Sunday, November 23, 2008
Queen Elizabeth I
The speech that Queen Elizabeth gave to the troops during the attack of the Spanish Armada in 1588 gives a a great insight in to the leader and person she was. She was quick to admit she could not be physically affective on the battlefield with her feeble body, but she was able to gain the troops trust by assuring she was willing to die in the fight for her country. I am guessing that many of the men on the battle field were initially weary of having Queen Elizabeth trying to motivate them in such a situation, but she was quick to reverse their thinking with her apparent passion and demeanor. I especially like when she tell them, "but I have the heart of a king, and of a king of England, too; and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare to invade the borders of my realms: to which, rather than any dishonor should grow by me, I myself will take up arms; I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field." Queen Elizabeth didn't have the heart of a King, but the heart of a brave leader. You could tell that she had the ability to motivate and bring together the masses, much like a Gandhi or Napoleon. Queen Elizabeth proved that a not only could a woman do a historically male job, but in this case even better.
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I think you make some great points. I feel that when Elizabeth mentions that she has the heart of a king of england that she was referring to the history and stories of the kings before her. We still here the stories of an English king that i am sure she was familiar with, Arthur. Her speech has many of the same undertones of what was written of the numerous speaches to Arthurs Knights and troops. I think Elizabeth shows us great leadership and knowledge by playing on the early legends of her people.
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