Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

Queen Elizabeth I

The Queen is scary. We wouldn't ever want to cross her. She does have a soft spot though, somewhere under those insane corsets and two-dozen peacocks' worth of feathers. And that soft spot is for Viola. The Queen is a woman doing a man's role, and she sympathizes with Viola for wanting to act in plays, too. At the end of the film, the Queen has the opportunity to punish Viola, but she doesn't.

But the Queen is still the Queen, so her kindness only goes so far. She still sends Viola off with Lord Wessex. She may feel sympathy for the girl, but her role is as Queen first, mentor second.