Intelligence, Spirit and Courage: Anne Boleyn and Me
A short while ago a dear friend of mine asked readers of her webpage what Anne Boleyn meant to them. This question started me thinking, what does Anne Boleyn mean to me? I have been reading about Anne Boleyn and the Tudor period around the time of Henry VIII for as long as I can remember now. I have always admired and respected Anne Boleyn right from the first moment I read about her. There was an unspoken quality about Anne Boleyn that drew me to her, more than Henry VIII’s other wives and the more I read the more I grew to admire and respect this incredible woman. In my heart I have always known what Anne Boleyn meant to me yet my friend’s question made me pause, how could I take the feeling in my heart and voice it in words? I have spent the last few days seriously pondering this question and the more I thought about Anne Boleyn the more I realised what a huge impact she has had and still has on my life; an impact that is more than just a feeling I held within my heart. So what does Anne Boleyn mean to me?
At first I thought the answer to this question would be simple, that Anne Boleyn would be my idol. The Cambridge Dictionary online states that the definition of an idol is: someone who is admired and respected very much. I do admire and respect Anne Boleyn greatly yet my passion for her runs so much deeper than this. There are so many qualities and facets about this incredible woman that I not only admire and respect but also empathise with and try to incorporate into my existence as a human being. Because of this deeper passion for the woman that Anne Boleyn was I came to realise that Anne is so much more than just an idol to me.
The more I continued to think about this question the more I realised that there are so many qualities that I respect and admire about Anne Boleyn. She was born into a reasonably well off family, born to a father with raw drive, ambition and determination. During an age when women were often given fewer opportunities than men Anne Boleyn took every opportunity that was given to her. She grasped them with both hands and excelled in all that she learnt. Growing up in the French court she became a woman of poise, grace and skill. She knew how to dance, how to play card and dice games, knew how to play musical instruments, knew of literature and sports and all the other vices of men and she also mastered the traditional skills that were seen to be important to the image of a woman. Yet not only did she master all of these skills she knew how to use them to her advantage, and this was perhaps her greatest talent. For example she could use her knowledge of literature to chat with others at court, to gain knowledge and opinions or to flatter those around her. As well as her skills and talents she could also use her beautiful, almost black, eyes to capture the attention of another and drawn them into her. Anne Boleyn was an incredibly intelligent woman. She was well read and had a strong understanding about the life around her and more so she knew how to use her knowledge and skills to her advantage. She took the opportunities given to her and strived forward and this is a quality that I greatly admire.
She was a woman almost unsuited for her time. Once again in an age where women were considered to be weaker of the sexes and of a lesser standard than men, Anne Boleyn dared to challenge this belief. She strived for a better life for herself. She saw opportunities and grasped them and was not afraid to use her skills and charm to get what she wanted. She was loud, she was determined and she was ambitious. Instead of being the good silent wife beside a husband Anne Boleyn dared to stand up, to voice loudly her thoughts and feelings and to even challenge the King of England himself! She was not afraid to say what she thought, what she felt; she let her temper flow when she was angry and her laughter explode when she was happy. She was vivacious and appeared to have a strong love of life and an internal drive that keep her striving forward. As well as taking hold of the opportunities and advantages that came her way she seemed to take time to celebrate her triumphs and important moments. She smiled and laughed, rejoiced and danced and poured all of herself into everything that she undertook. I can only imagine all the things Anne could have achieved in today’s society with such determination and drive!
I can see a lot of myself in Anne Boleyn. Like this incredible woman I can have a vicious temper. I can shout and scream and I am not afraid to let those around me know when I am angry or upset. I can laugh and rejoice when the feelings of happiness seem as though they could explode from my body I have always felt as though Anne Boleyn was in tune with her emotions and was most certainly not afraid to let them show; this is something that resonates with me as I often feel as though I wear my emotions on my sleeve. In a time when women were to be seen and not heard Anne was not afraid to let those around her know how she felt.
She was also caring and generous to those less fortunate around her. Anne gave to the poor and honestly tried to help out those in need. This can be a quality little seen in today’s society where many people only seem to be out for themselves and care for number one. Anne Boleyn could be kind and caring and this is something that in myself I strive to be also.
Despite giving birth to a daughter and not the longed for male heir, Anne Boleyn was a loving and caring mother to her daughter Elizabeth. History shows us that Anne loved her daughter very much and kept her at court until the infant Elizabeth was moved to her own house. Anne spoiled her with fine clothing and wanted a strong prosperous marriage for Elizabeth. Even when the cards were falling around Anne she tried her very best to ensure that Elizabeth would be cared for, loved and treated well should anything happen to her. As a mother myself I find this truly inspiring. My daughter is the light of my life, she is my joy and every day I love her more and more. I see myself in Anne as a mother, wanting the very best for my daughter, spoiling her at times and loving her deeply.
Anne Boleyn managed to hold the attention of Henry VIII for almost ten years. This was a man whose mind seemed to change as quickly as the passing wind. One minute he was driven to one course of action yet after the whispers of his council or those around him Henry’s mind was once more changed. Anne Boleyn held the admiration, attention and devotion of Henry for such a long period of time, even at times when it seemed as though the whole world was against her. She held onto Henry’s love and she dared to go against the tide, to oppose the greater world for something she so strongly wanted and believed in. She stood by Henry’s side when he risked excommunication by the Pope and she continued to encourage and drive him forward. It takes a woman of great strength and courage to first capture and hold the love of Henry VIII, but to also stand up against those that would wish to see you fall.
In line with this I greatly admire Anne Boleyn’s ability to continue to hold her head high even though those around her whispered and spoke ill behind her back. Anne was no fool and knew that she had many at court who opposed her marriage to Henry VIII, even those that wished her gone from his life or perhaps even dead. Instead of listening to the vicious lies spread about her, instead of falling victim to the taunts and jibes Anne held her head high and refused to listen. She continued to carry herself with pride and dignity; even if the cruel words of those around her may have hurt she chose not to play into them. This is a quality that I would greatly love to have in myself, to be able to ignore the cruel words of others and to continue to strive for what I truly believe in my heart to be right and good for myself and family.
At the last, when Anne’s end came she did not shrink away, she did not cry out or scream or beg for mercy. She was a woman innocent of the charges brought against her and she fought bravely right to the very end. She was courageous and strong and fought defiantly for herself even though her chances of any saviour were slim. She showed such incredible bravery, integrity and knowledge and managed to keep a level head while trying to defend her case. Anne died with her head held high and that is one of the greatest qualities I admire in this incredible woman. To know that you are bound to die, for crimes that you did not commit and yet to still hold your head up high and walk to your death; the courage and strength in this final act never ceases to amaze me. To give yourself over and to face death with such calmness, such dignity is utterly astounding. I try to use this picture of strength and courage in my daily life; to face the challenges ahead of me, even though they may utterly terrify me, with my head held high and courage and strength in my heart. To have such grace and dignity right until the end, few can claim such an incredible feat.
Anne Boleyn was flawed and that is one of the qualities that I so greatly admire in her. Unlike some of the heroines of today’s stories and movies who at times only appear as one sided, perfect and just, Anne Boleyn had faults and flaws. She did have a temper, she was loud, she did nag her husband, she raged and ranted, she was prone to fits of jealousy and anger and lashed out at those around her. In essence she was human. We are all two sides of a coin with good qualities and bad qualities and that is what makes us human. Anne Boleyn is all that more easy to relate to and understand because she had flaws, because she was not perfect. I can see so much of myself in this woman and relate greatly to her flaws and imperfections.
Anne Boleyn is more than an idol to me, she is as much a part of me as the air I breathe or the water I drink. To try and detail what Anne Boleyn means to me is like trying to count the number of stars in the sky – that is simply not possible. I try to reflect her courage, her strength and her dignity in every aspect of my life. I try to hold my head up high, to speak with my heart, to follow my emotions and to use all that I know and all that I have learnt in everything that I do. Her drive, bravery and ambition are truly inspiring and because of it I try to be a better wife, mother, friend and human being. No matter how many books I read about Anne I believe there will always be something new, something interesting, something inspiring to learn.
Anne Boleyn is a woman whose passion, knowledge and strength outlasts time. As Thomas Cromwell once said of her: Intelligence, Spirit, and Courage. To me, Anne Boleyn is all of that and so very much more.
