Shakespeare’s Queens and Collective Forces: Facing Aristocracy, Dealing with Crowds

Much as they usually move in a restricted circle and deal only with their consort and a few royal advisors, Shakespeare’s queens are sometimes called to play on a wider political stage. Occasionally, they join the English aristocracy in the battle for the throne; at times they face another collective force, which can either take the form of a crowd or be evoked as the political nation. The way queens interact with collective forces is especially relevant in the historical context of Shakespeare’s time. Queen Elizabeth dealt with similar powers; she ruled thanks to the careful management of Parliament and never forgot the feelings of public opinion, whereas James I soon faced the myth of the special relationship between his predecessor and the common people.