It is easy to think about Queen Elizabeth I as the epitome of English ethics, an inhuman monarch. Still, like her father Henry VIII, she was a great poet. 

The monarch built her forty-five-year reign on diplomacy, public relations, and a strong sense of self for both England and herself. Examples of her magnitude are the Book of Common Prayer which unified diverging churches and religions within the reign and the victory against the Spanish Armada in 1558 (Queen). 

Even though Elizabeth I’s calculatingly built image presented a war-like, strong, virginal monarch, a piece of poetry attributed to her, “On Monsieur’s Departure,” showed a different, more emotional version of her. 

The poem is mostly said to be written about her failed engagement to Francis, the French Duke of Anjou, given the French word “monsieur” in the poem’s title, added in a 17th-century manuscript (On Monsieur’s). 

The poem describes love and grievance for a past lover, and it is unique in the way it is a deep dive into Elizabeth I’s mind. While other poetry had themes of war, reign, or philosophy, “On Monsieur’s Departure” was emotional and personal in a way the queen had never portrayed herself before, a romantic way – it was likely meant to be a secret, both its writing and the feelings that originated it.

The most important aspect of the piece is where it was found. After Elizabeth I’s death, “it was discovered by auditors amongst her private papers” (On Monsieur’s). 

That is, if the queen did not plan on ever showing this piece of writing to her surroundings, it must have contained some of the truest thoughts she had. Those could be dangerous to her reputation for contradicting not only the image she aimed to disseminate, but also the people’s predetermined stereotype of women as fragile, extremely sentimental, and thoughtless creatures. 

Elizabeth I was seen as a “king” – as she calls herself a few times in her “Golden Speech” – that is, she had all the qualities and characteristics a male sovereign would have: a determined war-strategist mind, loyalty to her kingdom, and wisdom (The National). 

Not only did she have the reputation of a king, but her being virginal brought her closer to being perceived as divine. 

For a predominantly Christian society, be it Catholic or Protestant, sexual abstinence was praised, and the fact Elizabeth I was a virginal, God-sent monarch meant she was closer to Mary, the mother of Jesus, than to anyone else. The sentimentalism towards the “monsieur” in question could remind her court and people she was a woman who was capable of having sexual or romantic encounters, disrupting the image she portrayed.

The truth and depth within the poem, however, are seen in its language, which is intense. 

Firstly, it must be noticed how Elizabeth I used words such as “love” in other texts. In the “Golden Speech,” which she wrote and performed to show England how much she loved her people as her great farewell, the word “love” does not even appear in the speech, being expressed through words such as “gift” (The National). 

Again, the word “love,” for its intensity, could remind the audience Elizabeth I was human, which is why the second line, “I love, and yet am forced to seem to hate,” is powerful (Elizabeth I, lines 1-5). The first stanza offers a juxtaposition, a duality the queen faces, she cannot show how she feels, having in mind her reputation, yet, she feels too much, which “freeze[s]” and “burn[s]” her at the same time (Elizabeth I, line 6). 

That is, the possibility of the marriage could mean self-actualization; however, as a monarch, it could ruin her; either decision would cause the queen some misfortune. And from herself – inner thoughts and feelings – turning another self – the Virgin Queen – Elizabeth I chose to be a ruler, not a lover.

The second stanza dives deeper into Elizabeth I’s dilemma as she mentions her care for the “monsieur” being her shadow, “Follows me flying, flies when I pursue it” (Elizabeth I, line 8) A shadow is “inextricably linked to one’s person while still being a consequence of an external source” (Owl Eyes). 

That is, metaphorically, her care and her sentiments, are a part of her but were caused by the subject of her care, which counterpoints Elizabeth I’s authoritarian, strong image since an external source caused her such torment. She must have felt scared, given line 9’s “doth what I have done,” an unclear statement referring to an action, arguably her calling off the engagement, yet unclear (Elizabeth I). 

The third stanza is where her vulnerability is the utmost present. Elizabeth claims she is “soft and made of melting snow,” a statement claiming the queen is made vulnerable under love and passion, risky when understanding her efforts toward her king-like image (Elizabeth I, line 14). She finishes the poem by asking for that love to either be more gentle, for it to be suppressed or disappear willingly, or kill her, as being alive with those emotions is torture (Elizabeth I, lines 15-18). This overflow of emotion showcases a lack of control and decision.

The poem’s portrayal of an indecisive, vulnerable woman, being England’s and Wales’ monarch, could not have been intended for public eyes by Elizabeth I, a public relations strategist. Even though her efforts to create her historical image were significant and successful, this piece of poetry may remind contemporary women power and love may coexist; a powerful woman still has feelings, and even though the monarch was not able to live this duality, others may.

Works Cited 

Elizabeth I. “On Monsieur’s Departure.” Owl Eyes,

www.owleyes.org/text/on-monsieurs-departure/read/monsieurs-departure#root-464042-1. “On Monsieur’s Departure Full Text and Analysis.” Owl Eyes,

www.owleyes.org/text/on-monsieurs-departure.
Owl Eyes Staff, Caitlin. “On Monsieur’s Departure.” Owl Eyes,

www.owleyes.org/text/on-monsieurs-departure/read/monsieurs-departure#root-464042-1. “Queen Elizabeth I.” Biography, 7 Feb. 2020, www.biography.com/royalty/queen-elizabeth-i. The National Archives. “The Golden Speech – the National Archives.” The National Archives, 21

May 2019, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/elizabeth-monarchy/the-golden-speech.