Leave the Horse Out of This

I was actually expecting this reading (The Virgin's Lover) to be a lot cringier than it ended up being (as the phrase "romance novel" is one I'm always wary of), but still I did find a couple of cringe moments within it. For example, on page 143, as Elizabeth and Robert admire the portrait of Archduke Ferdinand, Robert makes a peculiar, clearly allegorical and not intended to be skeezy but skeezy (to me) nonetheless about how one ought judge a horses' potential the same way they may a man to marry; in short, feeling it up.

"I would want to know how he felt when I gentled him under my hand, smoothed his neck, touched him everywhere, behind the ears, on the lips, behind the legs. I would want to know how responsive he was when I had him between my legs," (p. 143) and so forth and so on.

My comment, then, is this: I find it interesting, though quite unsettling, that this author, and as we observed in Wednesday's class, many authors' want to sexualize Elizabeth, be it allegorically or directly. I guess a powerful, intelligent woman is just not interesting enough for the masses, though that's human psychology for ya, isn't it? I'm not saying that's how it ought to be, but from reading this, that sure is how it is here.

Censorship yet again...

I related todays reading on "The Marriage Game" to a topic less concerned with marriage. On Page 338, Elizabeth is in outrage because of a pamphlet that talks about her religion upon marriage and wants the pamphlet destroyed. This reminds me of the censorship that the Catholic church implemented during the 1500's. The church put out index's of banned books and discouraged enlightened thinkers such as Martin Luther and Galileo Galilei. Their reasoning behind their censorship was to keep people from challenging the beliefs of the church and ultimately to keep their power at the time. Serious actions and punishments were taken by the church and Elizabeth wants similar actions to be taken in the book for similar reasons. "Publish a proclamation condemning this pamphlet as lewd and seditious, and have all the copies confiscated and burned." (the marriage game, 339). The similarities are vibrant to me and I can not help but reflect upon the connection between the Catholic church and their censorship that still exists today, and Elizabeth's censorship in the book.

Love is No Game

In "The Marriage Game", Alison Weir writes skillfully to turn something small into something that will surely stick out to her readers. This is displayed in a scene where Elizabeth reads the letter Robert sent her stating that he married Lettice and they are having a child.Weir makes sure that the importance of this moment is illuminated. In this section of the story, she uses imagery, word choice, rhetorical questions, and stylistic choices to make the readers feel Elizabeth's pain. Imagery is created when she states "...which made her cry out in agony. Weeping torrents, she sank to the floor, beating her breast" (Weir, 304). Not only can we picture Elizabeth on the floor sobbing, but we can hear it. Weir also uses particular diction to emphasize Elizabeth's feeling of betrayal. She refers to Robert's actions as "treachery"(303) as she cries out in "agony"(304). Weir uses her own linguistic style to portray Elizabeth's thoughts on what Robert has done as extreme and completely unforgivable. "He should not have it this time. He would never have it again"(303), "she would go right now and do that, and let him know how deeply he had hurt and displeased her, and that nothing would ever be the same again, ever" (304). She asks rhetorically, "Did he not know how much she had loved him, and still did love him, God help her"(304)? Weir creates a dramatic, human-like, relatable version of Elizabeth's heartbreak using all these components. Pointing out how hurt Elizabeth was shows that she did not see this as some "Marriage Game", she really did love and care for Robert. Someone that only keeps these men close to the kingdom for fun, sure was heartbroken when she found out she was left for someone else.

Robert Master Strategist

“Anjou had been more than ready to make concessions; she could have loved him, she told herself, yea, and make a success of the match. But Robert had made it his business to suborn many who would have been in favor of it…” (341)

This quote seemed important to me because it shows the “games” being played by Robert. He is already married, but disapproves of Elizabeth’s future marriage. You don’t see this type of strategy every day.

Elizabeth and Robert

Do you think that Elizabeth's anger towards Robert for marrying someone else is justified?

Lettice's Sydney Opera House

“She would picture Robert and me together and she would know that what we shared was something, by which her very nature, she could never enjoy.” (244)

            Elizabeth, though her heart told her otherwise banished Robert, and I to Australia. For she could no longer stand the thought of us being together, and seeing it killed her inside. Before I had left she made sure her opinions of me were expressed. She deemed me with various nicknames, one in which was a she-wolf, however, these names never bothered me. Robert, and I could not be separated from now on, him and I would be together forever. Although saddened by not being able to set foot in England again I knew it was for the best. My life had been fulfilled by my lovely Robert. For we would raise our children in Sydney, and establish the Sydney Opera House for the entertainment of others. Our love never died, and the passion remained. I often think about Elizabeth, and the hatred we had for each other, yet a bond still remained. I am saddened about how things had gone, but very happy with the results.  Without the confusion, and frustration of the love triangle, Robert had finally laid all thoughts of Elizabeth to rest, and we lived happily ever after.

Peering Through

(When Lettice meets with Robert to tell him she is having his child and they should get married)

"That's true, said Robert. I will arrange it...There will be no more delay". (Holt 222)

Listening through the crack of the door Lettice and Robert were in, Elizabeth heard every word. She gasped when she heard that Lettice was with Robert's child. She had realized she had lost her one true love. She broke down in tears. All this time she had wasted on Robert, never truly going after what she wanted. She was not surprised that Lettice and he had been lovers because she always noticed the way those two looked at each other. It was the same way she would look at Robert. She thought for a second if there was a way for her to stop everything and turn back the clock. She could banish Lettice and their unborn child, and finally give into Robert. She could confess her love to Robert and put herself first for once. But she wouldn't, and she didn't. As much as she wanted too, she knew she was better off without him and would not let herself be with him. She had decided to pretend as if she never heard their conversation and let the two lovers be. Although the sight of Lettice made her nauseous and hateful, she had bigger things to worry about. And so she walked away from her regret hoping that one day if it was meant to be, Robert would find his way back to her. Until then, she spent her days in love with England.