You Go Girl!

The whole time I was watching this movie all I could think was, "YASSS QUEEN!" Elizabeth from the beginning did not care that she opposed the views of others. She was sentenced to prison and almost death by her own sister for not viewing religion in the same way. She couldn't even lie to her sister and promise her to keep England Catholic after her death to ensure that she becomes Queen. Elizabeth was strong-willed, and had good ideas to make England better and to win the war with Spain, but the men in her court refute her commands, which of course make things worse.

Throughout the movie, Elizabeth tries to remain her kind and loving self, which nobody took seriously. The plot shows that in order for her to get her way, she had to change her appearance and demeanor to prove she did not need a husband or an heir. I feel that this dramatic switch also follows the portraits we were showed in class. The first couple portraits are soft; she also is not wearing wigs or make -up, then she has the large luxurious wigs and pale make-up to emphasize her stoic face. The movie shows us what led to the look she was known for, and it was because she was heartbroken and taken advantage of.

But her personality itself had always been sassy and strong. She had perfectly timed comebacks, she flaunted Lord Robert around even when she was supposed to be getting to know the Duke of France, and she killed those who wanted to overthrow her. She also was forgiving and compassionate. She remembered the good deed one lord made towards her when she was being sentenced to the tower, and spared him and his family when she sentenced to kill everybody else. She was able to laugh and dance regardless of the situations she was in, such as the time she came back from seeing the Duke of France in a dress and wig pretending to be a woman, she came back, laughed it off and started to dance with Robert. Queen Elizabeth in this movie constantly surprised me with her reactions, especially since we only know the one face she makes in the portraits, and I absolutely loved it.