Does Schiller’s play accurately portray Mary Stuart and Elizabeth I’s lives?

Schiller’s play is set roughly in 1568, which was when Mary arrived in England in search of help from her cousin, the queen of England, Elizabeth I. Mary has had to flee from Scotland, where she was previously queen, but now her son, James, taken the throne. This is all because she had foolishly decided to marry the Earl of Bothwell, but was unpopular as he was suspected for the murder of her previous husband, Lord Darnley. Of course Mary chose to ignore this and married him! But, now many others thought that maybe she was involved in the murder of her husband, as just before his death they were having many arguments. The play shows Elizabeth and Mary’s way of living, how they feel about each other and their many arguments that were unable to prove Mary Stuart’s innocence.

I feel that Schiller’s play does offer an accurate presentation on Mary and Elizabeth’s lives because the play clearly states the feelings of each cousin. It clearly explains both Mary and Elizabeth’s thought about each other and their many differences that have kept them so distant. For example, while Elizabeth feels that locking Mary up for nineteen years kept her safe from her enemies, Mary Stuart felt that this act from Elizabeth was rude and deceitful. But Mary came to England as her cousin, expecting to be free, and all though protected, she was immediately treated like a prisoner. This extract from the play does give many clear points on Mary and Elizabeth’s lives, but from the play, we are only sure of Mary’s way of living, and not so much Elizabeth’s lifestyle.

Elizabeth is a very strong woman, who will not put up with others being rude to her. But, she is also a weak minded character, as she is unable to make firm decisions, until she believes it is the right thing. For example Elizabeth leaves Mary to rot for nineteen years, because it takes her that long to prove that Mary is either guilty or innocent. Because of this, she had to hire Sir Francis Walsingham, who desperately wanted to catch Mary plotting against his queen. So, he pretended to deliver all her letters for her. this meant whenever a letter was written, Sir Francis would read it first, before delivering it to where it was supposed to go. This was how the Babington Plot (her husband’s murder) was discovered, proving Mary guilty.

Only because of this evidence, was why Elizabeth signed Mary’s death warrant. But, she did claim that she only signed it because she had been threatened, which also shows how she was weak and unable to make choices. But, this also proves that no matter that Mary was a threat to her throne, a Catholic and murderer, Elizabeth was still unhappy about signing Mary’s death warrant, all because she felt sorry for her cousin, the lady who could be the death of her!

In Schiller’s play, he shows that Elizabeth is angry, saying “did you conspire to murder me out of love and respect?” She is angry for believing that Mary was kind and would be happy that she was taken into care, instead of been executed straight away. Elizabeth is also angry that she has given Mary a place to live, and yet she is still plotting to murder Elizabeth. This makes Elizabeth so mad, as she feels that she has been so kind to her cousin, and yet this is what she gets. Death plots! This is all from Schiller’s play, and it clearly states the life of Elizabeth, and her hatred from her cousin, for her, drove her so mad that she eventually signed the death warrant.

Mary is a strong lady who stood tall, and never gave up, no matter how much she was beaten and locked up, she always found a way out until till the very last time, where she died at the age of forty-five. She even escaped from an island just before she arrived in England. Mary had a failed attempt at escaping the first time, dressed as a washer woman, but the second time was a success for her. But, even being locked up in various places, Mary still continued to try and kill her saviour and her cousin. To Elizabeth, Mary was locked away but well treated, but for Mary, she was a prisoner, locked away from daylight for nineteen years of her life. She was unable to see her son, James. But she kept strong till the day that she died.

Mary was a very rude lady, according to the play script. For example she says “your mother was not really married to Henry.” No matter that her fate is in Elizabeth’s hands, she is not complimenting Elizabeth, but instead insulting her, saying that she should not really be queen, as her parents were not married. If this were true, then because Elizabeth has no heir, it would be Mary that would take over her English throne, and afterwards James. Mary is also shown as a respectful lady, as at the start of the play she kneels in front of Elizabeth, showing her respect to the Queen of England. Her attitude changes suddenly, as she becomes angry at the way Elizabeth is treating her, tell her that she kept Mary safe from her enemies, whereas in Mary’s eyes she was locked up to die just like a prisoner. In her mind she came to Elizabeth with open arms and kindness, but that has not been shown. Mary is also argumentative saying “I was in their hands, I was powerless.” To her she was given no choice, and decides to argue with Elizabeth, who angrily says how Mary never stood up and helped her yet expects help and kindness to be given. Mary’s life is told greatly, showing how many hardships she faced, and yet managed to live a full, but forced, life.
Schiller’s play does show both cousins lives, as well as how they behaved towards each other. Also, that even some of the greatest Kings and Queens are weak and end up feeling sorry for any of their family. But, it is important to prove if someone is guilty or innocent before deciding what their punishment is to be.