Post 4: Interpreting Emotion in Text

Did Elizabeth love the Duke of Anjou? As we established in class this week, there really is no way of knowing for sure. Today, evidence of this royal courtship exists in the form of letters and poems; but the written word can often be misleading. Taken at face value, these texts indicate that Elizabeth's love was not only genuine, but also strong and passionate. She claims that there is no other man in the world with whom she would rather spend the rest of her days! The sentiment is lovely; however, it is possible that Elizabeth simply wanted to produce a beautiful text. A Queen could not just jot her thoughts down on paper - lofty, flowery language was mandatory. After all, it is unlikely that this letter would be read by Elizabeth and the Duke's eyes alone. So, the question remains: is Elizabeth writing from the heart, or is she driven by social convention? I'll never know. For some unexplainable reason, I get the impression that Elizabeth truly was taken with the Duke of Anjou. Suave, royal, and 22 years her junior - what's not to like?