Essay Questions

Who is Henry VIII, the king mentioned in the play?

The name most likely refers to the King of England who ruled from 1950 until 1547. The King remained in the history of the British Empire as one of the most controversial rulers, mainly because of the large number of wives the King took, and killed. The King married six different wives, one of which was sentenced to death by the King himself. The King had his first marriage annulled by creating a new religion, the Church of England, and making himself head of the Church, in spite of the opposition from the Pope. The action presented in the play takes place during the time when King VIII decided to annulled his marriage to his first wife, Catherine, and marry the much younger woman, Anne Boleyn.

Who is the Cardinal in the play?

The Cardinal in the play is Thomas Wolsey, the man who served as cardinal under the rule of Henry VIII. He was first named Cardinal of the Catholic Church, meaning he was among the most powerful people in the state, holding the superior religious position. King Henry acquired the cardinal’s help when trying to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and marry another woman named Anne Boleyn. The Cardinal did everything he could to secure an annulment from the Pope in Rome but was unsuccessful. Because of this, the Cardinal fell from the King’s graces and was stripped of his titles and of the lands he owned. Shortly before his death, the Cardinal was accused of treason by the King but he died before the King could order his execution. In the play, the cardinal is described as an extremely vain and power driven person. According to history, this representation may come close to the truth, Cardinal Wolsey being known for doing everything he could to secure his position and power in the British society of the time.

Why is the Cardinal accused of abusing the tax system in Act I, Scene I?

During his time as Cardinal, Wolsey changed the taxing system in England to such a way that those who has a great deal of wealth were forced to pay the bulk in taxes while the poor had to pay almost nothing at all. Until that point, the taxing system in England was the same for everyone, every person having to pay a fixed amount, no matter their social status. Wolsey introduced a new system which brought a lot more money for the crown, forcing the wealthy to pay taxes in accordance with the wealth they had. He also forced the nobility to grant loans for the Crown, a controversial move criticized by the ruling class. While it is unsure if Wolsey had any personal grains from the new taxing system, we can understand why the Queen, who had many relatives inside the court who were forced to pay a great amount of taxes were displeased with the new system.