Theme and message

The main theme explored in “Royal Bodies” by Hilary Mantel is that of appearances. Mantel’s speech focuses on the concept of monarchy – mostly on royal women. Her message is that the monarchy is constructed in such a way that the public tends to see royals as superior and untouchable - as well-dressed mannequins to be stared at and analysed - not as normal people like everyone else.

Appearances

Although Mantel’s speech was seen as a critique of the British royal family, it is also an analysis of the way in which royals (mostly women) have presented themselves throughout the ages. Her examination begins with Marie Antoinette (the last queen of France), continues with Queen Elizabeth II, and ends with Lady Diana and Kate Middleton. All four women are analysed from the perspective of appearances and the way they have shaped by the office of the monarchy.

The premise of Mantel’s speech is that the royal women are perceived as royal bodies that are created especially to be admired and looked at. In the case of Marie Antoinette, people only looked at her clothes and her fashion choices:

Marie Antoinette was a woman eaten alive by her frocks (…) She was a woman who couldn’t win. If she wore fine fabrics she was said to be extravagant. If she wore simple fabrics, she was accused of plotting to ruin the Lyon silk trade. But in truth she was all body and no soul… (ll. 29-38)

Another woman who was admired and looked at by the public was Queen Elizabeth II. When she talks about an event where she saw the queen, Mantel explains that people only looked at her appearance, and refused to see that there was a real woman below the surface, and that they consequently chose to avoid talking to her:

The queen walked through the reception areas at an even pace, hoping to meet someone, and you would see a set of guests, as if swept by the tide, parting before her or welling ahead of her into the next room. They acted as if they feared excruciating embarrassment should they be caught and obliged to converse. (ll. 172-179)

Then, Mantel focuses on Lady Diana, whom she believes “was capable of transforming herself from galumphing schoolgirl to ice queen, from wraith...