The Mirror and the Light

Write an essay about the contradictory nature of Cromwell: Was he loyal to the king? How would he define such loyalty? How would the king? Were his beliefs consistent? If so, how? If not, why? Where does he fit in the larger history of the period?

How does the image of the king compare to the reality of the king? Does Henry live up to how he sees himself, literally and morally? Does he execute the duties of a king as he should? Explore the contradictions and complications that exist between the image and the reality.

What’s at stake in religious belief—for the peasants, the priests, and the aristocracy? During this period, someone could be called a heretic for believing in Catholic saints as easily as they could be called a heretic for not believing in the miracle of transubstantiation. Discuss the range of religious belief and what it means to the different classes within English society.