In Henry VIII, Shakespeare presents a monarchy in crisis.
Noblemen battle with Lord Chancellor Cardinal Wolsey, who taxes the
people to the point of rebellion. Witnesses whom Wolsey brings against
the Duke of Buckingham claim he is conspiring to take the throne, yet
Buckingham seems innocent as he goes to his death. Henry is also without a
male heir. After meeting the beautiful Anne Bullen, he says that he
suspects his current marriage to Katherine, with whom he has one
surviving daughter, is invalid. Katherine, meanwhile, glows with such
splendid integrity that actresses have long desired the role. She
advocates for the people, suspects the witnesses against Buckingham, and
eloquently defends her conduct as Henry’s wife.