By Tanya Huang
This is not only a piece of history but a fascinating story. The movie The Other Boleyn Girl, featuring Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson, briefly describes the story of the second wife of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn. In this two–hour movie, the actresses perform the war between two Boleyn sisters well. Natalie Portman portrays Anne, while Scarlett Johansson is Mary Boleyn. Both of the Boleyn sisters were picked by Henry VIII as his mistresses. Due to their different characteristics, the two sisters were lead to totally different fates. The obedience of Mary and the ambition of Anne were the strongest scenes in the movie. Additionally, the characters were successfully used by the director to present the contradictions between relationships and human nature. However, because the movie was an adaptation of a novel of the same title by British author Philippa Gregory, some people might doubt its factual history. Yet there is no denying that it is a splendid story about interest and sacrifice. To know more about this glamorous woman, Anne Boleyn, let us trace back to the beginning of her life. There is no definite date of her birth but it is likely that she was born between 1501 and 1507. Anne’s father, Sir Thomas Boleyn, was a courtier and a diplomat and her mother, Elizabeth, was the daughter of the Duke of Norfolk. Sir Thomas was sent on many diplomatic missions by King Henry VII and his charm won many admirers, including Archduchess Margaret of Austria. Therefore, she offered a place in her household to Anne. Anne made a good impression in the Netherlands with her manners and studiousness and lived there until her father arranged for her to become a maid-of-honor to Henry VIII’ s sister, the Queen of France. In France, Anne was the maid-of-honor to Queen Mary and then to Queen Claude. She studied French and developed a taste for fashion, which later proved to be of great value. Her education in Europe ended in 1521, when her father summoned her back to England. Carrying her father’s great expectations, Anne was sent to the court of Henry VIII as a maid-of-honor to Queen Catherine. At that time, Mary Boleyn, who was the wife of Sir William Carey, was the King’s lover. Anne made her debut at a masquerade ball in 1522, where she was described as charming, stylish, and witty. The elaborate dance she performed with several great ladies made her known as the most accomplished and fashionable woman in the court. She was even referred to as “the glass of fashion.” However, Anne was seldom thought to have conventional beauty. People said that her dramatic allure lay in her vivacious personality and her gracefulness. She was not only swarmed by young men but her taste also led to many trends among ladies in England. King Henry VIII and Queen Catherine had several children but only one daughter survived. That there was no male heir was of great concern for the king. Nevertheless, Anne considered this situation as her chance. The king married Anne in a secret wedding and she became pregnant soon thereafter. After Catherine was formally stripped of her title as queen, Anne was crowned Queen Consort. Anne gave birth to a daughter called Elizabeth on September 7, 1533. However, the king and the new queen were not pleased with their married life. The king still continued his frequent infidelities and Anne reacted with tears and rage to his mistresses. After a miscarriage in 1534, the king lost his passion for Anne and thought of her failure to give him a son as a betrayal. The end of their royal marriage was on the very day of Catherine’s funeral. In January 1536, when Anne recovered from her last miscarriage, the king declared the invalidity of their marriage and soon moved his new mistress, Jane Seymour, into new quarters. Anne was arrested and taken to the Tower, where she was accused of adultery, incest, and high treason. Many people were involved, including George Boleyn, Anne’s brother. Anne Boleyn’s story is outstanding material for all forms of entertainment. She has also attracted composers such as Gaetano Donizetti, who wrote an opera named Anna Bolena. Saint-Saens’s Henry VIII is also based on her story. There is a recent TV series called The Tudors that depicts the English society of the time in great detail. If you are interested in her story, these can provide you with more information. a
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May 2024
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