Female Royalty and Oppression in Hilary Mantel's Bring Up the Bodies

Abstract

Bring Up the Bodies is key literary document of British royal palace in the sixteenth century, which captures king Henry VIII's oppression over his wives because of their failure to give birth to male heir to secure Tudor line of England. So, this project revolves around the issue of Female Royalty and Oppression, even though females are full of royal facilities. Though, the female characters in the novel belong to the royal family and apparently have access to unlimited wealth and power, they are the victims of patriarchy. Bring Up the Bodies ends with Anne's execution. Henry bring special executioner from France and he slices her head off with a long sword. Anne and Katherine are full of money, power, and post. But, their identity is under crisis, because of Henry's activities. He is male and representative of patriarchy. So, it explores one of the most frightening and mystifying episodes in English history, the destruction of Anne Boleyn.