Henry VIII | Quotes

Shortly after Buckingham is arrested, he already seems like a "shadow" of his former self. Just a few lines earlier, he was denouncing Cardinal Wolsey as a traitor for his involvement in the failure of a treaty between the French and English. Now he is accepting defeat without much fight. He gives in to his fate so quickly, it appears his death is willed by God, or he is actually guilty.

Both Buckingham and, later, Katherine are targeted by Cardinal Wolsey's scheming, and both seem more religious than the clergyman. Here, Buckingham prays sincerely before his death. Later, Katherine and other characters will question Wolsey's holiness.

When Lovell asks for forgiveness before Vaux takes Buckingham away, Buckingham freely gives it. Lovell's plea for forgiveness may indicate his understanding that Buckingham is innocent of the charges, in which case Buckingham's gracious attitude is saintlike. Buckingham's forgiving attitude is also part of an important pattern in the play: as each fallen character approaches death, they make peace with their lives either by seeking or granting forgiveness.

It seems everyone but the king knows how corrupt Wolsey is. Norfolk sarcastically calls Wolsey holy and criticizes the corrupt and damaging influence of the cardinal on Henry VIII, when a clergyman's influence should bring people closer to God.

The old lady speaks in frank terms to Anne Bullen, saying women really want wealth and power, and Anne should "stretch" her conscience to accept these things if they come to her by way of the king.

In a moving defense of her character and her marriage, Katherine pleads her case herself before the court. She asks for pity and justice, in seeming disbelief that she will now be repaid for her years of faithfulness by being cast aside. She calls upon heaven as her witness. However, despite her pleas and her faultless behavior, she receives neither justice nor pity from the king.

Katherine expresses her doubts about the morality and spirituality of Cardinal Campeius and Cardinal Wolsey. Her pointed pun—cardinal sins instead of cardinal virtues—shows her way with words and her tendency to speak the blatant truth without fear.

The third gentleman waxes on about Anne's beauty and virtues, calling her saintlike. Making sure Anne is seen as exceptional in beauty, character, and piety is important to painting Elizabeth I, Anne's daughter, in an almost Christlike manner. This characterization would have pleased the reigning king at the time of the play's writing, James I, who was from the same family as Elizabeth I, and her successor.

The three fallen characters—Buckingham, Wolsey, and Katherine—all engage the topic of forgiveness in some way before they die. Katherine seems to have the most difficulty with it, however. Here, she seems inclined to be forgiving of Cardinal Wolsey, moved by Griffith's description of Wolsey's final days. Yet she can't help but mention once again his greed and arrogance.

As Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, christens the infant Elizabeth I, he prophesies she will be a great ruler, and her successor will also "starlike rise as great in fame as she was." This unbounded flattery of both Elizabeth I and her heir, James I, is woven throughout the play.