Henry VIII and the Reformation: from ‘God’s Blessed Mother’ to ‘God’s Blessed Queen’

Abstract

This paper aims at studying how Shakespeare, as a secular humanist unmoved by religious controversy, viewed and depicted religious reformation through Henry VIII. Shakespeare suggests that English religious reformation happened in the wake of the currents of secularization of religion and of English nationalism. But Shakespeare also suggests that it is almost impossible for England to be transformed from a medieval catholic nation into a modern protestant nation through religious reformation. In this context, the play represents various aspects of transitional confusion and turbulence. To the historical figures involved in the events of religious reformation, something has happened which has altered their lives and nation, but the full meaning of these events is denied. For example, Wolsey, who represents a secularized clergyman, is swept away by the current of the English nationalism which results in the advent of the absolute monarch. And in the end he regrets not to die as ‘a blessed martyr’. But the idea of blessed martyr proves to be false for the secularized clergyman under the sway of the charismatic will of absolute monarch. Henry’s drama, mainly focusing on his case of conscience, also displays the confusion and turbulence of historical transition. His case of conscience does not stage Protestant subjective conscience, but rather dramatizes a pervasive uneasiness about the national Reformation. Above all, the episode in which Henry swears ‘a blessed mother’ in defence of the Protestant Archbishop critically witnesses the turbulence and the confusion of historical transition. At the end of the play, Cranmer, a Protestant Archbishop, under the blessing to the baby princess, prophesies the advent of great era of Elizabeth which will end current turbulence and confusion of the Reformation. Further, his mythologization of Elizabeth as ‘the maiden phoenix’ implies that in future English people will pray to ‘god’s blessed queen’ for help rather to ‘god’s blessed mother’. Thus, His prophecy endorses a providential view of history which celebrates the perfection of monarchy.