Queen Elizabeth's Tilbury Speech

The Spanish infest the English Channel. Upon a hill in Tilbury, Queen Elizabeth prepares her army for a main land conflict. The Spanish Armada floats upon the horizon, ready for naval warfare. Daunted by the Spanish forces, the troops of Great Britain are edgy and alarmed. As the protector of her people, Queen Elizabeth instills confidence and strength into the British army with the speech of Tilbury. In order to inspire and reinforce courage, Queen Elizabeth empowers her troops with her vows as a queen and as a warrior. The most important aspect of the Tilbury speech is the promise Queen Elizabeth makes to her people. Standing before the troops, Queen Elizabeth says, “…in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all;

The superficial aspect is the disadvantaged British military in comparison to the superfluous Spanish fleet. The British army at Tilbury is ill-prepared and out of its waters, literally. The strongest—and only fearsome military power—military branch of Britain is the navy, which could not be organized in time. Not only that, but the soldiers are essentially minute men, farmers and clerks who answer the dire call to arms. If it were not for the misfortune of the Spanish fleets and terrible conditions, England would have drowned in their own blood. Nevertheless, the main facet is the conflict regarding Queen Elizabeth’s position and her gender. A woman in a man’s profession is often looked down upon, judged before the event is truly witnessed. However, it is evident that Queen Elizabeth is the right woman for the occupation of a monarch. She stands with her soldiers as a woman, but in essence, all that stand on Tilbury hills are the combative spirits of men. There, on Tilbury hill, Queen Elizabeth stands prepared to die for her country and her people. This act of nationalism and selflessness is what pierces the judgmental heart of man, and it is evident that Queen Elizabeth is capable of being a gracious monarch as proficiently as a man could. Upon the hill of Tilbury, a woman and her army stand prepared to fight against all