Transformings

 

     A reoccurring theme in this movie was surprisingly love. Yes, surprising because this is a movie about a ruler, and these ruler types seem to only be concerned with power. When it comes to marriage, the tendency seems to be to completely bypass love, and marry whoever will be of their benefit when it comes to gaining more power. Elizabeth is in love with Lord Robert from the very beginning of this film. She is twirling and dancing with the same actor who's in "Shakespeare in Love". Go figure. The first dance scene is bright and pure. Their affection for each other is seeping through every seem, and her hair is flowing and twirling along everywhere.

     They dance in other scenes throughout the movie. However, by the end of the movie, Elizabeth is stone cold and literally white. Her lover is looking up to her in wondrous awe as the transformed Elizabeth stoically walks down from her thrown and past him sitting in the entranced crowd.
     Elizabeth was offered a hand in marriage from those of high ranks in Spain and France throughout the film. However, she has no interest in getting married, and even mocks the notion during her speech to the bishops. At this point, it is unclear whether she is denying these suitors because she is in love or she is occupied with the idea of being a powerful woman who is independent of a man. by the end of the film, however, it seems that the later is her only focus. She is literally trying to portray the imagine of a stone sculpture of the Virgin Mary by means of her make-up, and she even says to the crowd that she is married to England.

 

     Is Elizabeth's transformation due to her finally realizing that there is an inability to marry to love? Does she take-up this inhuman, virgin image because she became sucked up into the power game and knew a marriage to a man of power would take some of the power away from her? Is it a little of both? When did Elizabeth stop concerning herself with love and start concerning only about working on an image that would finally help her to gain the power over England she deserved being in her position? In the movie when Lord Robert is somewhat seriously bantering around with Elizabeth on the boat and ends up proposing to Elizabeth, Elizabeth says, "Does not a queen sit under the same stars as any other woman?'". When a normal person is put into an inhuman position, it is always interesting to see how much of there own self they give up and for what reasons.