How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"But I thought he wanted the church reformed?" I asked.
[…] "Reformed, not taken to pieces and headed by the king," my brother said quickly. (35.51-35.52)
No one expected Henry to take so much power for himself. Although he never says it out loud in the book, he clearly fancies himself to be a kind of god. Or at least he certainly doesn't seem to be too concerned about anything like divine punishment, or anything like that.
Quote #8
God had cursed him for marrying his brother's wife and now God was lifting the curse by making his wife-to-be (his first wife, in Henry's adaptable conscience) so fertile that she conceived within months of lying with him. (36.17)
"Adaptable conscience" might be the best phrase to describe Henry VIII. He acts like he's a religious man when it suits him, and he blames others for bringing curses from God upon him when he doesn't get his way. But does he really care one way or another? It mostly seems like everything is about Henry's own comfort.
Quote #9
"You're not without sin, you're just lucky." (37.319)
What is considered "right" and "wrong" in this time is almost entirely decided by religion. Adultery is supposed to be wrong, yet it is overlooked when the king is involved. George calls out this double standard. Why is being gay a sin punishable by death, when having an affair is not? Who decides?