<p>Messed up the title, but basically, I love you if you grade my DBQ1-9, for me.</p>
<p>Question (2011):Analyze the influence of ideas about gender on the reign of Elizabeth I and explain how
Elizabeth responded to these ideas.</p>
<p>Deeply influenced by her time’s stereotypes of women, some of which she shared, Elizabeth I worked hard to avoid the mistakes of her female predecessors. Perceiving herself as a king at heart (Doc.12), Elizabeth distanced herself from what were thought to be the innate traits of women. Responding to the commonly held beliefs that women were dangerous and inequitable as rulers, yet weak and subservient by nature, Elizabeth strove to be a fair and loyal leader, played up her feminine traits for political gain, and refused to tolerate any form of dissent.
Elizabeth had to labor harder than most monarchs to establish herself as an educated, equitable ruler; many questioned her competence for the sole reason of her gender (Doc.4). After the disastrous rule of Elizabeth’s predecessor, Mary I, many were loath to accept another female ruler. Close to the time of Elizabeth’s coronation in 1558, John Knox, a religious reformer, wrote that women were not suited to rule, and made unreliable, unjust rulers (Doc. 1). Clearly, this belief was influenced by “Bloody” Mary’s regime, during which hundreds of religious dissenters, a group with which Knox would identify, were roasted at the stake.
Knox’s concerns were likely assuaged by the fair and loyal leadership that Elizabeth provided; she made every effort to improve her beloved England. Connecting with the people of England was one of these efforts; Elizabeth traveled all over the country to make herself more accessible, explained her actions to her people, and even said that she would sacrifice her life for the good of her nation (Doc. 12).
Despite Elizabeth’s attempts to connect to its citizens, England was far from a democracy. Unlike most women of her time, Elizabeth demanded unquestioned sovereignty. As evidenced by the excerpt from The Second Book of Homilies, a woman’s role in the household during Elizabeth’s time was essentially that of a servant, yielding to her husband’s every demand while not voicing any opinion of her own (Doc. 5). To separate herself from this feminine “trait,” Elizabeth reversed roles, asserting herself as the “husband” of the English household by demanding obedience. One example of Elizabeth’s assertion of power was her sharp rebuke of Parliament in 1566, in which she claimed that its decisions had no weight without her approval (Doc. 6). Similarly, the temperamental queen frequently yelled at or punished her advisors if she found their ideas disagreeable. The Act of Supremacy of 1559 affirmed Elizabeth’s authority; in it, she was declared to be the ultimate ruler of both church and state (Doc. 3).
Elizabeth additionally asserted her power by wielding her feminine charms as a political weapon. As Elizabeth said herself, she preferred to be married to her country rather than to a husband (Doc. 11). This statement not only reflects Elizabeth’s love of her country, but her preference to stay single. As the unwed queen of a powerful nation, “The Virgin Queen” attracted many power-hungry suitors. By flirting with these men, yet refusing to commit, she formed political connections that might otherwise have been difficult to create.
Another tool Elizabeth utilized for political means was her extravagant appearance. Her wardrobe well stocked with thousands of gowns and pieces of jewelry, Elizabeth’s appearance radiated wealth and power. The political effect of Elizabeth’s feminine image is illustrated by Document 8; the queen’s gown is shown to envelop England, implying that Elizabeth’s appearance as the elegant Virgin Queen helped her control her subjects to a greater extent. The fact that the portrait was painted by the English court painter, over whom Elizabeth held authority, indicates that this control by means of image was exactly what Elizabeth intended.
Elizabeth craved power because women were considered weak, demanded obedience to avoid being seen as subservient, and ruled justly to challenge perceptions of disastrous female rulers. While these may sound like the actions of a feminist, Elizabeth certainly was not one; she acted not out of a desire to eliminate female stereotypes, but to prove her own internal masculinity.</p>