Sunday, February 15, 2009
English 117: Elizabeth I and Her Age
As I read the poem by Elizabeth,” When I Was Fair and Young,” and then some of the poems by others to her, I found them rather funny. Funny in the sense that Elizabeth is known for this woman who never married, turned so many suitors away, and lived “alone.” Yet in her poem, it is like she regrets it all. Maybe not regrets, for she saved her people which meant the most to her. I think she wished she could have had somebody by her side though. After readying some of the love poems written to Elizabeth, I think she was flattered a lot, which probably helped subdue the loneness, if she ever read them. That is when I thought of people reading them to her. For over the weekend in London, I read to Jenene. I started to read her, “When I Was Fair and Young” late one night. Jenene was not found of the poetry that was being read. I wonder if Elizabeth liked poetry read to her or was it more of a thing she liked write but nor read. Poetry can have so many meanings. I think it is a way to allow the writer to express their true emotions in maybe a way that is subtle. I could be wrong, but I think a lot of poetry is written in a way to convey a message, not just to have the words be read.
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I think that it may have made her feel more lonely to read this type of courtly poetry - not really knowing whether or not the author was trying to gain favor from her politically or whether or not he truly loved her. Another thing that comes to mind is that Elizabeth could not marry anyone if she was to keep the country together so this poetry might have made her feel sad for the things she was missing in life so she could be "married to England."
ReplyDeleteIn my defense, Sarah, I was fairly drunk that night you read that poem to me and my instant reaction was to smash you with the pillow because I couldn't believe you were subjecting me to homework while in London! LOL
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteYes, it she definitely shows regret in that poem.
It is kind of like the first essay in the packet we had to read when they compare Elizabeth to Mary, Queen of Scots. They say how Elizabeth was a great queen, and terrible woman. While Mary was a great woman and a terrible Queen.
Elizabeth had to give up her own happiness as a woman, not marrying someone she loved, or even have open relationships with men she loved, for the good of her country. She knew she could not marry certain Kings for political reasons, and she could not marry or date the men she loved for the gossip would kill her career by the people thinking her a whore and losing faith in her.
She gave up her personal happiness because her country was far more important to her. So I think in her regrets, she is still proud of her decisions. I am sure she would make the same ones going back. But it is hard not to look at those sacrificing decisions and not feel lonely.
-Aleks