In defense of Anne Boleyn, a Heroine

I just finished watching "The Other Boleyn Girl," and I am now furious. The film is quite inaccurate historically and it portrayed Anne as a terrible, manipulative girl. I believe she was a heroine and a martyr. Many historical texts view her in a negative light, simply because most of them were written by her enemies, the same enemies who plotted against her. The film was incorrect with dates and the sequence of events, and many important details were either forgotten or purposelly avoided. In real life, there were some members of court who were not happy with Anne because she lessened their power. They framed her, and had her executed. Obviously, their writings about the Queen will be against her. Anne Boleyn did more for England than any other ruler in such a short time. She forever changed the face of England. Now, to point out some inaccuracies in the film: First, Mary was actually older than Anne and was known as the beautiful one. Anne was the opposite of what society viewed as beautiful at that time. Mary was already a member of the French court when Anne was sent to France, which all happened before entering the court in England. Anne was in France for six or seven years, where she was educated and learned to speak French fluently. She was also exposed to many scholars and philosophers who opened her mind to a world beyond the Catholic Church. She became passionate about protestantism, and carried her passion with her to England. Second, Mary was exiled from the English court after marrying Stafford, who was below her in status. The marrieage made Anne furious. Mary never returned to the court to beg for Anne's life. The onely reconciliation the two sitsers had was when Anne sent Mary some money because she (Mary) was extremely poor, and struggling financially. It is also unknown whether Mary's first son, Henry was actually the son of King Henry VIII. Third, Although it is unknown exactly where it happened, King Henry VIII became enamored with Anne. By this time, Mary had been his mistress but was not any longer. Anne refused to become his mistress. Some say it was because, as in the film, she used her sexuality to gain power and the throne. I, as well as others, believe she did it for moral and intellectual reasons. She knew Kings moved on from mistress to mistress without a second thought, and she was smart enough to avoid such humiliation. She also had morals, and stood by them. I believe she simply had no desire to become a whore. She was headstrong and outspoken in the English court and with the King. Many hated her for it. I think she was brave. Women did not express themselves in those days. They simply did as they were told and followed society's expectations. Anne had tremendous courage and made a stand for her beliefs. Also, it is unkown who proposed the idea of marriage to whom between Anne and the King. The film made it look like it was Anne's plan. Some historical accounts claim that Anne did finally give in (though none claim the King took her by force as implied in the film), and the King was forced to divorce Katherine to save his son (which he believed anne carried) from illegitimacy. Others say that Anne was a virgin when she married the King. I have not read any accounts that say Anne married Percy. They met and fell in love, but both were previously betrothed. It was while waiting for Percy that Anne caught the eye of the King of England. She made the king court her for years, until Percy married someone else. This was when she became more willing to marry the King. Another detail left out in the film was the fact that before Anne was sentenced to death, her marriage to the King was announced void. It was proclaimed that the marriage was null and was therefore invalid and erased. If such was true, how could Anne have possibly committed adultery? The two proclamations counteract each other. The court overlooked such details in their haste to be rid of Anne. It was not shown very well in the film, but in reality, Anne was extremely close to her brother George. She was not able to see him much, especially while in France, and instead resulted to letters. They loved each other, but only in a sibling manner. There are many speculations of incest, though none were backed up with solid proof. The allegations against Anne in court were not well proven either. It was also not shown in the film that while in France, Anne gained a great interest in religious reform. It is possible that she may have shared such thoughts with Henry VIII, which would have led to hatred from Catholic members of the court. The film was correct in the fact that the downfall of Queen Anne Boleyn came about due to a malicious plot, but it was not run by her uncle. Though her uncle did announce Anne's sentence, the plot was led by Cromwell. Anne and George were not the only ones arrested. Several others were accused of adultery with the Queen as well. The film also ommitted Anne's final speech before her execution which is as follows:
"Good Christian people, I am come hither to die, according to law, and therefore I will speak nothing against it. I come here only to die, and thus to yield myself humbly to the will of the King, my lord. And if, in life, I did ever offend the King's Grace, surely with my death, I do now atone. I come hither to accuse no man, nor to speak anything of that whereof I am accused, as I know full well that aught I say in my defense doth not appertain to you. I pray and beseech you all, good friends, to pray for the life of the King, my sovereign lord and yours, who is one of the best princes on the face of the earth, who has always treated me so well that better could not be, wherefore I submit to death with good will, humbly asking pardon of the world. If any person will meddle with my cause, I require them to judge the best. Thus, I take my leave of the world, and of you, and I heartily desire you all to pray for me."
I'd say that was quite a speech. How could anyone think her evil and malicious after such a speech? I do not know. Anne was a martyr. She was a pawn in many greedy plots by power-hungry fools. Anne's father was one such fool. He ordered Mary to become mistress to the king of France, and later to the King of England. He tried to do the same to Anne.
Lets not forget that she produced the famous Queen Elizabeth, one of the most renowned political leaders in the world. Elizabeth herself commended Anne, and proclaimed a love for her. Anne was hated simply because she had a mind of her own. I do not find such a characteristic a fault, but rather a marvel.