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Queen Elizabeth I: The True Author of the Shakespearean Canon



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“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them,” (Twelfth Night, II, V, 150). Queen Elizabeth I was born great, achieved greatness, but her greatness was thrust upon another name. The origins of the Shakespearean canon have confounded scholars and enthusiasts alike for years. Some believe Shakespeare-Of StratfordUpon-Avon was the true author all along. However, evidence and historical records prove that he was not only illiterate, but also a forgettable nonentity the town of Stratford-upon-Avon claimed wrote some of the most impressive literary work in history, in order to strike up tourism for the town. Most of the world is happy to live in ignorance; they can enjoy the canon with out caring about the origins of its author. But, the more that is learned about this conspiracy the more it is difficult to deny the fact that the readers of the world have been told a lie for as long as anyone can remember. It is undeniable that Queen Elizabeth I was the true author of the Shakespearean canon, yet she is overlooked in favor of less qualified male contenders. “It is suggested that Elizabeth I's considerable learning, grasp of languages, politics, the classics, and rhetoric, typical of the humanist education Henry VIII had insisted she receive, [but] social taboos against female authors meant that Elizabeth I had to conceal her identity.” (Fowler, 1) Queen Elizabeth was a one-of-a-kind thinker that made great strides not only for her country, but also for women everywhere. When she wrote the Shakespearean canon, her revolutionary and edgy ideas about the monarchy, the nobility, and life and death were thoughts unfit to come from the mouth of a queen, so she had to hide her identity. Born to a father, that wanted a prince instead of a princess, she grew up with her thoughts pushed aside. When she finally took power, The Virgin Queen shook up the government with her progressive thoughts and feminist independence. She was



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arguably one of the most well-traveled and well-educated scholars of the time, and the thoughtful poetry published under her real name was not only beautiful, but linguists have proven it was undeniably similar to the poetry in the Shakespearean canon. She was underestimated at every turn, but her cunning and dedication allowed her to fend off enemies, in and out of the castle, all while developing some of the most important written words in human history. Queen Elizabeth I’s unique life experiences and relationships are directly woven into the underlying themes of the Shakespearean canon, which alters the readers’ perception of the characters in Hamlet. The struggle for power within influential families is a story as old as time itself. It is a common theme throughout the canon, but is especially prominent in Hamlet. Queen Elizabeth I spent most of her reign fighting her half sister Mary for the English throne, and their intense sibling rivalry sparked the idea for Hamlet. The play follows young Hamlet as he struggles with his choices and inner demons, but the true conflict stems from a classic sibling rivalry. In the play, Claudius poisons Hamlet’s father for the crown and his wife, and with great malice the ghost of Hamlet Sr. tells his son: ”So the whole ear of Denmark/Is by a forgèd process of my death/Rankly abused. But know, thou noble youth, /the serpent that did sting thy father’s life/Now wears his crown.” (Hamlet, I,V, 120) Taking into account the true author of the play, the implications of the storyline are drastically different than readers initially thought. The play follows the fallout of the family after brother kills brother. It dramatizes the chaos that ensues after the rightful heir to the throne is killed, and a traitor takes over. The monarchy crumbles, and everyone involved dies a tragic death. Elizabeth imagines, in her parallel literary world, that the roles are reversed. The treacherous, less dignified sibling is the one to surpass the true leader of the land after death. In the wake of that tragic death the “serpent” is demonized and punished for their poor choices. Elizabeth shows an alternate reality, so the people of England know how



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lucky they are to have her, the superior sister, on the throne. Elizabeth is trying to subtly hint that England would fall without her, and her alone, to hold it up. When Queen Elizabeth I was told of her half sister Mary’s death she articulates her joy; "This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” Elizabeth and Mary spent their lives at odds over who the true ruler of England was. In fact, despite the external forces that were constantly trying to overthrow her, some of her most dangerous threats came from inside her own family “Elizabeth jailed her cousin in 1567 in connection with several assassination attempts, including the Babington Plot. Elizabeth kept Mary imprisoned for nearly 20 years before she finally agreed to have her cousin executed in 1587.” (Bio.com, 1) The people Elizabeth should have been ale to trust the most, were the ones trying to kill her. Elizabeth I’s life was filled with familial drama and intrigue, something that would have been necessary for the author of such a fantastical collection of works to draw from when writing. The paranoia from the constant threat of death within her family made her smarter instead of weaker. She learned from lies and secrets and learned to play the game of politics better than any other person within her castle walls. She earned the nickname the Virgin Queen when she made it clear she would not marry for power or perhaps at all “She used her availability as a means to political ends, but she never agreed to marriage.” (Bio.com, 1) She used her feminine wiles to gain secrets and keep her power, but she never took a husband because she was already married to her people. She reveals her true feelings about marriage in her writing. Hamlet uses Ophelia’s affection for him to his advantage to further his agenda, a strategy Elizabeth used time and time again throughout her reign, and she made her thoughts on marriage abundantly clear later in that scene. “We are arrant knaves, all. Believe none of us…if thou dost marry, I’ll give thee this plague for thy dowry. Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny.



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Get thee to a nunnery, go. Farewell. Or, if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool, for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them. To a nunnery, go, and quickly too.”(Hamlet, I, III, 135) The author rejects the idea of marriage, something Elizabeth never found necessary despite the societal pressures in her life to take a husband. Hamlet comments directly on the state of the English government and the internal power struggle of the Tudor dynasty. Despite the obvious parallels to her own life, Queen Elizabeth used a fake name to keep her true thoughts about her peers a secret, and to keep herself in power. It is clear that the characters and the plot lines themselves, were both directly inspired by Queen Elizabeth I’s experiences and relationships. One, maybe two parallels between her life and the canon could be called a coincidence, but hundreds throughout the body of work is undeniable proof of its true author. These correlations are especially evident in Hamlet. The characters and their portrayals are directly inspired by several important members of Queen Elizabeth I’s court. Its satirical and dramatic reflections of those in power would have made Elizabeth I a political target and subjected her monarchy to criticism. Polonius well meaning advisor to the court in the play was inspired by one of the Queen’s most trusted advisors: William Cecil, Lord Burghley. Ophelia, Polonius’s daughter, was inspired by Cecil’s daughter Anne, and his son was inspired by Cecil’s son Thomas. Claudius was inspired by her backstabbing family members, and further analyzed in previous paragraphs, and Gertrude was a satirical take on Queen Elizabeth’s own reputation, which will be explored later on in the paper. Queen Elizabeth wrote the character Polonius as a fumbling oaf of an advisor, and the butt of every joke, she portrayed him with such humor because the real life inspiration for Polonius, William Cecil was exactly the opposite. His character was an inside joke only she was in on, because in reality Cecil, a puritan, was an always serious and pragmatic advisor, whose advice



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never steered Elizabeth wrong. (Macnalty, 1) But, despite them being polar opposite the evidence of the two men’s connection is undeniable. Gertrude, who was to be Queen Elizabeth herself, never once disrespects or jokes at Polonius, she is one of the few to never do so. Additionally Cecil’s nickname “polus” strikes an uncanny resemblance to his character. Even further, Cecil’s children were in-fact written in to Hamlet as Polonius’ children. Cecil once wrote a letter to his son Thomas Cecil’s tutor, Windebank, complaining about his sinful and slothful life abroad in Paris, and asking him to look out for Thomas and keep him on track. (Alexander, 1) It is undeniable the parallels between Thomas Cecil and Laertes both abroad in Paris, and their fathers’ nosy concern for their future and reputation. Cecil’s daughter Anne’s parallels to her character Ophelia are much more tragic. Not only was Anne’s love life “one of the most miserable of the era.” (Tudor Times, 1) but she died tragically young at the age of 31. Queen Elizabeth included these inspired characters as commentary on the scandal and intrigue that drew the nobility away from what should be their main focus; the people. Elizabeth was famous for her devotion to her nation and her populous, but the people around her were more easily distracted. Elizabeth, ever the fan of political commentary, included this as a subtle jab at the less focused around her, to show the inefficiency and mortality of those behind the political curtain. Had she published this under her real name, allowing people to connect the laughable and cruel characters to their real-life counterparts, her court would have been made a laughing stock. Elizabeth’s expert grasp of not only English but also several other languages proves that she was one of the few people on the era to have resources to coin as many words as the Shakespearean canon did. “He invented over 1700 of our common words by changing nouns into verbs, changing verbs into adjectives, connecting words never before used together, adding prefixes and suffixes, and devising words wholly original” (Mabillard, 1) Most of which had



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roots in other languages such as Latin, Italian, or Greek. Alternatively, Shakespeare of Stratfordupon-Avon was not only uneducated but also most likely illiterate. (Rubbo, 1) Another part of Elizabeth’s life she pulled inspiration was, was form her love life. Her romantic history was riddled with relationships that not only ended poorly but also was severely lacking in emotion. Most of her potential suitors were brought forward by pragmatism, hoping to consolidate influence and keep power they offered Elizabeth a loveless but strategic future and a chance at an heir. (Mcnalty, 1) Her real life experiences make Gertrude’s hasty marriage to her husband’s brother after his untimely death, understandable. An unwed woman in power was unheard of, in order to keep her status and have a chance at a future similar to her present, she had to wed quickly and strategically. Unlike Gertrude who found her true love in Hamlet’s father, Elizabeth never found her soul mate, dying unwed. But, like most people who have never had it, Elizabeth thought about love often. The Shakespearean canon is filled with some of the most romantic quotes of all time. Hamlet exchanges beautiful love letters with Ophelia in Hamlet: “Doubt thou the stars are fire, /Doubt that the sun doth move, / Doubt truth to be a liar, / But never doubt I love. / O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers. I have not art to reckon my groans, but that I love thee best, oh, most best, believe it. Adieu. / Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machine is to him, / Hamlet.” Though she never had it herself, Elizabeth was able to write touching poetry about love. But, because of her unsuccessful relationships most of the great Shakespearean romances are flawed or doomed, reflecting her sometimes cynical and hopeless views on the outdated contract of marriage. Elizabeth and Gertrude were both queens who knew what it felt like to be forced into marriage, usually a personal and private choice, but not for a woman, and especially not one of status. Elizabeth I was a Queen, an icon, but most importantly a feminist. When she was born,



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her father was disappointed upon realizing her gender for he had wanted a son, an heir to the throne. Elizabeth spent her entire life being punished by her father for not being born a son, but it only strengthened her reserve. She spent her life proving to not only her father, but to the people of England she could be one of the greatest monarchs in history. She is now regarded as one of the most accomplished and impressive rulers of her time, it is especially impressive considering she never took a husband. Elizabeth was infamous for vowing to be both king and queen for the citizens of England,” I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and a king of England too!” Her iconic ideas about independence and the role of women in government are clearly seen throughout the canon. Although male and female characters alike are often caricaturized and criticized for their flaws, the men are especially targeted because of their hubris and misogynistic tendencies. In Hamlet, Claudius, the greedy alpha-male, seduces Gertrude and is eventually brought down by his own stupidity and overconfidence in his treacherous ways. Hamlet, brought down by his own hubris spends most of the play complaining and mistreating the people around him. (Shakespeare) Queen Elizabeth makes her view of the male half of the population clears, which in turn affects the way the reader views the characters. Maybe Hamlet isn’t the protagonist, maybe there isn’t one? Female characters, on the other hand, are often satirical depictions of overused stereotypes that are still relevant today. But, Elizabeth never fails to use symbolism, to subtlety hint at her true feelings on the matter. In Twelfth Night female characters end up posing as men which goes on to show that” The cross dressing women are a very timely reference to Elizabeth's wearing the metaphorical "pants" in the country.” (Humphrey, Queen Elizabeth's Influence on Disguise in Shakespeare's Plays and Spenser's The Faerie Queene) Additionally, her feminist views are even more obvious in plays like Macbeth, where Lady Macbeth is the real mastermind behind the



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brilliant power moves in Scotland. (Shakespeare) On the surface, a reader, under the impression Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon wrote the Shakespearean canon, might confusingly think that Hamlet portrays women as weak and pathetic. However, knowing that Elizabeth I was indeed the true author, one must conclude that the portrayal of Ophelia as weak and Gertrude as pitiful can only be satire. To realize this, one must ask themselves one of the most intriguing questions in the entire canon: Why did Ophelia kill herself? The public’s fascination with Ophelia is timeless and ever prominent especially among young girls. Ophelia’s suicide was an act of bravery and rebellion against patriarchal familial, and societal expectations, because it is the only way that would allow Ophelia control over herself, her future, and her reputation. The one thing Hamlet is too scared to do throughout the whole novel is commit suicide. Ophelia however is able to take the plunge, so to speak, not out of cowardice but out of bravery. Hamlet rationalizes that committing suicide would be an efficient way to end his problems but fails to follow through because “Thus conscience does make cowards of us all” (Hamlet, III, 1, 63). Ophelia however is able to go through with it. Some readers say this showed weakness in Ophelia, but course of action was not only not rash, but premeditated and calculated. By killing herself she got what she wanted, freedom from the overbearing oppression of the patriarchy. In death she was no longer forced to do this or that because of her father, or endure the cruel heckling from Hamlet. Hamlet faked his madness, the only reason we believed it was (sometimes) an act was because the play was from his point of view. Because so much of Ophelia’s life happened offstage who’s to say that Ophelia didn’t take a page from Hamlet’s book. It is possible Ophelia faked her madness in order to make her suicide easier to explain. Ophelia’s mental health might even be more stable than Hamlet’s because she didn’t end up actually driving herself mad like Hamlet. Before her death Ophelia



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gives out very symbolic flowers to various characters. Ophelia is able to give significant and symbolic flowers to all the main characters in the play. Which not only would have taken a full awareness of her surroundings, but an underlying knowledge of the goings on of the people around her. “There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; pray, love, remember: and there is pansies. that's for thoughts. There's fennel for you, and columbines: there's rue for you; and here's some for me: we may call it herb-grace o' Sundays: O you must wear your rue with a difference. There's a daisy: I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died” (Hamlet, V, II, 106) She gave the rue to Gertrude, showing she notices the regret the queen has for her hasty marriage to her brother-in-law. Every flower she gave was extremely symbolic of each character’s inner turmoil proving she was more observant than she let on. So who’s to say that her madness was genuine? It is in fact extremely likely that her madness was a ruse to fail to raise suspicion surrounding her planned suicide, in order to keep secret her act of rebellion, and gain enough sympathy to ensure a proper Christian burial; something that would have been objected to in the wake of such a feminist protest had she been found out. Ophelia was able to figure out the only way that she could stop being forced to obey the men in her life and regain control over her future. Despite the uncertainty of what comes after death, she was able to drown herself to finally get release. Rosalind Franklin discovered the double helix in DNA, developing cancer along the way with her constant work with x-rays. But James Watson and Francis Crick are attributed for this revolutionary find, after stealing Franklin’s work. Hedy Lamarr invented crucial technology that was used to invent WIFI, one of the most crucial resources human being have, yet Lamarr is almost exclusively remembered for being a beautiful actress and nothing more. Women have been cheated out of rightful credit for things since the dawn of time. Unfortunate this pattern will



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continue until the oppression and stifling of women’s voices everywhere in eradicated. Queen Elizabeth’s unique perspective on the world around her is clearly evident in the “Shakespearean” canon undeniably proving that she is the true author. I have no doubt that when the time is right, the greatness of the canon will rightfully be thrust upon Queen Elizabeth I.



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Works Cited

"Queen Elizabeth I Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2015. "Tudor Times." Tudor Times. Tutor Times Ltd, 15 Sept. 2015. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. Alexander, Mark. "Polonius As Lord Burghley Part Two." Polonius As Lord Burghley Part Two. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. Fowler, Dave. "Did Shakespeare Write His Plays?" Did Shakespeare Write His Plays? N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2015. Humphrey, Sarah. "Queen Elizabeth's Influence on Disguise in Shakespeare's Plays and Spenser's The Faerie Queene." 08.01.07:. Yale, n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2015. Mabillard, Amanda. Words Shakespeare Invented. Shakespeare Online. 20 Aug. 2000. Web. 11 Dec. 2015 Macnalty, Arthur Salusbury. Elizabeth Tudor, the Lonely Queen. London: Johnson, 1971. Print. Ross, Terry. "Oxfordian Myths:Was Burghley Called "Polus"?" Oxfordian Myths: Was Burghley Called "Polus"? N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2015. Rubbo, Micheal. "Much Ado About Something." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2015. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. London: Methuen, 1982. Print. Shakespeare, William. Twelfth Night. London: Methuen, 1975. Print.