Elizabeth: film review and analysis

Queen Elizabeth I

Religion and politics are inextricably linked in English politics during Elizabeth's time, and the reason why Queen Mary's attitude towards the then Princess Elizabeth was hostile is because of their religious differences. That is, as a Catholic Queen Mary felt threatened that Princess Elizabeth would later usurp from her the position of Queen of England, not to mention changing the nation's dominant religion, which is Catholicism. Thus, as a Protestant and a potential and direct heir to the throne of Queen Mary, Princess Elizabeth is a looming and formidable threat for the Queen. It did not help that supporters of Catholicism further intensified the Queen's feelings of animosity for Princess Elizabeth, thereby making her more hostile towards her half-sister, greater than what was warranted given their religious differences and the competitive nature of their status in the society.

Queen Mary, popularly known as "Bloody Mary" because of her persecutions of non-Catholic people, had unjustly sought to preserve the power of her position as Queen and of Catholicism. Though at present, we do not hear of direct persecutions because of religious differences, political injustices are committed against people who have different religious (and political) views, much like the commitment of Muslims to jihad, interpreted as violence by non-Muslim cultures/societies.

Elizabeth I's decision to make Protestantism England's dominant religion was, primarily, a politically-motivated move. In the same way that Queen Mary had persecuted detractors of Catholicism during her reign, Elizabeth I had also considered a religious conversion in England as an imperative move to induce political changes in the country. That is, Elizabeth I considered her decision to make England mainly a Protestant nation is a political strategy to promote the rational and economic-minded perspective adopted by Protestantism.

From both Elizabeth's and Mary's religio-political strategies, it becomes apparent that the Church and State are inevitably linked, for it is the leader's value and belief systems that affect and influences political decisions. Therefore, political judgment and decisions are based on the context of the individual's / leader's system of values and beliefs.

The statement, "all men need something bigger than themselves to look up to and worship" demonstrates not only Elizabeth as a leader, but English society (in general) governed by the monarchy. This statement illustrates that while humanity seeks an ideal and model idol-leader to look up to, the presence of an individual committed and willing to take on the problems of civil society is enough for humanity or a society to look up to him/her as an individual to "worship," as stated in the film.