Elizabeth I's Influence on Women in Literature

I am interested in exploring the roles of women in literature and society after Elizabeth’s rule.  This is a bunch of information I have gathered from class lectures and readings that relate to this topic:

            Throughout the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, society upheld high respect and honor toward her reign.  She was a successful ruler, and proved herself as a strong female leader by overcoming challenges that were thrown at her, such as the Mary Queen of Scots plot in 1586 and the Spanish Armada in 1588. In Elizabeth’s last presentation to Parliament in 1601, “The Golden Speech,” she expressed an ardent zeal for her country, showing her commitment to England up until her deathbed (Norton 764).  Overall, Elizabeth was a powerful leader that devoted her whole life to her country and received exaltation from her people deservingly.  After her death, nostalgia for Queen Elizabeth came over England, as they dealt with more religious uncertainty, the plague, a great fire, and eventually a civil war.  What is interesting, however, is the way that women in literature of this time spoke up about political and religious topics. It is as if they were inspired by Elizabeth's undying rule for England, and chose to be more authoritative--whether it be their ideas or language. It is also intriguing that after the reign of Elizabeth I, women start to be more out-spoken about their opinions and stances on topics that in the past were more commonly discussed among legislatures and in academia—consisting mostly men. An example that comes to mind is Margaret Cavendish in “The Blazing World.”

            In Cavendish’s work, she musters up the courage to address she creates her own world where she determines all of the creatures and rules of society, while she, of course, gets to reign over her land.   Through her descriptions of her reign, she seems to refer back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth.  By stating, “I endeavor to be Margaret the first,” she explicitly states that she would be “the first” ruler in a way that replicates the title of Queen Elizabeth “the first” (Norton 1893).  This statement would have been a bold move by a woman because women were seen as inferior to men; however Cavendish courageously claims her own self-reign because of the legacy of Elizabeth’s successful rule.  Through this portrayal of authority, Cavendish is arguing that a single female head-figure is more successful than a patriarchal approach.  Considering the publication year of “The Blazing World”, 1668, and the existence of a male monarch at the time, this statement was very bold and supported female superiority. 

            Along with Cavendish, Mary Hebert’s “Psalm 52” and Aemilia Lanyer’s “Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum” also contribute to the rising outspoken nature of women.  These publications are only the start of women’s break through from repressive gender roles in the academic and literary societies.   However, it is interesting to find that the confidence of these women perhaps came during the area of and after Elizabeth I’s reign.

Source:

(From our text book)

Cavendish, Margaret. "Blazing World." 1891-897. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ninth ed. Vol. B. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012. Print.