How did Cardinal Wolsey die in Wolf Hall – and why is he in season 2?

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As a history enthusiast who has delved into the tales of Tudor England, I must say that the portrayal of Cardinal Wolsey in Wolf Hall is nothing short of captivating. The series masterfully depicts his tumultuous final years, where he was both mentor and rival to Thomas Cromwell, and a towering figure in the court of King Henry VIII.

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In a more conversational style, we could say: Although Cardinal Wolsey in Wolf Hall, played by Jonathan Pryce, doesn’t have much screen presence, his importance to the story is undeniable. The main storyline of the first season significantly centers around his tragic downfall.

The spiritual guide served as a kind of mentor to Thomas Cromwell, portrayed by Mark Rylance, and held immense power while enjoying King Henry VIII’s favor, but this dynamic shifted dramatically when the king’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon began deteriorating. (Joanne Whalley played Catherine of Aragon)

Over time, the king became resentful towards his first queen because she couldn’t bear him a son, and he began looking for a way out of their marriage so he could wed Anne Boleyn (portrayed by Claire Foy) instead.

In his latter days, Cardinal Wolsey was significantly shaped by the turmoil he instigated, ultimately ending up accused of treason before his demise.

Here’s what you need to know before watching Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light.

How did Cardinal Wolsey die?

Cardinal Wolsey died of an illness on the way back to London to face treason charges.

During the initial season of Wolf Hall, we witness Thomas Wolsey leaving London for Yorkshire, seeking refuge as he fears the king’s anger due to his failure to arrange a agreement with the Roman Catholic Church, which could have enabled the king to divorce.

Cromwell harbored a glimmer of optimism that the king might one day regain composure, but unfortunately, such a moment never materialized. Instead, messengers were dispatched to retrieve Wolsey from London, charged with treason – it seemed his fate was execution.

For quite some time, my overall health had been on a downward spiral. Being in my late fifties, I’d already outlived the typical lifespan of that era. When the moment came for my arrest, I was enduring some rather unpleasant physical ailments.

According to the Sheffield Tribune’s report, while traveling from Yorkshire to London, Cardinal Wolsey experienced intense bouts of diarrhea, and it turned black in color. Modern medical professionals hypothesize that this discoloration may have been due to internal bleeding within the stomach or small intestine.

On their journey toward London, Wolsey and his companions reached about halfway, eventually stopping at Leicester. Regrettably, the Cardinal fell victim to his ailment there and was interred in an undecorated tomb.

As a devoted cinephile, I can’t help but empathize with the character of Thomas Cromwell from Hilary Mantel’s “Wolf Hall.” His mentor’s demise left an indelible impact on him, and in my mind, he took merciless retribution against those who underestimated the gravity of his loss.

In the first season, a stage production about King Henry VIII and his queen, Anne Boleyn, ridiculed the demise of Cardinal Wolsey, suggesting he’d be whisked off to hell immediately – a jest that I found incredibly disrespectful, being played out as it was in front of my eyes, as a movie enthusiast.

In time, as Henry’s marriage with Anne fell apart, the series portrays him falsely accusing both the queen and the actors in the play of infidelity, presumably due to their disregard towards the cardinal.

In this tale’s section, we find a creative, fictional portrayal based on Mantel’s vivid imagination. However, it is historically accurate that Cromwell remained faithful to Wolsey even as others chose to abandon him.

Why is Cardinal Wolsey in Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light?

Although Jonathan Pryce’s character, Cardinal Wolsey, died at the end of the first season of Wolf Hall, he does reappear in the later sequel, The Mirror and the Light.

I seem to materialize from the creative realm of Thomas Cromwell’s mind, providing perspectives on the ongoing events and doling out wise counsel – along with cautions – to my erstwhile protégé, as it were.

Since the initial season of Wolf Hall, it’s clear that Pryce has been quite occupied. He’s garnered an Academy Award nomination for his role in The Two Popes, and he’s also become a part of the distinguished casts in hit dramas like The Crown, Slow Horses, and The 3-Body Problem.

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2024-11-10 20:34