Spanish Armada Speech Queen Elizabeth Tilbury

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Queen, Elizabeth Tilbury of England, in her Spanish Armada Speech, emphasizes her love for her people and of her country. Queen Elizabeth’s purpose is to encourage her men to take up arms and fight against the Spanish. She adopts a somber tone in order to convey to the men that if they have no choice but to fight the Spanish at sea.

Elizabeth begins her Spanish Armada Speech by supporting her love of country and her countrymen. She appeals to the Patriotism of her men by showing that she is here for the men and her subjects “I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects” She addresses her men in order to unify the fighting forces as one and that she is there to fight with them “in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour, and my blood, even in the dust.” This outpouring of nationalism and bravery by their queen conveys to the men that they have their entire country behind them in the fight against the Spanish.
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She acknowledges that her body is weak “I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman,” she also counters this weakness by establishing her strengths “I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe.” She tells the men about her weakness and strengths in order to show them that she may be weak in certain areas but also a fight just like they are. This acknowledgment of both sides of herself minimizes her weaknesses and greatly expands her