Elizabeth’s virginity
I’m quite amused by Elizabeth’s virginity.She married herself to her kingdom and her people,ruling her country to the Golden Age,where flourished by English politics,diplomacy,and culture.The sacrifice will be particularly remembered among her people and her image will remain its hold in English history.However the reason why she chose to be a virgin reamains unknown hence a fierce argument among historians had existed ever since.Her unmarried status even inspired a cult of virginity where portraits, pageants, literature of the day celebrated.
According to the references there’re some posssible reasons for that virginity.One is colsely related with her childhood.After the death of Henry VIII(father of Elizabeth),Catherine Parr(her stepmother) married soon married Thomas Seymour of Sudeley, the couple took Elizabeth into their household,when Elizabeth experienced an emotional crisis that some historians believe affected her for the rest of her life Seymour, approaching age 40 but having charm and “a
powerful sex appeal”,engaged in romps and horseplay with the 14-year-old
Elizabeth. These included entering her bedroom in his nightgown tickling her and
slapping her on the buttocks.After Catherine Parr discovered the pair in an embrace, she ended this state of affairs.
If there was someone whom she did have strong affections for was her childhood friend Lord Robert Dudley.Early in 1559, Elizabeth’s friendship with the married Dudley turned to love. Rumour spread through court and country that she was sleeping with him.For a time, Elizabeth seriously considered marrying Dudley; but William Cecil, Nicholas Throckmorton, and other politicians were very alarmed and made their disapproval unmistakably clear.The opposition was so overwhelming, that there were even rumours that the nobility would rise if the marriage took place.
Thirdly ,and in my view most probably,is for stableness of politics.She had no need of a man’s help to govern, and marrying risked a loss of control or of foreign interference in her affairs, as had happened to her sister Mary.Therefore Elizabeth kept the marriage question open but often only as a diplomatic ploy.Despite that the parliament repeatedly petitioned her to marry,she always answered evasively.
Nevertheless,who could give one proper answer to the behaviour.Humans are such complicated creatures,aren’t they?
