The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory: "'Everything I have gained she has taken from me,' [Mary] said, [her] voice low with passionate resentment," (Gregory 233)
Queen Katherine went through the same thing Mary is going through; the king moving onto another woman. Katherine had to watch Mary move in and take her man, now Mary has to watch Anne swoop in and take the king. The sad thing is they have no choice. Once the king has moved on, he has moved on, there's no arguing.
Anne has a whole plan in mind; to become Queen of England, a plan Mary did not think of. Mary couldn't envision herself taking her most beloved queen's place. Mary does have a child, however. She has two both from the king; a son and a daughter. Henry is ever so grateful, but can't claim them for his own, Mary being his mistress. Her children, Catherine and Henry, take the name of Carey (Mary's husband's name). I think it's funny how the King wanted to name Mary's daughter Elizabeth (a little foreshadowing going on there). If the king finds a way to get ride of Katherine, he could have a boy and a girl, 2 heirs to the throne. If he does get ride of Katherine, however, Mary would become queen. Mary does not want that job.
Mary's interest in the king has vanished. She does not have the desire for him the way she did when he first courted her. The king is also loosing interest Mary, for Mary has been moping and sad and not as charming. Partially because she cannot see her children and because Anne is being a back-stabbing, hypocritical, mean sister.
El Fin
14 years ago
1 comment:
Wow, I had no idea what that book was about. It is funny how these same themes happen all the time with "lower class" people, but when it is royalty, it is elevated to such a high level of betrayal. Why do you think that is? Do we expect kings and queens to act differently than we do because we are supposed to look up to them? I don't know. The fact that it is her sister though, that carries some heavy drama no matter who you are.
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