TRHS AP Euro

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Elizabeth I: Against the Armada

This is the speech given by Elizabeth to her troops in 1588. Comment on Elizabeth's character, using specific examples from the speech.

Due: MIDNIGHT, Tuesday, Sept. 19

posted by RJS at 11:04 AM

7 Comments:

  • Elizabeth is preparing her troops for battle against the Spanish Armada with this speech. She seems to think very highly of herself, or maybe she is telling her people that while she may know differently, she is allowing them the benefit of the doubt when she says "My loving people.....my faithful and loving people." She obviously wants her people to be happy and unified since she was a politique and so she comliments them and promises them rewards as well as refering to them as one body rather than individuals and at the same time making sure they know that they are HER one body when she says "I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good will of my subjects...you have deserved rewards and crowns; and we do assure you, on the word of a prince, they shall be duly paid you...the enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people" She is also trying to make herself out to be more like one of her subjects, I suppose trying to connect with the people at the same time as assuring them that she is still in charge when she says "I am come amongst you at this time, not as for my recreation or sport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die amongst you all; to lay down, for my God, and for my kingdom, and for my people, my honor and my blood, even the dust......I myself will take up arms; I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field." So she is basically saying that the people are one that belongs to her and they are very important to her, im portant enough to die for (or they should believe that she would) and she has every confidence in their abilities, which may or may not be true since this is a motivational speech and people aren't generally too motivated if you put them down.

    By Blogger manxomefoe, at Tuesday, September 19, 2006 8:45:00 PM  

  • This is moral preparation for the upcoming historic battle. She appeals to the troops' patriotism and gives them a scent of the historic victory they are about to achieve ("...famous victory over the enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.") She tries to give them an air of superiority over the Spaniards ("...and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realms.") The mention of Parma is fairly comical, given that they were a duchy barely large enough to encompass the city of Parma in Italy, with no imperialistic ambitions at all, but it seems like one of the rulers we talked about was "____ of Parma". All great battles need an inspiring speech to get the soldiers in the right mood to fight, for morale often proves much more important than numbers or even technology (How else could Ethiopia beat Italy in a war?)

    By Blogger Unknown, at Tuesday, September 19, 2006 9:23:00 PM  

  • Even though it is merely a written recording of her infamous words, her voice is prominent in the speech. Elizabeth's words such as "I am come amongst you at this time, not as for my recreation or sport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live or die amongst you all" ring with purpose, determination, and duty. Elizabeth was an extremely strong willed and established leader and that is apparent by what she voices to be her beliefs on how she is to run her people. It seems she is either resentful towards being a woman or that she is resentful towards people for being biased towards women. Either way, when she says "I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart of a king." It shows she cares not whether she was a woman or not, but she believes that she can be a great ruler no matter what she may physically be. I thought it was interesting that she would rather be thought of as equal with her people and as fighting the same battle on the same battle grounds as her soldiers for that is precious evidence of a truly great leader.

    By Blogger TeganLove, at Tuesday, September 19, 2006 9:24:00 PM  

  • This speech has no unusual or unheard-of components- it is designed to inspire patriotisim, nationalism, and hatred of enemies. Elizabeth plays perfectly to the prejudices of her times in this speech. She denounces herself as a woman in a rather interestingly put line, but still covers her right to rule by saying that her spirit is that of a king (not queen) of England. Another bit which I rather sardonically note is right after Elizabeth empassionately exhorts that she herself would lead her troops, she says in the meantime, here's my trusty general. Run along and fight, now, I'll be waiting in the palace. Admittedly, Elizabeth could not have actually fought without incurring social upheaval and probably removal. And perhaps death.
    Elizabeth also portrays herself as a ruler of the people and for the people. The unity between herself and her soldiers was meant to be inspiring and uplifting- and certainly was.
    Not having read anything else by Elizabeth, I cannot exact a personal comparison. Other military leaders, however (Washington, Lincoln, Eisenhower) have issued similar statements of familiarity and patriotism to inspire their troops.
    I have no idea of the history of Parma, or why Elizabeth would bring it up. If Mrs. Stone reads this before tomorrow, perhaps she could answer that question?

    By Blogger ThomasBatson, at Tuesday, September 19, 2006 9:43:00 PM  

  • Elizabeth is, in stark contrast to her precursors, an obviously competent ruler who is eloquent in her speech to the English soldiers and nationalistic in the point she gets across to them. Her personal religion and sense of religious divide comes through when speaking of "her God" and yet, "for her kingdom, her people, her honor and blood" she defends England, and deftly puts her country's unity before any religious divide, only proving her stance as a politique. Puting herself on the level of a soldier with "I myself will take up arms" exposes a new sense of gravity to the situation when it is realized that the symbol and leader of a nation holds the passion to defeat an enemy even if it means dying herself. That sort of courage seems to have inspired her audience, considering how well the Spanish Armada ended up defeated in the end.

    By Blogger Victoria, at Tuesday, September 19, 2006 10:20:00 PM  

  • Elizabeth uses this speech to bolster her troops morale, to make a show of how much confidence she has in them. She uses the power of three by repeatedly saying the Spanish are enemies of 'my God, my kingdom, and my people.' The use of the word 'my' gives the overall feeling of unity and the sense that she wishes to fight with the soldiers, that this is not some distant squabble they are being sent to fight for but an attack on England which they will repel as a united front. The statement 'you have deserved rewards and crowns...' shows her soldiers that they are not mere pawns but truly valiant souls that are worth a great deal. Her promise of a 'famous victory' shows her to be a confidant and strong willed person. As a monarch who strived for unity and trust amongst her people, to make such a promise without belief that it would indeed come to pass would be a very dangerous thing indeed.

    By Blogger laura, at Wednesday, September 20, 2006 11:14:00 AM  

  • In this speech to her troops in 1588, Elizabeth prepares her people for battle with Spain. She encourages her people to give their all when she says, "...and by your valor in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over the enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people." This displays Elizabeth's determination, and trust in her army. Elizabeth assures her people that she, also, will give her all. In one statement, "I know I have but the body of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England", she recognizes the fact that she is a strong-willed ruler who will not let her kingdom fall to the Spanish. This speech is a great example of Elizabeth as a politique; she is concerned for her country's happiness in the form of defending of the monarchy.

    By Blogger taylor, at Thursday, September 21, 2006 7:40:00 PM  

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