Inside & Out of Lady Jane Grey

"The Tragic Life of Lady Jane Grey: The 9 days' Queen"

Illustrated by YouTube, Published 11 September, 2020

INTRODUCTION

There have been a number of different rulers that each provide a unique characteristic about their legacy as a ruler to where they were from, what they did when in office and what became the downfall of their life. This translates to what my view of the theme for the understanding of humanities in this semester, and that is evaluating the unique creations that have been portrayed either in paintings or sculptures of those rulers and what make those creations so unique to how the ruler was portrayed in life. We’ve looked at a number of male kings and rulers and not looked deeply into the history of women rulers or queens, and one of those that stood out when looking at different legacies was the name of Lady Jane Grey. One of the unique characteristics about Grey is that she was only fifteen years old when she was promoted as Monarch and Queen of England, but also to point out she was only on the council for nine days before she was executed for treason. To go further into details, we will be presenting the important events of Lady Jane Grey, who she was, how she became Queen, and how she was executed, plus there will be an analysis of an author who presents a theory into some features that went into the painting and we will be comparing those to the performance of Grey and how it translates to my theme for humanities.

       "The Streatham Portrait called Lady Jane Grey"

Owned by the National Portrait Gallery
Released in 1590s

SUMMARIZING LADY"S LEGACY

To begin, Lady Jane Grey was born in 1537, she was raised in Leicestershire and had a connection to King Henry VII by being the great granddaughter of the King. In 1553, she married Lord Guildford Dudley who happened to be the duke of Northumberland and very close friend to King Edward. After Jane and Guildford got married, King Edward became ill and was dying from sickness, because of this it persuaded the result of finding the next ruler of England, which is why Jane’s father-in-law John Guildford persuaded to tell Edward that Jane should be the next and rightful heir to the throne, in which after Edward’s dies, Jane became the new queen of England. This is where the painting of the "Streatham" portrait came into place, and the emotional side of this painting does not entail the legacy of Grey but of other values in Streatham portraits. For instance, in Susan James article, she claims that “it was not painted from the life, or indeed made during Jane Grey’s lifetime, but is a commemorative image” (James, 2018). This idea was from the possibility that things were not going to do well in terms of populace and ascendance, because Jane had the support of the royal council, but did not have the populace because of Mary Tudor who was the father of Henry VIII and theoretically the rightful heir to the throne after Edward died. For some reason, Dudley decided to depart from London in order to suppress Mary, but ultimately, the royal council declared him a traitor for his departure and both he and his wife Jane were sentenced to death for treason. Many people to this day do not understand the estimation of Jane’s execution other than to conclude that Jane’s father Henry Grey decided to join Sir Thomas Wyatt for the insurrection to go against Mary, but sometime later she had the intention to marry Phillip II of Spain, for the purpose of trying to terminate all of her opponents that could potentially stop her from being Queen. Because of this move, she then signed the death warrants of both Jane Grey and her husband and both were executed on February 12, 1553

DOWNFALL AND ANALYSIS

The devastation of Jane Grey’s execution was some of the biggest events in the history of England, and could be resulted by the presentation in which the portrait of Jane was used to describe her characteristics of life. In Susan James, article she presents a unique theory about the portrait of Lady Jan Grey, which was entitled, the “Streatham of Lady Jane Grey” which according to the National Portrait Gallery, it was determined to be released in 1580, which was almost thirty years after she was executed. This became the historical context of James article, since James found out that there were some circumstances leading that there was an original portrait made of Jane Grey that regards a commemorative likeness for her well-being as a protestant to the royal council. In the author words, she claims “In addition to the unlikelihood of there being time or interest in having Jane sit to a portrait painter during those brief chaotic days, an analysis of the evolution of both the upstanding fan-shaped collar the subject is wearing” (James, 2018). This would be ideal to the outline of Jane Grey’s portrait because there were some indentations of the jewelry and style of clothing that would not be ideal to the time period of 1580. In James estimate, it would have determined to be from the mid-1540s as well as the early 1550s. But even though there is a different portrait regarding the time and phase of Lady Jane Grey, the portrait was deemed to show that portraits were not focused on the ruler’s passion of what their legacy holds in their psychological figures, they were determined to present a phase of what rulers would’ve been deemed to look like in a time where everyone could see the highs and lows of one particular person.

To fully analysis Susan James' article, check out the link below and follow up more on the Streatham

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23311983.2018.1533368

"The Execution of Lady Jane Grey"

Created by Paul Delaroche

Published in 1833

WHY IT WAS MEANT TO BE

Even though Susan James’ article may present more of a historical context of Lady Jane Grey’s portrait from 1580, it still provides great detail of what my view of her process was when she became Queen and monarch of England. One of the things that made me choose this particular ruler was because she had a legacy that was deemed for success, such as her being a protestant and trying to protect that legacy for other future citizens of England, and once she determined that she was not going to live out that legacy she still stood by her belief when she was tempted to convert from being a protestant before being executed. This can be determined by which Jean Marsden wrote in her article “Sex, Politics, and She-Tragedy: Reconfiguring Lady Jane Grey” about the indication of Jane’s determined will and strive as a protestant of all women during her time period. For example, Marsden’s estimates “These female figures are spectacles with one specific and noninterchangeable function: either model or virtue or fallen heroine” (Marsden, 2002). This accommodates with the situation that many people during the renaissance era of England, that some rulers were not fearsome of others and not willing to succumb to their beliefs that there era was no longer meant to be part of the world, Jane Grey died willingly with her strong belief in the continuation of protestants and something that focusses my view for the theme of humanities, it’s making someone feel the confidence that someone had willingly to strive for something greater but did not make amends, and in the process became an icon for future citizens to understand and learn from. Lady Jane Grey’s legacy for only nine days shows a tragedy of great succession with great traumatic downfalls that makes them an icon and a hero for the history of humanities.

WORK CITED

  James, Susan E. “Lady Jane Grey or Queen Kateryn Parr? National Portrait Gallery Painting 6804: Analysis and Historical Context.” Cogent Arts & Humanities, vol. 5, no. 1, Cogent, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2018.1533368.

Marsden, Jean I. “Sex, Politics, and She-Tragedy: Reconfiguring Lady Jane Grey.” Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900, vol. 42, no. 3, 2002, pp. 501–22, http://www.jstor.org/stable/1556177. Accessed 27 Apr. 2022.

Why Hamlet was a tragedy as well as a savior to society?

 William Shakespeare's version of Hamlet represents more than just a story or play that details in the pride of revenge, it reveals a tragedy that brings about the nature of what a tragedy can do to a particular person and provide explanations where there are small settlements with no meaning points of views at anytime during place, and provide no central thing as worship that can be represented, which is why my focus for the reaction to reviewing Hamlet, was to show points of how Shakespeare's talents involving the intense motions of Hamlet who is being proven to show that he is not who we think he is, that he is more of a savior and a hero than just the tragic event of the whole play. 

For a more guided reference to understanding more of the character Hamlet, this link below published by Joseph Carroll provides much detail and guidance to a better understanding of what Hamlet is like in the Shakespeare's play Hamlet.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5325/style.44.1-2.230

Ignite HSC's "Why is Hamlet an ATYPICAL Revenge Tragedy?" video represents a self-explanation of how the play of Hamlet reveals to be a classic of revenge and tragic tale

When going through the outline of the play, is it important to contrast the two different Hamlet’s introduced, which are King Hamlet, who was the beloved by everyone in Denmark and brother to Claudius, who now has assumed the throne after the death of King Hamlet. Now, the other Hamlet is his son who feels distraught over the death of his father, but is more at grief when he learns that his uncle Claudius is now marrying his mother, Queen Gertrude. Most of the tone of Hamlet is set to be angered when Gertrude mentions to Hamlet “All that lives must die, Passing through nature to eternity” (Act 1, Scene 2, line 72-73). This scene of Gertrude trying to reconcile with her son Hamlet after the death of his father, was the beginning of great many horrific ideas coming later in the play and also led Hamlet to a conclusion that he would prefer to be dead and not endure anyone, but this is not what everyone is focused on. The prince of Norway is in demand of invading Denmark so that he can avenge his father’s death who was murdered by former King Hamlet. This was an important situation because everyone was still focusing their attention to Hamlet’s situation with Claudius. As the play continues, Ophelia has become aware to not be surrounding her time with Hamlet by Laertes who feels that Hamlet is only after one thing and that it doesn’t include marriage. The intensity of the play starts to increase as the ghost meets with Hamlet to reveal a terrible tragedy. The former king informs Hamlet that he did not die from being bitten by a snake but it was his brother Claudius who murdered him by pouring poison into his ear. This this news, Hamlet becomes enraged with vengeance and anger towards Claudius that he swears to avenge his father’s death. Knowing the situation between Hamlet and Claudius, there is an interest of spying surrounding the other characters including Claudius who decides to hire Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on Hamlet because of circumstances he feels Hamlet knows about his father’s death. The plan of Hamlet’s vengeance comes into play when he sees a group of travelling actors performing in front of Hamlet, and decides that he will put on his own play for Denmark to watch that will simulate the way Claudius murdered his brother King Hamlet. With this setting, Hamlet believes this will set a mousetrap for Claudius and allow him to confess his guilt when the play begins. Later on, there is still a situation involving between Hamlet and Ophelia, which includes Hamlet abusing Ophelia and letting her know that he never loved her. This was all spied on by Claudius and Polonius who witnessed the outburst of Hamlet but believe their must be another reason for Hamlet’s crazy behavior. This has now turned the tie on Claudius to deal with Hamlet, and in doing so he asks Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to take Hamlet to England. Another outburst has occurred with Hamlet and his mother Gertrude, and in the midst of this Hamlet realizes that he is being spied on which he believes is Claudius who is hiding and decides to kill him, but ultimately it turns out to be Polonius that he killed. More deaths have occurred now not just with Polonius but with Ophelia who has thrown herself to her death because she can not tolerate anymore with the abuse of Hamlet’s behavior and the tragedy of losing her father. Once everyone finds out, Laertes decided that Hamlet needed to pay for her death, which gives Claudius a platform to deal with Hamlet. He tells Polonius that he will compete in a dueling fight with Hamlet and stab him with a blade that has been poisoned which will kill Hamlet. Hamlet realized his outgoing with the plan going to England to be executed and decides that it will be best for him to succumb his fate in the duel with Laertes. Once the duel occurs, the plan does not go exactly as planned, because Laertes and Hamlet both have been stabbed with the poisoned sword, and Gertrude has died by drinking a glass of wine that had been poisoned as a backup for Hamlet. Everything started to shift because Laertes confessed the plan, Hamlet then killed Claudius and the two both reconciled before Laertes dies. Lastly, as Hamlet is dying, he instructs everyone that Fortinbras should be the new king of Denmark because Hamlet believes he has proven himself to be the rightful king. Fortinbras comes in the last scene of the play to see all the dead bodies, and shocks the viewers by declaring Hamlet a hero, a great man and be buried honorably. 

"A Watercolor of Hamlet", Act III, Scene IV: Hamlet makes a pass through the arras, by Coke Smyth

After reading and summarizing what Shakespeare illustrates in his play of Hamlet, it has allowed many viewers, including myself to conclude that this play revolves around a revenge play and more importantly a tragedy. This can go beyond the nature of Christianity, because according to the ethnics, revenge was immoral which is something Hamlet illustrated as a human being. To go further into the role of that form, there were many different meanings that Shakespeare makes about Hamlet’s character of the play. The most important that caught my view of the play was the use of anticipation on Hamlet’s plan for Claudius. For example, after his discussion with the ghost in act two and mentions Claudius, “As he is very potent with such spirits. Abuses me to damn me. I'll have grounds. More relative than this. The play's the thing. Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King” (Act 2, Scene 2, line 631). This presents a clear focus to the viewer that Hamlet is on a higher meaning of life, and something I believe was essential to what Shakespeare was looking for in Hamlet, that he is as much shocked by his father’s death as by his mother’s haste or marrying his uncle Claudius. Throughout Hamlet’s plot, there’s too much thinking going on with Hamlet that he cannot allow himself to control what is right and wrong. And ultimately, it allowed me to conclude that this play sits above any other play in Shakespeare’s performance because this play contributes the essential aspect of a great tragedy that truly represents all of the criteria of an Aristotelian tragedy.

"Le duel d'Hamlet", Created by Sarah Bernhardt, Published in 1900https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5325/style.44.1-2.230

There are many people throughout the world who’ve expressed great knowledge about the performance of Hamlet, but what is it that makes it so unique, and how did Shakespeare make it stand out more than his other works. One of those can be that Shakespeare was wanting something more out of his characters in Hamlet, a way to reveal just how complicated they can make a viewer, and one of those particular is being variety to the human mind. Being variety has it privileges, and Shakespeare acknowledged that through the use of soliloquy in each character, where each can talk amongst themselves alone on stage and just open their mind to the viewer. One of the most brilliant soliloquies in Hamlet is his first soliloquy “To be, or not to be? That is the question, Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer, The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles” (Act 3, Scene 1, line 64). A soliloquy can be a long paragraph of expression, but this first expression of Hamlet illustrates a purpose that Shakespeare wanted his viewers to develop, with Hamlet asking questions and the paralysis of which Hamlet is over-thinking a majority of the time when he is trying to carry out his vengeance on Claudius. It’s these performances that catches the view of the reader that allows them to think deeper into the character’s mind and explicit the nature of what each person in Hamlet reveals to the plot of the play. Ultimately, these soliloquies hold the cards to this play, in a way where each viewer has a range of feeling for each character, with a little of madness, angriness, craziness and happiness all exhibit a great tragedy and allows the viewer to see the difficult portions of Hamlet in a way where humans do not often see in the real world, which makes it more of a relief and a comfort to the reader. Shakespeare’s play of Hamlet illustrates the nature of following, contrasting and expressing one’s interest to one particular character which stands above all other plays of William Shakespeare.

Work Cited:

Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet". Folger Shakespeare Library. Edited by Mowat, A. Barbara & Werstine, Paul. Originally published 1603. Edited 1992.

Carroll, Joseph. “Intentional Meaning in Hamlet: An Evolutionary Perspective.” Style, vol. 44, no. 1–2, 2010, pp. 230–60, http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5325/style.44.1-2.230. Accessed 18 Apr. 2022.