Reviews with content warning for Confinement - The White Princess

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The White Princess by Philippa Gregory

2 reviews

lausiet's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

the grief Elizabeth experiences in the aftermath of her uncle, Richard III’s death is that of a lover. Her grief exposes little details of an affair - right in front of Richard's wife, Anne. Richard’s death imperils the York line because all male Yorkists now threaten the Tudor line. Elizabeth considers herself a war prize for Henry, rather than his sworn enemy for life. The arrangement of royal marriages in fifteenth-century England is purely politics - to secure alliances and prevent wars. For example: Elizabeth of York becoming Henry Tudor's wife united the houses of York and Lancaster and effectively ended the War of the Roses. This is further demonstrated with the creating of a new Tudor Rose - blending the red of Lancaster with the white of York. Maggie and Teddy of Warwick, the orphaned children of George, Duke of Clarence, are in a uniquely dangerous position in the new court led by Henry Tudor as they are also from the house of York - and Teddy is effectively a York heir and could have a right to the throne. Elizabeth and her family go to such great efforts to keep these York cousins away from Henry and his mother, Margaret, even though they know full well of their existence so they don't get killed. The mysterious disappearance of the young York princes, Richard and Edward, during their captivity in the Tower of London, haunts all of the figures in The White Princess. The curse that Elizabeth and her mother cast on the boys’ presumed murderer is that "the first-born son and grandson will die". For those who know history, Henry VII's first son, Arthur died, leaving Henry to take the throne and then subsequently, Henry VIII's only son Edward died. Elizabeth’s betrothal to Henry Tudor, the future king of England, an especially advantageous marriage for the York family means that some are spared. their union represents England in the aftermath of the War of the Roses the uniting of the two houses. However, Henry's (and his mother)’s decision to refuse his future bride and her family at his coronation suggests his true feelings of unease for the Yorks - especially so soon after Bosworth, he was scared of rebellion.

King Henry VII justify his rape of his betrothed, Elizabeth of York as "God wills it"

the rebellion against King Henry in the north of England endangers young Teddy as they are doing it in his name - even though Teddy knows nothing of this and has been in London the whole time. Henry is not justified in keeping Teddy confined to the Tower. he keeps him sequestered as long as he does because of fear. Henry feels about the series of young men who emerge during his reign, claiming York's blood and demanding recognition from him. Henry’s status as an outsider and foreigner affects his feelings toward these pretenders as they are similar. Margaret Beaufort has an unusually close attachment to her adult son, Henry, compared to the motherly love Elizabeth Woodville expresses for her daughter, Elizabeth of York. When Elizabeth is forbidden to feed her newborn son, Arthur, and must give him up to a wet nurse, she comes to understand her maternal obligations as queen. the imperative to produce male heirs for the throne defines royal motherhood. Elizabeth Woodville’s correspondence with old York families and former members of her household suggests infidelity to the reign of her new son-in-law, King Henry. Given that she has committed acts of treason against the king in fomenting and supporting the rebellion, Henry allows her to live in Bermondsey Abbey because of his wife. Elizabeth feels her mother’s open betrayal of her husband is an open betrayal of her children. Henry’s paranoia about treachery in his kingdom influences everything in his governance. It impacts his ability to lead his nation as he does not connect with the people - instead, he raises taxes in the North, which makes him less popular, because he is obsessed with 'the boy'. Elizabeth feels she ought to help Henry navigate the complex social expectations England has of its King as she is loved by the people and was loved as well as her father when he was King and their family. Therefore, modelling how her father behaved when he was king, she can help Henry be beloved by his people as she is. the curious personage of “the boy”—the golden-haired young man who is known variously at court as Pero Osbeque, Perkin Warbeck, and Peter Warboys has no true identity. Elizabeth receives him as her long-lost brother as she believes he is her long-lost brother, Richard. Henry doesn't choose to have him put to death immediately. Elizabeth experiences her husband’s infatuation with Lady Katherine Huntly, the beautiful wife of “the boy” as a mirror. Elizabeth recognizes the pain that she caused Queen Anne, Richard III’s wife when she was the other woman. In the final scene of The White Princess, Henry begs Elizabeth of York to forgive him for the deaths of “the boy”—either her brother, Richard of York, or an exceptionally convincing pretender—and of her innocent cousin, Teddy of Warwick. Given all that Henry has done to her family, Elizabeth chooses to forgive him.

Content Warnings

rhosynmd's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative mysterious sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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