When I entered this amazing place, no word of a lie, I almost cried. It was so beautiful. I thought I would never see such a place in my lifetime, and yet there I was. The endless high ceilings which left you gobsmacked. Then, I came to the central part of the Minster, and I came across this spectacular huge organ, and under this beautiful piece, there lie fifteen life size stone figures of English kings from the time of William the Conqueror to Henry VI. This was 394 years of time span, and when I counted how many kings there had been, all suffering different deaths, it was amazing. I stood in front of these stone figures for a long time, studying them, and knowing what became of them, and their influences over an infamous nation. I have spent most of my life studying these individuals, and to finally to see them in such order, in such fine detail, I was awstruck. Then I looked closely as I walked past each, and there were two figures that stood out for me personally, who have given me belief to what I want to pursue in my life.
They were both similar in many respects as they both led similar lives, and suffered the same fate in death. What I felt when I saw these two figures and all I felt was, pity. They were not expected to rule, they were not meant to. However, fate proved otherwise. The second figure was different…
I just saw this figure of a man, well not a man, a boy. I was in awe when I looked upon this stone figure of a king, who received so much controversy within and after his lifetime. Such innocence was shown on his face. He was unaware of what he might face. he did not know that he was to receive such responsibilty in his lifetime, and yet he did what he could.
The death he received, was unnecessary. The stresses of his occupation worsened him not only in his reign, but also, his personal life. In his first phase of his mental instability, the son he had long awaited for, he could not recognize.
As I’m standing in front of these fifteen, who had a chance to change the country to which they ruled, to which few managed to accomplish, there again, I stand in awe, amazed, asking myself, what if? What if these fifteen did this differently, then perhaps the outcome would be very different. However, their destiny and fate was already decided.
Guess I’m going to have to travel an extra 2 miles :P
Despite it being criticized for being too ‘Hollywood’ this has to be the best programme around. The actors have been incredible, and I’m surprised that this is the last season, which I believe that they should have called it ‘Henry VIII’ because I believe they should have stuck with it until Elizabeth I. Although come to think of it…it took 4 seasons to come to the start and end of Henry VIII’s reign, and Elizabeth I’ reign was a lot longer….
- April 7
- , 2011
