What are the major differences between the movie story of Elizabeth’s life and a fictional book point of view?
I find the differences between the two very fascinating. Elizabeth, in my opinion, is portrayed as two very different people when comparing the movie “Elizabeth” to the book The Virgin’s Lover by Philippa Gregory. In the movie, Elizabeth seems to be a very young and naive girl. She acts of like a child when the country needed a leader. She publicly displayed her love for Sir Robert by meeting with him in private, dancing, constantly touching, and whispering to one another. She took the advice given to her without real question, until the end when she finally followed her own beliefs. It seemed as if she had to be betrayed before she could become the woman that history knows her for.
In The Virgin’s Lover however, Elizabeth seems much more aware of her surroundings. She makes difficult choices from the beginning, is clever, and knows how to play the system so that her country will benefit. Her relationship with Sir Robert is different in the book. Even though she knows of his marriage to another, she finds herself falling in love with him. An intimate relationship is formed between the two, but in a much more respectable way. They don’t publicly display their love for everyone to see, but act in secret.
I feel like the book version of Elizabeth is more like how a new Queen would have acted with politics, romance, and danger. Elizabeth, in my point of view, was a clever woman who at first might have stumbled but for the most part knew how to work a crowd. I find it so interesting reading the story of Elizabeth in a fictional way (however it seems more real) and also seeing a movie based on her (which seems more fictional).
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I agree that the book, although it was clearly fictional, seemed to portray Elizabeth as someone who was a bit more cunning and knowledgeable. In the beginning of the movie - particularly the scene where she is being questioned about treason - Elizabeth seems like a frightened little girl that does not know quite what to do.
ReplyDeleteThis is the best analysis I've read of the book. It puts into words everything I had been thinking but was unsure of to write about in my essay. It occured to me that she does "play the system" to her advantage. Although I think she acts like a child in the book as well, stubbornly refusing advice and staying steadfast in decisions about the church, when she knew the consequences. For wanting so much admiration, I feel she made some bad choices at the beginning of the novel. You're right though, later on she does handle adversity well. Good assessment of the movie as well.
ReplyDelete