Despite its obvious historical errors, it
is certainly an excellent film production.
The film tells the story of Queen
Elizabeth I (played by Cate Blanchett), a lonely but strong woman who must face
the recurrent attempts of take her throne. On the other hand, Catholicism is
gaining ground wanting to get it over with Protestant England and restore the
glory of the Roman Catholic Church.
In this context,
Elizabeth “the virgin” is being pressured to marry soon and leave offspring, in
this way, her cousin Mary Stuart, defender of Catholicism, wouldn't take the
throne.
Many men are presented to her, and as usual she refuses to marry, but
she takes note about Walter Raleigh, a man that returned from “the new world”
and then fascinates to her with his adventures stories at sea.
Unwilling to give vent to his passion, Elizabeth encourages Bess (played by Abbie Cornish), her favorite lady, to relate to Raleigh to have him around. But they fall in love; Bess gets pregnant and then get married in secret and without permission from the queen. The queen discovered it and she threw into a jealous rage and Raleigh and his wife were imprisoned in the Tower. Later, the Queen forgives them and gives
blessing to his son.
Mary Stuart was beheaded
for treason and in the context of war, England faces to Spain and comes out
triumphant.
The great production makes us dive into
the story and believe what the film shows. But the truth is that much of what
is presented is fiction- distant from the real story.
How much true is there in the movie?
There are several details that were added
and / or omitted:
- William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley and one of the most trusted
advisors of the Queen, was omitted in this film.
- England didn't win the war because they had a great navy, but a
storm happened in his favor.
Philip II: "I sent my ships to fight men, not against the
storms."
- Raleigh never went out to meet the Spanish Armada
- Bess Throckmorton's pregnancy actually occurred the summer of 1591,
three years after the Armada, not immediately before
Was Walter Raleigh for the queen as important as the film shows?
The truth is that as well as Raleight,
there were many men favorites: Robert Dudley, Sir Robert Cecil, or Robert
Devereux, all of which were much more significant than Raleigh.
Was really Elizabeth a virgin?
It was said that she gave her "intimate
affection" to a big number of favorites, including Robert Dudley (first
Earl of Leicester), Sir Walter Raleigh and Robert Devereux, (second Earl of
Essex). It was even rumored that she had a son with Dudley named Arthur, and
when he was born he was delivered promptly to other hands for his care and
already big he went out in search of his real parents.
“For my secret sins, clean me.
For the sins of the others, you put your servant. Many sins have been excused
to her because she loved too much… “
“Here lies Elizabeth, who
reigned virgin and died virgin"
Buried
as a virgin and glorified by his personal sacrifice on behalf of the happiness
of his country, the truth about the intimate life of Elizabeth I and her
possible motherhood, will continue being a fascinating mystery.
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| Elizabeth I, Armada Portrait, c.1588 - Woburn Abbey |
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