During the reign of the Tudors, society was very much under the influence of the patriarchy. Women were expected to get married and have children. A woman was the property of her father and then her husband; a piece of property and a second class citizen. There was no autonomy whatsoever. Wealthy women were able to have somewhat of an education but poor women had no access to education and were forced to work to survive. While women could not attend university, they were able to have private tutors that schooled them in lady-like pursuits. Queen Elizabeth was no exception. Tutored by Roger Ascham and other brilliant men, Elizabeth learned much. Ascham said “the constitution of her mind is exempt from female weakness, and she is imbued with a masculine power of application.” (Camden 24) So despite the so-called female weakness, Elizabeth was more than capable of running the kingdom. But the nation was unconvinced and concerned about her ability to find a husband.
Throughout Queen Elizabeth’s forty-five year reign, her status as the “Virgin Queen” was well recognized and commented on. The country worried about whether Elizabeth would marry and produce an heir. Historians have many different theories regarding Elizabeth’s disinterest in matrimony such as the possibility of her being intersex, an imposter who was actually…show more content… She starts the rejoinder by questioning Parliament’s reasoning behind this delegation. The repetition of the first paragraph is reminiscent of Shylock’s famous monologue in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. The rhetorical questions make it seem as if Parliament is questioning her character rather than her marital status. Again, Elizabeth uses her relationship with England as an example for which her marriage must emulate. She also chastises Parliament for attempting to control her. This is very different from the gracious Queen in the 1559 Delegation