Queen As A Traditional Ruler In Western Literature: A Textual Analysis Of Philippa Gregory's Historical Fiction
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- Authors
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Usmanova Sevara Sultanovna
Associate Professor, DSc, Fergana State University
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- Keywords:
- Western literature, historical fiction, queenship, Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I, Philippa Gregory, character portraiture, female leadership, Tudor England
- Abstract
- This study investigates the literary portrayal of queens as traditional rulers in Western historical fiction, with particular focus on Philippa Gregory's novels The Other Boleyn Girl and The Virgin's Lover. Through close textual analysis guided by the frameworks of character portraiture, feminist literary criticism, and historical novel theory, the study examines how Gregory constructs the figures of Anne Boleyn and Queen Elizabeth I as embodiments of female power, beauty, and political agency. The results reveal that Gregory employs detailed physical and behavioural portrait techniques to reflect the social and cultural dynamics of the Tudor period, simultaneously reinforcing and subverting conventional expectations of queenship. The discussion situates these findings within broader debates on female leadership in literary history, demonstrating that Gregory's queens navigate the complex intersection of personal desire, political authority, and gendered constraint. The study contributes to ongoing scholarly conversations about the representation of historical women in fiction and the enduring cultural significance of the queen figure in Western literature.
- References
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