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Location: Anne Boleyn
Discussion: Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
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 Viscountess |
Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
Jan 10 2008, 2:43 AM EST I just love Natalie Dormer as Anne Boleyn. I believe she captures the coniving, opportunistic nature of Henry VIII's ill-fated second queen. I don't think she was slutty or easy as some might suggest. On the contrary, she was tremendously talented in keeping Henry captivated for so long without succumbing to his advances. Her intellect, wit, and vivacity, if separated from her vicious temper, would have served her well as Henry's queen. Despite these faults and her eventual demise, she is my historical heroine. Her influence helped to change the religious and political tide in England, and consequently, in the New World. 46 out of 54 found this valuable. Do you? |
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miller-pvkk miller-pvkk |
RE: Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
Jan 10 2008, 4:09 PM EST I think it must have been very frustrating to be an intelligent woman during this period in history and that may account to a large extent for her temper. Also, the longer she went without producing a son, the more tempermental she became. At least that is what I gather from reading the history books. Considering how long she waited to become queen and what a failure she was considered for not producing a son, it is no surprise if this also influenced her temperment. People tend to become much less charming when they feel threatened, and she had every reason to feel threatened. As we all know, a lot of people resented her and blamed her completely for the break from Rome. Also, consider how many times she was pregnant and miscarried - three or four times, according to the history books - within a period of three years! Imagine the impact this had on her hormones. So many pregnancies and miscarriages would be hard for any woman, especially one under so much pressure to perform. 16 out of 19 found this valuable. Do you? |
 KatValois |
RE: Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
Jan 10 2008, 5:21 PM EST Well I certainly never envied her position and she had to have been either very brave or ambitious, most likely both. The pressure had to be unimaginable, especially with her neck on the line. But then when you look at it from a historical point of view, she was the mother of one of the most influential monarchs in England's history (Elizabeth I). Some books say that she had a real love for her daughter. I'm sure it was horrible to know that you were leaving your daughter behind to such a time & place and to be raised by people who you had no hope in that they would remember you fondly to your daughter. One of the things bothers me most about Anne's demise is the lies that were told about her and her family, to justify Henry's need to move on to a new wife with the hopes of bearing a son. He didn't just execute her, but many members of her family, her friends and those that were left alive lost Royal favor. She had more guts than most of her time. 27 out of 30 found this valuable. Do you? |
 sturgillrn |
RE: Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
Jan 10 2008, 7:48 PM EST I DISAGREE SHE WAS A SELFISH WOMAN WHO ALMOST BROUGHT A COUNTRY AND KING TO IT'S KNEES 8 out of 49 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Viscountess |
RE: Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
Jan 10 2008, 8:51 PM EST Truthfully, in an age of conivers, Anne Boleyn was not the only one at work in separating the king from his queen. The religious tides of Lutheranism and the Protestant movement were working their way into English society. Her family also desired her position as queen, as did the Seymours, of which Jane became the third of Henry's misbegotten queens. With a woman's position marginalized as it was in the 16th century, there were limited capacities with which Anne Boleyn could have operated with agency for herself. The most valuable of these positions was to have the ear of the king, not just as his mistress, but as his consort, worthy of respect and more importantly, of his advice and consultation. Insomuch as she could, Anne Boleyn was able to somehow capture the intelectual as well as the physical interest of the king for so long a time as to not become his mistress, nor to bore him with idle conversation. Truly her abilities have been shadowed by the experiences of those who would come after her, but her legacy in that of Elizabeth I left a positive, lasting impression on the history of England. 17 out of 21 found this valuable. Do you? |
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ladylynnlynn ladylynnlynn |
RE: Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
Jan 10 2008, 9:42 PM EST annie boleyn had it going on! She successfully con Henry. Not to mention her ambitious family! I agreed with all the above! But I would of somehow weaseled my way out of promising that fool a SON! Come on! That rotten royal court is akin to the idiots of hip hop now! Dont care how we get to the top.......Just step...step....STep... on the toes of everyone and anyone! So many conspiracies and innuendos, might as well work for the post office! ump !ump! ump! And were there any asian or african people as a curiosity? Where are they? 3 out of 28 found this valuable. Do you? |
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mssreed1 mssreed1 |
RE: Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
Jan 12 2008, 5:55 PM EST I agree with you, that Anne Boleyn was an intelligent, focused women that gave Henry VIII a real partner in his life. She did help shape politics, religion, business, culture, and fashion for England. She was the mother of the England most celebrated and infulential monarchs in their history - Elizabeth I. Elizabeth I may have been her fathers daughter, but she got the determination, political savvy and strength from her mother. Anne Boleyn was a great women in her own right. She stepped out of the shadows from behind her lover and husband and was her own woman; during a time where women where no more than property. Even though The Tudors has not been as historically acurate as I would have liked, I have really enjoyed series. I hope the show will continue the story of Henry VIII and all of his six wives. 17 out of 22 found this valuable. Do you? |
 KatherineCary |
RE: Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
Jan 16 2008, 4:02 PM EST Anne didn't almost bring a King and Country to its knees, henry VIII did that. In his tremendous lust for Anne he would do any thing to obtain her. I admire Anne's courage and strength and I think the fact that she dared to refuse the king of England's advances show her to be an upstanding and courageous woman. I don't see how that is in the least a selfish act. What would you have had her do, sleep with his the instant her requested her to? Any harm that came to England was Henry VIII's fault, and his alone, but after Anne's death when her name was so blackened that the people were willing to believe anything about her, he shifted all the blame for everything that had happened on her. Anne is one of my heroines too, and I admire what she did. Its true that England was turned up side down, with respect to the religious question, but on the whole this didn't really hurt the country, instead it helped. Because of England's separation from Rome she became one of the most powerful nations on earth, with freedoms and advantages which would never been allowed if she were still under the thumb of the Holy Sea. 16 out of 22 found this valuable. Do you? |
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sturgillrn |
RE: Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
Jan 16 2008, 5:51 PM EST WHAT WOULD YOU CALL WHAT SHE AND HER LOVER DID TO THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND KATHRYN? 6 out of 27 found this valuable. Do you? |
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KatValois |
RE: Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
Jan 16 2008, 9:08 PM EST "WHAT WOULD YOU CALL WHAT SHE AND HER LOVER DID TO THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND KATHRYN?"Adultry but.... IMO, if it hadn't of been Anne, it would have been any number of others. And something that none of us have mentioned (I think) is that it wasn't just Anne who made this play, her parents, her uncle, her in-laws, her brother, were all for it... encouraged it and they all benefited greatly from both Anne's affair & marriage. Until they lost thier postion and/or heads too At least Kathrine didn't lose her head. 15 out of 19 found this valuable. Do you? |
 Tudor_Obssessed |
RE: Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
Jan 21 2008, 4:09 PM EST She is also my heroine. I am writing my college dissertation on her and the more I find out how fascinating and complex she was. And her views during the time of the Reformation are just awesome! WHAT WOULD YOU CALL WHAT SHE AND HER LOVER DID TO THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND KATHRYN? BTW, Henry VIII was already decided to divorce Katherine of Aragon a full year before he began his pursuit of Anne Boleyn. Some, historians also suggest that he may have been considering well before then, as far back as 1522-1525. 14 out of 20 found this valuable. Do you? |
 jamais.de.fin_boleyn |
RE: Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
Jan 21 2008, 4:21 PM EST YES! I love talking to people with viewpoints the same as my own. Anne Boleyn was a wonderful, talented, ambitious woman who knew what she wanted in life & never stopped trying. I see her as a role model & keep a pendent with her picture on it around my neck at all times! I think Henry was very wrong to set her aside & i believe all claims of witchcraft & incest were false & utterly barbaric! If you havent read any books by Phillipa Gregory I think you should. The Other Boleyn Girl shows her in a light i do not agree with but is a great read all the same. Can't wait to see the movie! I agree with your claims & I think Anne was an amazing Queen. Her daughter was fabulous as well! ~♥ 3 out of 9 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Tudor_Obssessed |
RE: Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
Jan 21 2008, 6:21 PM EST I read the other boleyn girl, and thought it was absolutely a great novel. The movie sounds awesome, although I love Natalie Dormer's Anne Boleyn. 3 out of 7 found this valuable. Do you? |
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jamais.de.fin_boleyn |
RE: Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
Jan 21 2008, 7:11 PM EST I agree! The novel was fabulous... but i disagree with the parts that say she poisoned people & drank witches potions. The movie does sound fabulous! We will have to see if Natalie Portman can compete! But, yes, Dormer captures her personality flawlessly! 2 out of 9 found this valuable. Do you? |
 MsSquirrly |
RE: Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
Jan 21 2008, 8:26 PM EST You know I applaud Natalie for her perfomance but she is no where near to what the real Anne Boleyn was like. She is far too pretty, blue eyed and round faced. Anne captured a kings attention by more than her looks and flirtatious looks. There were lots of "pretty" girls that could have had his attention....Anne had more than that. Still its a fun romp in a bodice ripping sence. Authentic ....no. 8 out of 9 found this valuable. Do you? |
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jamais.de.fin_boleyn |
RE: Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
Jan 21 2008, 9:53 PM EST I do agree with you that none can match the real Anne... of course not! But she does a good job capturing her in certian aspects. Have you read The Other Boleyn Girl then? It's great. Do you have any books to suggest to me on Anne? Some aren't very good... any suggestions? 2 out of 4 found this valuable. Do you? |
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miller-pvkk miller-pvkk |
RE: Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
Jan 21 2008, 10:54 PM EST Right now I'm reading a book by Norah Lofts called "The Concubine". It was not written as recently as "The Other Boleyn Girl", but I must say it is much more accurate and much more sympathetic to Anne as a victim of circumtances. My problem with "The Other Boleyn Girl" is that it actually suggests that Anne practiced witchcraft and slept with her brother. Nearly every major historian considers such charges to be false. I am really enjoying "The Tudors", except that there is nothing about how Anne was actually in love with another man, Henry Percy, whom King Henry forbid her to marry because he already had his eye on her. Another book that is pretty accurate but still very interesting historical fiction about Anne is "The Lady in the Tower" by Jean Plaidy. I can list the titles of plenty of non-fiction works on Anne Boleyn, also, if anyone is interested. Whether fiction or non-fiction, I think it's important to not totally defame a person as "The Other Boleyn Girl" does. We'll see what the movie is like. 2 out of 4 found this valuable. Do you? |
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jamais.de.fin_boleyn |
RE: Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
Jan 21 2008, 11:47 PM EST I agree sooo much! Anne was innocent of, i beleive, all claims against her! She didnt practice witchcraft! I mean, honestly... some rumored that she had 6 fingers and a growth on her neck... she was always playing cards, so if she had a 6th finger then it would have been noticed & rejected immediatley. She also wore low cut gowns so if she had a growth it would have been noticable! HONESTLY! Just bawdy maid talk if you ask me! I beleive Anne NEVER slept with her brother George. If she slept with other men of the court {which is highly doubtful... Anne was much too smart!} But if she did i understand her decisions. She was concerned and steadily falling from the kings favor... she needed to make a son and she knew the king was practically incapable... If she commited adultery... its understandable because she was scared! However, I do not think she actually did... thank you for the book suggestions... I'll check them out! 3 out of 5 found this valuable. Do you? |
 tudorcrazy |
RE: Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
Jan 22 2008, 1:23 AM EST Good point. She was very studied and had amazing self control. Like all women of that era, she was just a pawn to her father, uncle, brother, and husband. But, she did give england an heir, Queen elizabeth, one of the most brilliant,monarchs of all time. A shame she had to kill Mary Q of Scots. She could have just met with her and worked it out. She was also just a pawn for her parents husband inlaws, and Son. He was a real piece of work. No wonder Q Eliz didn't seem that interested in motherhood! 3 out of 6 found this valuable. Do you? |
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tudorcrazy |
RE: Anne Boleyn, my heroine!
Jan 22 2008, 1:28 AM EST absolutely right. Her parents were behind the whole thing so they could advance in court. New money trash! 3 out of 6 found this valuable. Do you? |
