In the Tudor court, there wasn't one ring to rule them all, but there was one religion to rule them all: Catholicism. If you lived in Western Europe during this time, you couldn't escape it. Now, while The Other Boleyn Girl isn't a book about the Protestant Reformation, aspects of that Reformation do occur in the background. Henry's decision to go his own way and establish the Church of England is a critical factor in Anne's ultimate fate. And faith, or lack of it, is a big factor in many of these characters' lives.
Questions About Religion
- How does Mary view religion?
- How does Henry use religion to rationalize his own actions?
- What are the larger effects of Henry's schism with the pope?
- Does marriage really seem like a religious institution in this novel, or is it more of a political and social contract?