Henry VIII Manipulation Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)

Quote #1

BUCKINGHAM
The devil speed him! No man's pie is freed
From his ambitious finger. What had he
To do in these fierce vanities? I wonder
That such a keech can with his very bulk
Take up the rays o' th' beneficial sun
And keep it from the Earth. (1.1.61-66)

Wolsey is soaking in the sun, which sounds really nice. Actually, the sun is a symbol for Henry, and Wolsey is stealing it all for himself. In fact, he's filling up with lumps of fat (keech), but no one knows it—except for Buckingham, of course. He's on to Wolsey's scheming ways.

Quote #2

ABERGAVENNY
I cannot tell
What heaven hath given him—let some graver eye
Pierce into that—but I can see his pride
Peep through each part of him. Whence has he that?
If not from hell... (1.1.77-81)

He can't figure Wolsey out, but Abergavenny isn't blind to the guy's overwhelming pride and ambition. His comment tells us that even if people can't understand Wolsey's ways, they get a bad vibe from the guy. So why can't the king see that? Why does Henry trust Wolsey in the beginning?

Quote #3

QUEEN KATHERINE
Of these exactions, yet the King our master,
Whose honor heaven shield from soil, even he
   escapes not
Language unmannerly—yea, such which breaks
The sides of loyalty and almost appears
In loud rebellion. (1.2.28-33)

Leave it to the queen to point out Wolsey's faults. She questions his actions here by commenting on the new tax the people are complaining about. Hmm… soon after this, Wolsey encourages Henry to dump Katherine. Yep, we think those two things are related.