Episode 2 Question

[chaiandsushi]

Hey guys;
I just had a quick question about the Ann Boleyn character/situation in show.

I realize her father's a diplomat between England and France but I'm confused as to  why he's pushing Ann to win Henry's affection? I'm guessing so France and England remain on good terms?

Any clarification would be great, and I apologize for the n00b esque

Comments

[willowcanne]

From everything that i've read, I assumed it was because of the prestige and all that comes with being the father of the Queen of England. If you were in favor of the King he would grant you titles and land and with that comes money and power.

[crazy_in_lost]

If Anne got pregnant with Henry's child, the whole entire family would be set for life. (like when ... I forgot her name has Henry's son. Her husband got a title and the son got to be a ... if I remember from 7th grade world history, duke.)

[melinafandom]

Lady Blount. The son was Henry Fitzroy, who was given a dukedom. And I only know this because of Blood Ties :)

[xjustinyx]

Anne's father wasn't pushing for her to become Queen of England. All he wanted was for her to be in the King's favor, so that she could convince him to get rid of Wolsey. Thomas Boleyn and Thomas Howard were not fans of the Cardinal, mainly because he had so much influence over the King and so much power, yet he was born to a pair of commoners. They thought that if Anne could remain close to the King (be his mistress for a while... as Thomas Howard said "when she opens her legs, she can open her mouth too and denounce Wolsey) she could eventually help to get rid of Wolsey. Interestingly enough, she managed to do this in the end.

[charliemc]

Very well put. And right on the money.

Thomas Boleyn was a seeker of power, property and wealth. He was just as anxious for his daughter Mary to bring the same to him, which she failed to do. (And Mary was only a mistress to the King, not his Queen.)

Actually, most people would never have believed it possible for Anne to become Queen. They saw Katherine as the Queen in a time when divorce simply didn't happen...

[ttishbite]

Women were used and manipulated by their families to get into good standing with the court. Fathers could gain money, power and respect by sending their daughters to bed a king.

My question is, why was Mary so quickly pushed aside? They could have played out that affair and gave Anne a motive to go after Henry (jealousy).

[nomorefrostbite]

They've already abandoned history enough, but I daresay the simple fact of Henry being King and her father telling her to would be enough motive to seduce him without fictionalizing some sort of jealous rivalry between the sisters.

[ttishbite]

Hmm...that motive isn't strong enough for me, not to say it wasn't for Anne. I personally didn't like the rivalry aspect of a certain popular novel.. the girls were darn catty. I was actually surprised that the series didn't go there.

I guess my point is, the writers could have drawn out Mary and Anne's life at court, and portrayed them as the pawns they were... instead of building up this romance thing. =)

Then again, it's only the second episode.. who knows what point of history they are jumping to next.

[nomorefrostbite]

Yeah, they definitely could have dragged it for dramatic effect and to add another subplot to the storyline... historically Mary's time at court and time in Henry's bed was very brief though, but as you say a proper portrayal of their status as political pawns would be good.

[hollis1975]

from my understanding( and reading about henry viii and his wives since i was 12...31 now)her father didnt think crap about it til henry was done with mary and obviously interested in anne.until that time he had tried to marry her off to the earl of ormande's son( a family connection and argument over who the real earl was)and then he was behine her when she wanted to marry harry percy the earl of northumberland's son.i dont think he ever saw her as being more then a mistress at the beginning and there lay titles and favors and gifts and power for time being at least.the mother of henry's son the duke of richmond was married off to an earl after the birth of her son,tho he WAS insane.but she got to live in relative luxury.
mary boleyn didnt do as well for the basic reason she didnt ask for anything and she was married off quickly upon her disgraceful return from france.francis premier always referred to her as an infamous whore.ironically her granddaughter caused anne's daughter( elizabeth I) a heck of a lot of personal grief and