Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
English
Date of Award
12-2020
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Josh Reid
Committee Members
John Rankin, Judith Slagle
Abstract
Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) served as King of England from 1509 until his death in 1547. A melancholic character, Henry was known for his many marriages, his temper, his bouts of tyranny, and his break with the Catholic Church. Most authors, even those writing contemporary accounts, portray Henry as a villain. Hilary Mantel paints Henry differently. In Wolf Hall and Bringing up the Bodies, the King is as he has always been; argumentative, sardonic, and excessive. However, Mantel chooses to augment these parts of his character with some of his better traits, giving the King a softer edge that is often lost to his actions and infamy. An analysis of Mantel’s writing, as compared to the historical record, sheds new light on Henry VIII and invites readers, through the joy of historical fiction, to be more open in their interpretation of the King.
Document Type
Dissertation - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Nicholson, Amanda S., "Kind King or Tyrannical Ruler? An Analysis of Hilary Mantel’s Henry VIII in Wolf Hall and Bringing up the Bodies" (2020). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3850. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3850
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.
Included in
European History Commons, Fiction Commons, Social History Commons