QHow historically accurate is the show?
AIn some regards, very accurate; in others, events and characters are completely made up.The basic facts of history are, for the most part, followed closely; however, the show is oft to make insinuations about characters' lives or completely invent personalities for them.There is no historical evidence that Mark Smeaton was a homosexual; Smeaton's depiction as such in the series stems from a contemporary historical theory that he was chosen as a "patsy" because, by medieval standards, he lacked masculine characteristics and so would have been seen as feminine (and therefore weak) by a jury, which would have lessened their sympathy for him. Similarly, there is no evidence that either George Boleyn or Thomas Tallis were homosexuals, either; the real George Boleyn was regarded rather positively by his contemporaries as an exceptionally well-spoken individual who was also used in addition to his sister as a pawn in their father's political power-plays. George's closing statement at his own trial was so convincing that pubs had 10:1 odds in favor of his acquittal.Additionally, for the sake of time and keeping the cast of characters to a minimum, some characters are composites, and timelines are truncated. Henry's sisters Mary and Margaret are compiled into the single Margaret Tudor, with the majority of her story arc coming from the life of Mary Tudor; the writers chose the name Margaret so as to avoid viewer confusion with Henry's daughter, Mary Tudor (who was in fact named for her aunt). "Margaret's" storyline is also heavily truncated; she lived much longer than is depicted on the series, and was in fact married to the King of France (not Portugal, as shown) for over a year, until his death from natural causes. ("Margaret" is depicted killing him on the series both for dramatic effect and to hasten the storyline of her marriage to Brandon). Mary was married to Brandon for several years (not months, as depicted on the series) and the two had children together, becoming the grandparents of Lady Jane Grey, the fourth Tudor Monarch, often regarded as a usurper instead of a monarch.A similar dramatic tool is used in Season 2 and 3, when the character of Norfolk was written out of the series and much of his role in events was written into either Brandon or Thomas Boleyn's characters.
QWhy isn't Henry fat? Is he ever going to be fat?
AHistorically speaking, Henry remained in good physical shape until the jousting accident depicted in 1536 near the end of Season 2. Although he had begun to put on weight prior to the accident, he remained quite athletic, and so was still in good shape. The accident both re-opened and aggravated a previous leg wound he had sustained years earlier, to the extent that his doctors found it difficult (if not impossible) to treat it. The wound festered for the remainder of his life, thus preventing him from maintaining the same level of physical activity he had previously enjoyed. Concurrently, Henry developed a binge-eating habit, apparently as a coping mechanism for stress.As with many other details, the series takes creative license regarding Henry's appearance. Henry Viii was known for his many sexual conquests. His leg injury was emphasized, but he was not portrayed as a heavy individual so as to maintain Johnathon Rhys Meyers' on-screen sex appeal.
QWhat, exactly, did the swans represent?
AThere have been many interpretations to this question. The most widely believed and seemingly appropriate is that the swans are symbolic of Anne Boleyn and her relationship with Henry:* Henry begins the episode admiring the swan, but is ultimately driven to kill it.* Swans mate for life. As Henry has his life-mate killed, he also has the swan's life mate killed.* Women with graceful necks are often favorably compared to swans; Anne's neck, of course, is severed, and the day before her death she alleviates the tension in her prison cell by telling everyone "I have only a little neck" in regards to her impending execution.
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