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Queen's Gambit


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What do you think Katherine means when she says, "I would make a good man"? What sort of power do the men in the Tudor court wield over the women?

Created: 08/22/13

Replies: 9

Posted Aug. 22, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

What do you think Katherine means when she says, "I would make a good man"? What sort of power do the men in the Tudor court wield over the women?

Elizabeth Tudor tells Jane Grey, "Think of the power. I would like the feeling of that, to have all the women in the world do your bidding. I would make a good man I think." What do you think she means when she says, "I would make a good man"? What sort of power do the men in the Tudor court wield over the women?


Posted Sep. 02, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
sandrah

Join Date: 07/18/11

Posts: 68

RE: What do you think Katherine means when she says, "I would make a good man"? What sort of power do the men in the Tudor court wield over the women?

Katherine is an intellectual who also understands power and power plays and is a shrewd judge of character. She thinks and strategizes like A man. Knowing this, Henry appoints her to be His Regent.


Posted Sep. 02, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
estherl

Join Date: 09/02/13

Posts: 10

RE: What do you think Katherine means when she says, "I would make a good man"? What sort of power do the men in the Tudor court wield over the women?

Men held all the power in political matters,family issues and just about everything else. King Henry's power was ultimate. He was even able to force Rome to grant annulments whenever he desired. Katherine and Elizabeth after her had the will to succeed without a man to guide them.


Posted Sep. 04, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
irisf

Join Date: 01/16/12

Posts: 136

RE: What do you think Katherine means when she says, "I would make a good man"? What sort of power do the men in the Tudor court wield over the women?

Women had absolutely no power. They were at the mercy of the men in their lives. Katherine was a very bright woman and probably more intellectual than most women of the time


Posted Sep. 04, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Retired Reader, NE

Join Date: 09/16/11

Posts: 165

RE: What do you think Katherine means when she says, "I would make a good man"? What sort of power do the men in the Tudor court wield over the women?

Katherine would have made a good man because in Tudor times women held little power or influence outside of the bedroom and birthing stool. Katherine was smart, educated, and clever. The description of a successful man.


Posted Sep. 07, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kathleenr

Join Date: 12/07/12

Posts: 68

RE: What do you think Katherine means when she says, "I would make a good man"? What sort of power do the men in the Tudor court wield over the women?

Marriage for the aristocracy was a contract to maintain and increase power. It was never intended for love. Women were only pawns traded and used in this endeavor.


Posted Sep. 12, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
terri

Join Date: 04/11/12

Posts: 102

RE: What do you think Katherine means when she says, "I would make a good man"? What sort of power do the men in the Tudor court wield over the women?

Katherine was educated and wanted to speak her mind. She wanted reform. She had some power when Henry was gone and apparently she used it wisely as regent. As a man, she could wield a lot more power. People would listen to her. She would have more influence.


Posted Sep. 12, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
elizabethh

Join Date: 06/25/11

Posts: 23

RE: What do you think Katherine means when she says, "I would make a good man"? What sort of power do the men in the Tudor court wield over the women?

It seemed that the men in the Tudor court wielded all the power. Men made decisions about marriages, land ownership and titles. Although the ultimate power lay with Henry, and it seemed that the men in the Tudor court were always competing over who was closest to Henry at that point in time, and thus more likely to get what they wanted. I think Katherine felt she would make a good man because she was intelligent, was able to stand for what she wanted and was able to diplomatically manage a team, as was shown when she acted as Regent. She was much less guided by her emotions in this area than Henry was, as he was extremely labile.


Posted Sep. 12, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

RE: What do you think Katherine means when she says, "I would make a good man"? What sort of power do the men in the Tudor court wield over the women?

I think Queen Elizabeth I's speech to the troops as they prepared for the Spanish invasion about 40 years after this period sums up the male-centric world of the time: "I know I have the body of a weak, feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too."


Posted Sep. 13, 2013 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
juliae

Join Date: 08/23/11

Posts: 12

RE: What do you think Katherine means when she says, "I would make a good man"? What sort of power do the men in the Tudor court wield over the women?

Davinamw put it very well. Women of that era could have power only indirectly, by managing the men around her. A highly intelligent woman could have power by manipulating the environment, playing a cleverer game of chess.


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