Mary’s initial objective for killing is wrong to begin with. Heretics were burned in order to make England Roman Catholic by force. “Twenty years of Protestantism had soured the English on popery,” (Britannia) but ignorant Mary brutally forced change upon England to match her own religion. In the name of religion, about 275 people lost their lives for holding on to their own beliefs. Instead of discouraging the Protestants, the burnings mainly served to increase hatred of the Queen. Mary failed to carryout a more sophisticated approach to achieve her goal of making England Catholic. She did not attempt to persuade people of the benefits of Catholicism through a more diplomatic manner. For the reason of wanting a Catholic country, Mary killed many people without trying a more civilized method first.
Mary’s inner turmoil is no excuse for her rash decisions. Mary grew up having memories of a painful childhood. She also missed her husband, Philip, who was often absent due to his responsibilities as the Prince of Spain. Later diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Mary endured two phantom pregnancies. As someone opinionated, “She was a lonely woman, waiting for her one chance of happiness, but performing a crescendo of sadness,” (Dream). Despite that, it is unfair for Mary’s personal life to affect the whole country of England. Mary did not put her emotions aside to make proper decisions for England, whereas a good Queen would have. The emotional struggle Mary went through does not change what happened. What’s done is done. Mary’s emotional struggles don’t change the fact that her decisions affected the country of England and its people.
By cruelly burning heretics, Mary forced Protestants out of England. Mary’s irrational ruling cannot be solely blamed on her unfortunate circumstances. Queen Mary can only blame herself for what she brought on herself. She caused bloodshed in England throughout her short five year reign. During the reign of Elizabeth, Mary was righteously given her nickname, Bloody Mary.
Works Cited
Dream, Titanium. “Did Bloody Mary Deserve Her Reputation?” Fiction Press. 2 Jan. 2004. Fiction Press. 7 Sept. 2009. <http://www.fictionpress.com/s/1514365/1/Did_Bloody_Queen_Mary_Deserve_Her_Reputation>
“Mary I (1553-1558).” Britannia Home Page Monarchs. 2005. Copyright Britannia.com. 7 Sept. 2009. <http://www.britannia.com/history/monarchs/mon44.html>