The Queen Flashcards
Theme: Change, tradition
Explanation: TQ recognises the importance of modernisation.
“I can see the world has changed, and one must modernise”- TQ
Theme: Change, tradition
Explanation: TQ is stuck in her ways as it is what is familar.
“It’s how I was brought up, it’s all I’ve ever known”- TQ
Theme: Change, tradition
Explanation: TQ prioritises her duty above all.
“Duty first, self second”- TQ
Theme: Change, tradition
Explanation: TQ is very reserved and keeps her feelings to herself.
“I’m not very good at that. I prefer to keep my feelings to myself”- TQ
Theme: Change, leaderships
Explanation: The public wants drama.
“People want glamour and tears. The grand performance”
Theme: Change, leadership
Explanation: TB talks about his different view as a leader.
“But as a leader, one has a different perspective”- Tony Blair
Theme: Change, leadership
Explanation: TQ believes she hasn’t been scrutinised by the british public this way before.
“I’ve never been hated like that before”- TQ
Theme: Change, leadership
Explanation: The public focusses on TQ’s faults.
“If 50 years of my job has taught my anything, it’s that people doing yours generally prefer my faults”- TQ
Theme: Change, leadership
Explanation: The public will forget certain things.
“when people come to assess your legacy, no one will remember those few days”- TQ
Theme: Change, leadership
Explanation: TQ champions her people and what they have demonstrated.
“And in the end, you showed great personal, strength, courage, humility”- TQ
Theme: Change, leadership
Explanation: TB champions TQ’s actions.
“What she’s doing extraordinary”- Tony Blair
“She executed it with, dignity, honour”- Tony Blair
Theme: Diana, Grief
Explanation: The public feel TQ is responsible for Diana’s death.
“They have your blood on your hands”- Public
Theme: Diana, Grief
Explanation: The public believe Diana was above the royals.
“You were to good for them”- Public
Theme: Leadership, Grief
Explanation: TQ has been at her unwanted job for a long time.
“50 years of doing a job she never wanted- a job she watched killed her father”- Tony Blair
Theme: Leadership
Explanation: TB believes TQ has served her people for a while.
“That woman has given her whole life in service to her people”- Tony Blair
Theme: Change, leadership
Explanation: TQ appeals to the nation as a grandmother.
“Speaking as a grandmother”- TQ
Theme: Leadership
Explanation: TB is like a father.
“Mr father of the nation”- Allistair
Theme: Leadership, tradition
Explanation: TQ encourages her people to do this.
“No you must show your strength. Reassert your authority”- TQ
Theme: Leadership, change
Explanation: TQ believes it’s all about this.
“It’s about wearing your heart on your sleeve” TQ
“In situations like these, one has to be flexible”- TQ
Theme: Leadership, change
Explanation: TQ believes no one values this anymore.
“No one seems to value tradtion, or consistency anymore”- TQ
Theme: Leadership, change
Explanation: TQ believes it isn’t her role to pass on to the next generation.
“When you no longer understand your people, it isn’t up to me to hand over to the next generation”- TQ
Theme: Leadership, change
Explanation: TQ feels there has been a change.
“Something’s happened. There’s been a shift of values”- TQ
Theme: Leadership, change
Explanation: 25% of public think this.
“1 in 4 are in favour of abolishing the monarchy”- News
Theme: Leadership, change
Explanation: Majority of people blame TQ.
“70% of people believe your actions have destroyed the monarchy”
Theme: Leadership
Explanation: The public demands this from TQ.
“Show us you care”- Public
“Show us there’s a heart in the house of Windsor”- public
Theme: Leadership
Explanation: TB thinks the TQ’s treatment is bad.
“There’s something ugly about the way everyon’e started to bully her”- TB
Theme: Grief, change
Explanation: TQ admires the stag.
“Oh you are a beauty”- TQ
Theme: Faith, leadership, tradition
Explanation: TQ is a strong believer in God.
“She’s been brought up to believe it’s god’s will. That’s who she is”
Theme: Leadership, tradition
Explanation: TQ believes things are done this way in Britain.
“That’s the way we do things in this country. Quietly. With dignity”- TQ
Theme: Leadership, change
Explanation: The public want this type of change.
“People have been yearning for a change in this country”
Theme: Tradition
Explanation: TQ believes the flag protocol is not applicable for Diana.
“We don’t lower the flag for anyone”
“There isn’t a flag flying at half mast above Buckingham palace”
Theme: Tradition
Explanation: Cherie believes the royals are spoilt.
“They exist in a ludicrous cocoon of privelege and wealth”- Cherie Blair
Theme: Leadership, change, maternal
Explanation: TQ feels partly responsible.
“Maybe we are partly to blame” TQ
Theme: Diana, maternal
Explanation: Charles champions his mother.
“She was a wonderful mother. Never afraid to show her feelings”- Charles
Theme: Diana, maternal
Explanation: Diana was more lovable bc of her weaknesses.
“Her weaknesses and transgressions only seemed to make people love her more”- TQ
Theme: Tradition, leadership
Explanation: Royal family may become enemies.
“If the Queen continues to get it wrong over Diana, it won’t be long before the Royal Family become enemy number one”- News
Theme: Leadership
Explanation: TB is the only one who correctly made sense of the country.
“The only one who has correctly judged the mood of this country” (regarding TB)
Theme: Leadership, change
Explanation: TB hopes to change the country for the better.
“I want to set an ambitious course to modernise this country. To breathe new life into our institution” TB
Theme: Diana, grief
Explanation: TB champions Diana.
“She was the people’s princess”- TB
Theme: Grief, leadership
Explanation: The Queen is required to do nothing.
“Her instinct is to do nothing. Say nothing”- TB
Theme: Tradition, leadership
Explanation: TQ believes Diana’s death is this.
“This is a private matter”- TQ
Theme: Tradition, leadership
Explanation: TQ wishes she could have an opinion.
“I rather envy you being able to vote”
“The sheer joy of being partial”- TQ
“You might not be able to vote, but it is your government”- Painter
Theme: Change, tradition
Explanation: They are at risk of losing the country.
“We’re in danger of losing too much that’s good about this country as it is”- Mr Crawford
Theme: Change
Explanation: TB won the election by a lot.
“Landslide victory for Mr Blair”- News
Motif: Stag
The struggle Diana faced, representing her beauty in a world where she was hunted (paparazzi, press, monarchy), change and provides a moment of epiphany for the Queen who sees herself and Diana in the vulnerability and the beauty of the natural world, and cements transformation to human self.
Motif: Natural World
Represents catalysts for change and transformation, river provides metaphorical death of former self and acquisition of humanness, at the end of the film, outside in light and nature, it represents an equality between dichotomous groups – breaks down social structures, just like Ransom
Motif: Flowers
Appear all throughout the palace – the garden at the end, but when outside for Diana’s memorial they represent life and death – continue to grow and regenerate, represent the public’s grief at Diana’s death, link with beauty and the enduring nature of beauty.
Motif: Buckingham palace
A symbol of tradition and also the separation of the public and monarchy
