Elizabeth

Elizabeth, 1998

“When I am queen, I promise to act as my conscience dictates.”

Beginning in 1554 the movie tells the story of the ascendancy of Elizabeth, the illegitimate daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, to the throne of England. In the midst of the prosecution of Protestants under Queen Mary Tudor, Elizabeth, a Protestant herself, succeeds despite the politics of a Catholic court. Played by Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth must deal with religious opponents and societal pressures to marry. On top of this England is bankrupt and is faced with an armed threat from Scotland. In this time of social, religious, and political upheaval we see Elizabeth transform from a young girl to someone who must forsake their own pleasure to marry her country. The entire story is one of personal growth in the backdrop of illegitimacy, virginity, politics, conspiracy, and violence.

Lessons Learned

Despite imprisonment and the threat of death Elizabeth maintains her faith and place in line for the throne of England.
After attaining the throne Elizabeth finds herself pressured to marry and produce an heir, but her lover, Lord Dudley, is not considered suitable. Elizabeth realizes that she must make a decision about her future and about who will rule England.
Going against her own beliefs, Elizabeth bows to the pressure to fight, which leads to a humiliating defeat. It can be said that she grew up when she learned to act for herself and her country.
Finally, Elizabeth is able to show the treasonous acts of the Duke of Norfolk, who is conspiring to overthrow Elizabeth and restore England to Catholicism. With the death of her enemies Elizabeth solidifies the Anglican Church of England which is free of Roman influence.

Competencies Addressed

Eliminating Barriers to Performance	Performing Administrative Activities	Challenging the Status Quo
Stress Tolerance	Visioning	Courage of Convictions
Personal Resiliency	Social Action	Sensitivity To Situations
Self Confidence	Political Savvy	Civic Action
Self Reliance	Self Control	Independent Thinking

Discussion Questions

How does Elizabeth’s early experiences with Mary Tudor influence her attitudes toward the monarchy? How does this influence her initial leadership style?
Describe a scene where Elizabeth shows the courage of her convictions in challenging the status quo. How does this illustrate effective leadership on her part?
By the end of the movie it becomes apparent that Elizabeth must make a sacrifice for the wellbeing of England. Describe some of her leadership behaviors that lead to this point.