Mary Tudor Character Analysis in Wolf Hall

Mary Tudor is Queen Katherine’s only surviving child. Her diminutive size—Norfolk calls her a “talking shrimp”—contrasts with her dignity and gravity. Katherine had assumed that Mary would inherit the throne, but Henry is fixated on having a male heir. Like her mother, Mary is a devout Catholic and detests Anne Boleyn for turning her father against them. Cromwell is always kind to Mary, and she is fond of him. Since Cromwell is always kind to children and young people, his solicitousness for Mary doesn’t seem unusual. However, he tells his son Gregory that if Henry were to die, Mary would certainly be the next ruler, which shows that Cromwell’s desire to be in her good books is not entirely unselfish. Mary suffers after Anne Boleyn becomes queen. Anne is insecure that Mary might gain power and supporters after Henry’s death and ascend the throne, so she tries to suppress her and keep her out of the court. Anne declares Mary a bastard since her parents’ marriage has been annulled, and she separates her from Katherine. Mary is even denied her own residence and is instead forced to stay in the same household as the baby Princess Elizabeth, Anne’s daughter, and Mary is supposed to serve the child. Mary bears these trials with fortitude, even refusing to eat meals with the household because she will be forced to sit at a station “below” baby Elizabeth’s. Instead, she chooses to waste away in her room, surviving on only the bread that is permitted to be brought to her room for breakfast. When Cromwell sees her, he says he will order a physician to prescribe that she needs a heartier breakfast sent up, and Mary is grateful. He advises Mary to pretend to be friendly to Anne Boleyn since that will bring her many comforts and a possible position back at court, but Mary refuses.

Mary Tudor Quotes in Wolf Hall

The Wolf Hall quotes below are all either spoken by Mary Tudor or refer to Mary Tudor. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Power, Ambition, and Deception Theme Icon

“The queen will be coming to visit her daughter soon. If you would simply greet her respectfully in the way you should greet your father’s wife—”

“—except she is his concubine—”

“—then your father would take you back to court, you would have everything you lack now, and the warmth and comfort of society. Listen to me, I intend this for your good. The queen does not expect your friendship, only an outward show. Bite your tongue and bob her a curtsy. It will be done in a heartbeat, and it will change everything. Make terms with her before her new child is born. If she has a son, she will have no reason afterward to conciliate you.”

“She is frightened of me,” Mary says, “and she will still be frightened, even if she has a son.”

Related Characters: Thomas Cromwell (speaker), Mary Tudor (speaker), Princess Elizabeth, Anne Boleyn , King Henry VIII

Page Number and Citation: 516

Explanation and Analysis:

Mary Tudor Character Timeline in Wolf Hall

The timeline below shows where the character Mary Tudor appears in Wolf Hall. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...mentions to Wolsey that the king is rumored to be sleeping with Boleyn’s older daughter, Mary Boleyn—not his younger daughter, Anne Boleyn, the one who is involved with Harry Percy. This... (full context)

...has made a duke. The cardinal asks Cromwell if Katherine knows about the king and Mary Boleyn, and Cromwell says she does. Wolsey says she is “a saint.” He also tells... (full context)

...even getting Percy’s father to threaten to disinherit him. Percy is then forced to marry Mary Talbot. Cromwell wonders how Anne could ever respect a man who would leave her because... (full context)

...on her. Cromwell wonders if this was when he was already sleeping with her sister Mary Boleyn, and Cavendish says it was. Cromwell wonders how the king’s every desire was thwarted... (full context)

Henry and Katherine have had six children, but only one of these children lives—Mary Tudor, who is “small but vigorous.” Henry is disappointed that he has no male heir,... (full context)

In the autumn of 1528, Cromwell is in court on the cardinal’s business. Mary Boleyn runs to him, “her skirts lifted, showing a fine pair of green silk stockings.”... (full context)

Cromwell is fascinated with all this information, and he even finds himself talking easily to Mary Boleyn about his own children. Mary says that she would like her next husband to... (full context)

Children and Human Connection Theme Icon

...on dissolving his marriage with Katherine, so he sends Anne Boleyn out of London with Mary Boleyn. A rumor reaches Cromwell that Mary is pregnant, and he thinks he narrowly escaped... (full context)

...surrounded by women sitting on low stools who are pretending to sew, among whom is Mary Boleyn. There is also Mary Shelton, a Boleyn cousin who looks at Cromwell disapprovingly—he thinks... (full context)

...wants it, […] it is all taking a marvelous long while to come to pass!” Mary Boleyn says under her breath that Anne, too, is “not getting any younger.” Anne says... (full context)

After Cromwell leaves the room, Mary Boleyn follows him out. She tells Cromwell that she and Mary Shelton can’t wait for... (full context)

Mary Boleyn tells Cromwell how the king quarreled with Katherine during Christmas and came to Anne... (full context)

Cromwell asks Mary Boleyn if the rumors that Anne Boleyn is pregnant are true, and she says that... (full context)

...“a fine boy,” and Anne Boleyn thinks Norfolk should get him married to Norfolk’s daughter Mary Howard, so the king will be surrounded by Howards, but Norfolk doesn’t think a bastard... (full context)

...a child born in wedlock who can reign. Norfolk is incredulous that “[t]hat talking shrimp” Mary Tudor might ever rule, but Gardiner seems interested in the idea. Cromwell says it would... (full context)

Cromwell is speaking with Katherine in her chambers, and he notices that her daughter Mary Tudor seems to be in a lot of pain—“she is shrunken into herself, and her... (full context)

Katherine tells Mary Tudor in English that Cromwell is the man who “now writes all the laws.” Mary... (full context)

...Audley “induce the king to describe himself as head of the church in England,” and Mary Tudor adds that “the Pope is head of the church everywhere.” Cromwell once again asks... (full context)

...the king has now “ridden off without a farewell,” which he’d never done before, and Mary Tudor says he has gone with “[t]he person.” (full context)

...that in the meantime, Katherine is to head to the More, a residence in Hertfordshire. Mary Tudor says that, since it was the cardinal’s house, it will be “lavish.” Cromwell asks... (full context)

...for Cromwell. He tells them that he told Katherine that Henry might separate her from Mary, and Wriothesley is surprised that Cromwell doesn’t know that it has already been decided that... (full context)

...the Holy Father,” after which the king can say “who can be married,” and then Mary Tudor “will be a bastard.” (full context)

...take their vows at a chapel in Whitehall in a small ceremony, with no celebration. Mary Boleyn signals to Cromwell that Anne is pregnant, and Cromwell guesses that the king doesn’t... (full context)

Cromwell goes to visit Anne Boleyn, who tells him she is tired of her sister Mary Boleyn and wants her gone. She suggests Cromwell’s nephew Richard, who has some Tudor blood,... (full context)

...Henry receives them graciously. That evening, Cromwell tells Richard that Anne has suggested he marry Mary Boleyn, but that they would have to get the king’s approval. Richard asks if he... (full context)

...disapproving as he walks into Cromwell’s room. Cromwell asks Rafe not to tell Richard that Mary Boleyn had flirted with Cromwell once, since there’s nothing between them. Their household won’t become... (full context)

...one reads it. Anne is distraught thinking about all her enemies—the Emperor, Katherine, Katherine’s daughter Mary Tudor, Henry’s cousin Lord Exeter, who has a claim to the throne—and she wants Cromwell’s... (full context)

...a particular situation. Henry adds that he has thought it over and doesn’t think that Mary Boleyn should marry Richard—“at least, not at this time.” Cromwell understands him perfectly, and he... (full context)

...to her about her case. Cromwell advises her to agree to the king’s terms so Mary Tudor might be “confirm[ed] as his heir” and Katherine will get “a great estate.” He... (full context)

Dogmatism vs. Open-Mindedness Theme Icon

...Rochford says she would like his friendship. She says she will give him information, since Mary Boleyn has been sent away because “Anne [Boleyn] is back on duty in the bedchamber.” (full context)

...and Anne Boleyn discuss poisons often. She has heard Anne boast that she will poison Mary Tudor, the king’s daughter. Cromwell thinks that Jane Rochford is “lonely, […] and breeding a... (full context)

The next day, the king’s bastard son, Henry Fitzroy, the Duke of Richmond, marries Mary Howard, Norfolk’s daughter. Anne Boleyn has arranged this marriage so Fitzroy can’t be married off... (full context)

In December, Margaret Pole, aunt to Katherine’s daughter, Mary Tudor, comes to meet Cromwell to say he must not turn Mary out of her... (full context)

However, when the king asked Cromwell to take the house in Essex from Mary Tudor, Cromwell advised the king “not to diminish” her circumstances and give her cousin the... (full context)

...orders, Cromwell goes with Gregory to Hatfield to check on the baby Princess Elizabeth and Mary Tudor. When Cromwell was a boy, he used to help his uncle, who was a... (full context)

Lady Shelton is in charge of Mary Tudor, and she tells Cromwell that her niece Anne Boleyn has instructed her to “beat... (full context)

Cromwell finds Mary Tudor huddled by a dying fire in a bare room, and her face brightens when... (full context)

Cromwell tells Mary Tudor that Anne Boleyn will be coming to visit Princess Elizabeth soon, and that if... (full context)

As Cromwell leaves, Gregory tells him that Mary Tudor likes Cromwell, and that this is strange. He seems a little afraid of his... (full context)

...king is “contemptuous.” Anne Boleyn’s belly has begun to show, and in the absence of Mary Boleyn, the king has started showering his attention on Mary Shelton. (full context)

Mary Tudor Character Analysis

Mary Tudor Quotes in Wolf Hall

Part 6: Chapter 1 Quotes

Mary Tudor Character Timeline in Wolf Hall