Last week I finished reading The Other Boleyn Girl, and I cannot get this story out of my head. I’ve always been fascinated with Henry VIII, the stories surrounding his wives, his court, and his children, especially Elizabeth. Reading this book renewed that old fascination. Anne Boleyn, Henry’s second wife and Elizabeth I’s mother, was a very strong, intelligent woman. She knew what she wanted, and she did everything to get it. Granted, Phillipa Gregory’s novel is fiction, but after reading it, I did some research on the facts of Anne’s life and found that most of the events really happened or were rumored to have happened and even Anne’s character is based on historical letters and writings about the woman.
Anne’s story is one that shows the intense power a woman can have over a man. That’s not to say that a man can’t have power over a woman; he can, but I think more often than not women tend to have the edge on manipulation. We know that Henry was madly in love with her based on seventeen surviving love letters he wrote to her while still married to Queen Katherine. Historically, Henry hated writing so that fact that he even wrote to her says a lot and even more so the content. But Henry wasn’t just in love with Anne–he was so “bewitched” (as he often referred to it as) by her that he defied the Pope to marry her. I always knew this from my history classes and such, but I had no idea how momentous this decision was until this book put it in perspective for me. Historical fiction has a way of humanizing and animating history even though its been pumped with some extra character. Henry sacrificed the national religious order, national security, allies, and an innocent woman’s integrity to marry Anne. Anne definitely had a power over Henry.
In the book, when Henry starts to reveal his affection towards Anne, she refuses to give into him like her sister Mary and become his mistress. She witholds from him, using his desire against him to achieve her own means, become the next queen of England. She is ridiculously cunning in her ability to use her beauty, intelligence, and good old flattery to get what she wants. There is no doubt that this woman is strong and wickedly smart, but Anne’s story blatantly exposes women’s power over men and how that can be used for evil. Anne’s efforts do not end well for anyone. No one is unscathed. Henry loses Katherine whom he loved and the love of the people. Elizabeth loses her mother and her safety. Mary loses her place at court. Anne and everyone involved in the scandal loses their life, dignity, and (if the worst rumors are true) their souls.
A woman using her power for evil is a scary and dangerous thing, but a woman using that power for good can have an incredible effect. Through very very informal observation of couples I have encountered whether in real life or books and the media, I have developed this theory that women have been put on this earth to make men better. I think this is what happens when a woman uses her power for good. It challenges a man to be a better man, the whole idea that he needs to be worthy. I know this makes it sound like women are on this high pedastol, but I don’t believe we are. Women aren’t by any means better than men. I think there is just this perception out there that we are, the whole “fairer of the sexes” concept. And these women “making men better” are not limited to romantic roles. I think women can do this in any relationship with a man whether it be mother, sister, or friend, just like anyone can push any other person to be better. I think this feminine power is inspiring, and we should always keep that in mind when dealing with the men in our lives.
much love–char
