This is a tragichistorical book that talks about the diary of Lady Jane Grey who became a queenof England for only nine days.
She was the cousin of King Edward and the nieceof King Henry VIII. The writer wrote it in a diary style adding more suspense.In this assignment, I would cover the summary of Lady Jane Grey, the six themesthat I discovered from the book and my reflection essay towards the book. Thebook was written by Sue Reid and was published on 7 June 2012. The author wantsto portray Lady Jane Grey as merely a pawn in the hands of powerful man but sheturned the table as she was an intelligence and a very strong faith girl.
Cookfeels that Lady Jane’s received an unfair treatment in history and was giventoo little credit. We must first understand the dark period of British historyto understand her background and herself. This woman has a very strong faithwith her religion and it is incredible, that one so young could know so much. PartA – Synopsis The story tells about a fifteenyears old girl name Lady Jane Grey who was one of the famous hidden historicalfigure in British history and revolve around her tragic fate which she becamethe Queen of England for only nine days in July 1553. She is a young girl ofnine who is living with her parents, the Duke and Duchess Suffolk. Jane alsohad two younger sisters, Catherine and Mary. She is a very hardworking girl andshe loves books and knowledge more than anything.
She values knowledge a lotand she would not miss the chance to gain extra knowledge. She is also wellmannered and respected by everyone due to her humble nature. On the same year in1546, Lady Jane is sent to court to accompany and live with Queen CatherineParr, the sixth wife of King Henry VIII. She was demanded to learn importantsocial skills that govern life at the Royal Court.
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Unknown to other people,Jane actually have no interest in powers and the throne. Her parent were verycruel and mistreated her. Upon knowing that she was invited to live withCatherine Parr by Catherine’s second husband, she was very delightful as shecan finally escape her home. Jane’s father agrees to the arrangement and shespends several happy years living in their home.
But things drastically changeto worse when Catherin became ill after giving birth and dies right away. Jane’slife changes for the worse. She was forced to follow her mother her and thereand she have to follow all the strict rules that she has always hated. She wasworried when she found out that her cousin Edward is sick and she keeps lookingfor a way to see her dear cousin but to no avail. Her mother keeps pushing herto do the things she would not want to but she hast to obey them as those areher only family. Her parent use her as a pawn for their quest for power andthey set a very dangerous plan for the young girl.
They want their Jane to bethe Queen so that their political power will increase. Her parent had betrothedher to Guildford Dudley even though she does not like him or know him. Jane’sparent scheme a plan along with Guildford’s parent to ensure that Jane willbecome the Queen of England. Their plan succeeded and Jane became the Queen butonly for nine days before being overthrown by Princess Mary. Even though LadyJane Grey only lives to the age of sixteen, her life was full with dangers andexcitement. Lady Jane is a very passionate person, she loves reading books andalso writing. She hates being restricted to a certain rules and her dream is tolive freely. Her personality is well liked by everyone even the maids as she isvery humble and polite to everyone else.
During that era, woman do not reallystudy and their focus is the household but for Jane, she believes woman shouldbe par with the man in term of education. Shegrew up watching her cousin Edward preparing for the throne and they alwaysexchanging letters with each other about their belief. In 1547, King Henry VIIIpassed away leaving the nine years old King Edward to take on the throne. AsLady Jane Grey is also used as a pawn in her parents’ dangerous politicalscheme, King Edward fell ill and dies. From that moment onwards, her life takesa dramatic turn as the young king doesn’t have any heir and he refused on abdicatingthe throne to his two older sisters Mary who is a catholic and Elizabeth thesecond sister. As he is a strong Protestant Christian believer following hisFather, King Henry VIII, he had refused to put Mary, his older sister as hissuccessor as she is a strong Catholic Christian who will use every chance tooverthrow the Protestant Church and bring back the Catholic Church glories.
Asfor Elizabeth, Edward doesn’t trust her as much due to their mother’s strained relationship whichleaves King Edward to abdicate to his only friend and his closest cousin, LadyJane Grey. She was officially proclaimed as the Queen of England on the 9th ofJuly 1553. Although she is married to Lord Guilford Dudley, a younger son ofJohn Dudley, she had refused to give the King title to her husband to avoid misuseof political powers in which is actually a smart idea. Like every politicaldrama, Lady Jane Grey faces opposition from both Mary and Elizabeth as theyboth is the legitimate heirs for the throne. The opposition was mainly fromMary as the Privy Council had changed their allegiance from Lady Jane Grey toMary in the absence of Northumberland, her main supporter. They claimed Mary asthe new queen on the 19th of July 1553 causing Jane and her husband to beimprisoned. In September, the council declared Mary as the rightful Queen of Englandand claimed that Jane’s proclamation was false. Both Jane and her husband werecharged for high treason and were to be killed but her life was spared by Mary.
But, the Protestant rebellion who used Jane as their benefactor sealed her fateand she was executed on the morning of 12 February 1554 along with her belovedhusband. Jane turned to Feckenham who stood beside her while she was kneelingdown in a solid wooden scaffold. Then Jane asked the priest, should she startpraying? He could barely reply him as he has tried his best to save her but herfaith never waiver. Jane began her prayer which was Psalm 51then she says itagain in English. Everyone were silent, no one could say a word and dark shadowrested over the scene and the only sound that can be heard was her attendant’ssobs. Even all the soldiers stop moving and pay their respect. She braceherself and she looks like she is ready to receive the impact of the powerfulaxe.
Then suddenly she speaks in a clear voice “Lord, into thy hands I commend myspirit.” With a smooth and fast stroke, but sharp and bloody, Jane’s lifeended.
