrayed as a comedic character, such as when upon his and Elizabeth’s first meeting, he kisses her and speaks dirty to her. History describes him as being less handsome than her other suitors, with an appearance mangled by the attack of smallpox.
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It should be noted again, that many of the historical events that are depicted in the movie (including those related to Lord Robert and the Duke of Anjou) are highly compacted and altered to fit within the movie’s limited running time. Some events actually occurred about 10 or more years apart from each other in history.
Considering that Queen Elizabeth I reigned for about 44 years, it is understandable that some creative alterations were made in order to effectively convey her historical significance. It succeeds in conveying the major aspects of her life to an audience that would otherwise have very little knowledge about her without some sort of visual representation like this movie.
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