Bring Up The Bodies

“He has no ancestors, of course; not the kind you’d boast about.”

This quotation sheds light on Cromwell’s unusual position as a self-made man at the Tudor court. Many of those around him possess power and wealth due to their noble lineage; they are motivated to preserve rather than create wealth and power for themselves and their families. Cromwell achieved his fortune and rank as a result of his own ambition and hard work. One of his main insecurities and motivators is that other characters look down upon him because of his lack of noble ancestry.

“He has made her queen, she has made him minister; but they are uneasy now, each of them vigilant.”

This quotation describes the tense atmosphere between Cromwell and Anne Boleyn early in the novel. Cromwell was instrumental in the political machinations that led to Henry securing a divorce and marrying Anne, but each knows the other has their own ambitions and priorities. This highlights The Precarious Nature of Favoritism, as they are each subject to the king’s changing whims. As the plot progresses, the relationship between them will deteriorate and Cromwell will make it clear that his loyalty is strictly to Henry.

“Silent Jane in his bed, pale and speechless Jane, that is what Henry dreams of now.”

This quotation establishes that, while Henry becomes fixated on Jane, she does not fulfill the conventional trope of a seductress. Jane is meek and modest and does not display any outward signs of sexuality. Her passivity contrasts with how Anne tries to seduce and manipulate the king. This highlights Rivalry and Cruelty Between Women, as they will be at odds throughout the novel.

“He had felt the years roll away: he was the cardinal, listening to the same conversation: only the queen’s name then was Katherine.”

This quotation hints at one of the central ironies in Cromwell’s efforts to find a way for Henry to marry Jane: Other men, including Cardinal Wolsey, Cromwell’s former mentor, previously filled the role of finding a way for Henry to dissolve his marriage to marry a new love. Once Henry’s desire to marry Anne is fulfilled, he seems more insatiable and entitled though annulling a marriage is still an incredibly difficult task.

“God would not allow my pleasure to be contrary to his design, nor my designs to be impeded by his will.”

Henry speaks these lines to Cromwell, revealing his rationale for why he thinks he should be able to have whatever he wants. Because Henry sees himself as appointed by God to rule England, in keeping with the divine right of kings, he assumes that all his desires are legitimate. This means that anyone who works for him should be able to deliver whatever Henry wants, and places immense pressure on Cromwell to succeed, highlighting The Precarious Nature of Favoritism.

“The king used to call me an angel. He used to call me a flower.”

Katherine’s lines to Cromwell recall the time when she and Henry enjoyed a happy marriage. This quotation reveals Henry’s fickle and inconsistent nature; he can feel intense passion for a woman but eventually turns against her. The reality that he once loved both Katherine and Anne makes his love for Jane seem unreliable.

“Even if it is a girl I will have another. Henry will never abandon me. He waited for me long enough.”

Anne is pregnant when she speaks these lines to Cromwell, convinced that the effort Henry took to marry her ensures her protection. This arrogance leaves her unable to perceive the danger she is in until it is too late, highlighting The Precarious Nature of Favoritism.

“We are condemned to fight till the breath goes out of our bodies. She is my death, and I am hers.”

Anne speaks this quotation to Cromwell about Henry’s eldest daughter, Mary, highlighting the theme of Rivalry and Cruelty Between Women. Anne has offered terms that would allow for a reconciliation with Mary, but she also concedes that she doesn’t think Mary will accept them. This quotation shows how tense and damaged the relationships are within Henry’s family and that Henry’s personal decisions have political consequences.

“What is the nature of the border between truth and lies? It is permeable and blurred.

This quotation highlights the Ambiguity Between Truth, Lies, and Rumors, as Cromwell considers accusing Anne of committing incest with her brother, George. George’s wife, Lady Rochford, has hinted that there is an inappropriate history between the siblings. This quotation shows that Cromwell is aware that these accusations may not be accurate, but he takes a relativistic approach to truth. Cromwell is willing to create narratives that suit his purposes, even if they are not factually accurate.

“I have everything, you would think. And yet take Henry away and I have nothing.”

Cromwell shares this reflection with his nephew, Richard, after Henry has a serious accident and nearly dies. This incident prompts Cromwell to reflect on the precarity of his situation; he has many enemies at court, and if Henry were no longer king, Cromwell’s status and life could be in danger.

“If a king cannot have a son, if he cannot do that, it matters not what else he can do.”

King Henry expresses his deep fear about not having a legitimate male heir. While Henry is attracted to Jane Seymour, he primarily hopes to find a woman who will be able to give him a son. Henry’s actions are selfish and ego-driven: A female heir can succeed him, but he believes a male heir reflects his virility and masculinity. The novel juxtaposes Henry’s fixation on having a son against the historical reality that his daughter Elizabeth I becomes the preeminent Tudor monarch, showing that his fears are largely unfounded.

“Henry’s women come trailing families.”

Cromwell reflects on this thought while noticing how Jane’s brothers quickly leverage the opportunity to grow their own power. Before the Seymours, Anne Boleyn’s relatives likewise increased their wealth and status because Henry favored a woman from their family. This quotation shows The Precarious Nature of Favoritism because just as the families gain favor through marriage, they lose it when Henry moves on to his next wife.

“I really believe, Cromwell, that you think you are king, and I am the blacksmith’s boy.”

Henry speaks this quotation to Cromwell when Henry believes that Cromwell has been manipulating him. While it shows that Cromwell is not immune to Henry’s outbursts, it also shows the liberties Henry allows him: Any other commoner who acted superior to the king would surely be executed. The quotation shows that the king is keenly aware of Cromwell’s humble origins and is willing to leverage them against Cromwell to remind him of his place.

“Now our requirements have changed, and the facts have changed behind us.”

Here, Cromwell and Henry discuss the grounds on which the marriage to Anne can be invalidated. When Henry’s goal was for the marriage to be made possible, various claims were asserted as true, i.e., that Henry never had sex with Anne’s sister and that Anne was never betrothed to anyone else. Now, if it makes it easier to annul the marriage, those same claims will be overturned.

“They cannot call it a bastard if it looks like a Boleyn.”

Lady Rochford speaks this quotation to Cromwell as she explains why Anne would be motivated to have sex with her brother. Lady Rochford knows that Anne is desperate to conceive a son, but she also has to be extremely careful so that no one can question the child’s paternity. This quotation reveals Lady Rochford’s awareness of Anne’s perilous position and her willingness to use that against her, even if it implicates her husband.

“The things you think are the disasters in your life are not the disasters really. Almost anything can be turned around: out of every ditch, a path, if you can only see it.”

Cromwell reflects on his rise to power and how he was unexpectedly able to leverage his intelligence to become a prominent young lawyer. Despite many challenges, Cromwell has arrived at a position that no one would have expected him to achieve. The quotation hints that Cromwell is determined to hold on to everything he has accomplished, even if he has to send innocent people to their deaths.

“She steadies herself against his shoulder, leans into him: intent, complicit, ready for the next thing they will do together, which is kill her.”

This quotation occurs as Cromwell escorts Anne to the Tower of London, where she will await her trial. The quotation shows that Anne is not naïve and knows that her fate has likely been sealed. It also alludes to the strange alliance between Anne and Cromwell; they have risen to power together, but now, Cromwell is willing to facilitate her death to maintain his hold on power, highlighting The Precarious Nature of Favoritism.

“The king must be rid of her. She cannot give him a son and he is out of love with her. He loves another lady and he cannot come at her unless Anne is removed.”

Cromwell speaks this quotation to Henry Norris when he goes to see Norris, who is imprisoned in the Tower awaiting his trial. Cromwell is open with Norris about his motivations because he wants to be clear that there is no hope for Norris to extricate himself from the situation, whether he is guilty or not.

“You must thrive in spite of yourself; and so that you may do it, God takes out your heart of flesh, and gives you a heart of stone.”

After Norris comments on dying of grief, Cromwell thinks about the painful experiences he has endured, especially the loss of his wife and daughters. Because of the losses, Cromwell is aware of his own resilience and desire to survive; however, this quotation acknowledges the cost of his ambition. Cromwell has been able to thrive, adapt, and persevere, but he must compromise his feelings and values to do so.

“He believes, or at least he wishes to show, that the queen has been indiscriminate, that she is impulsive, that her nature is bad and she cannot control it.”

Cromwell explains to his son Gregory why it was necessary to accuse Anne of adultery with multiple men: Henry needed to completely undermine Anne’s character. The quotation reveals that, while Anne largely secured her power through her allure and sexuality, she also loses power for the same reason. It is easy for people to believe that she had multiple lovers, including her own brother.

“When the women strip the queen of her cape she is a tiny figure, a bundle of bones.”

Cromwell watches Anne’s attendants prepare her for execution, moments before her death. The quotation highlights Anne’s physical vulnerability; the reference to her as a “bundle of bones” means that she no longer has her status, represented by her queenly robes, to protect her. The quotation is poignant because Anne will go on to have an enduring reputation and be considered an important historical figure, but at the moment of her death, she is simply a small, frightened woman.

“The fee to the French executioner is over twenty-three pounds, but it is an expense unlikely to be repeated.”

This quotation occurs as Cromwell summarizes the costs associated with removing all traces of Anne’s legacy and installing Jane as the new queen. Cromwell pragmatically focuses on the financial aspects of this transition although he is privately haunted by the moral implications of his actions. The quotation is deeply ironic because Henry will eventually have another wife, Catherine Howard, executed.

“He has laws to write, measures to take, the good of the commonwealth to serve, and his king: he has titles and honours still to attain, houses to build, books to read.”

This quotation shows Cromwell refusing to dwell on the actions he has taken and turning his attention to the future. At the end of the novel, Cromwell remains relentlessly ambitious, and he is in an even better position to achieve his goals. His hopeful view of the future contrasts with the individuals who have recently been executed; by contributing to their deaths, Cromwell has secured a future for himself.