Event, Characters and Case

 

Anne Boleyn and her story has stood out to me the most and after my research, particularly into her death, my decision was made. It was striking to me that she accepted her fate and acted different from Henry’s other wives when her life was to end. In some of my research she has been portrayed as a brave and intelligent woman. From her speech before she met the sword, to the way she acted on the day - Anne Boleyn was a fierce and composed woman, despite all the scandal linked to her name.

Anne captured Henry’s eyes quickly. At first there was the intention of being a mistress but eventually she became Queen after he annulled his previous marriage. It has been said that he wrote love letters to her, some still remaining in the Vatican library. Their relationship progressed until she was Queen of England and eventually broke and disintegrated as she couldn’t conceive a son (Henry is famous for his desperate desire for this) and, as she was accused of so many scandalous things, she fell from her position. She made enemies at court, Particularly, Thomas Cromwell, Henry's chief minister and the man responsible for annulling his previous marriage. Cromwell was important to Henry, and soon helped with the downfall of Anne.

On April 30, 1536, Anne's musician and friend for several years, Mark Smeaton, was arrested and likely tortured into making 'revelations' about the Queen. Next, Sir Henry Norris was arrested and taken to the Tower of London. Then the Queen's own brother, George Boleyn, Lord Rochford was arrested. There wasn’t any coming back from that.

On May 2nd she was arrested at Greenwhich and taken to the tower. On Monday the 15th, the Queen and her brother were put on trial at the Great Hall of the Tower of London. Around 2000 people attended.  After the research I had my key characters - Thomas Cromwell being highly important, the other men accused and of course Henry.

 

Initial ideas - mystery and scandal

 To tell a true story I believe that you yourself have to have a high level of interest in your subject to keep the narrative going. With the True Story that I will be telling, I wanted to choose a subject that I enjoyed - a story that would capture my attention quickly and keep it there with a vice like grip. I wanted to look into mystery and scandal within a certain time period and what better than Tudor England? The dress, the parties, the stories, the misfortunes and of course - the scandal. Who doesn't know at least something about Henry V11 and his many wives? Or the many victories and loses in the battles at the time? With the time period, there are accusations and twists behind almost all stories.  

I have recently found a love for recreations of Tudor stories, whether that be writing or shows. When recently watching the show 'Reign' focusing on Mary Queen of Scots, as she was a person in history I could look into. I researched some reviews and to say the least, I was shocked. Viewers were outraged by the inaccuracy of the story telling, and this made me think about my approach. I was going to tell a story based around someone in this time, but I was going to use my research to have my facts right.

I had vague ideas in the beginning, looking into The Princes in the Tower, Mary Queen Of Scots, Catherine of Aragon, and the accusations thrown at her or perhaps the wife that always stayed in my mind – Anne Boleyn. I don’t remember why exactly her name always stuck out, but perhaps it was because she was accused of so many scandalous things. The famous Boleyn that fell from grace. In 1536 Anne was arrested on charges of adultery with five men including her own brother, Lord George Rochford. At the trial she was accused of adultery and witchcraft. Of course, within those times that would have been a large scandal that Anne wouldn't get away from, and the perfect excuse for Henry to be rid of her. It's the perfect True Story that goes with the theme I have chosen.