This article discusses "The Lady of May" with a summary and analysis of its content, as well as a discussion of the outside forces that affected "The Lady of May." The queen is a main staple of this article because the play was written for her, she is a character in the play itself, and the play was performed for her. Elizabeth is the most important part of "The Lady of May." Numerous speculations concerning the possible meanings of her inclusion in the play are explored. .
Therion and Espilus could be symbolic of two ways of ruling. Elizabeth could be passive, like Espilus, or aggressive like Therion. The political arena outside the play, particularly in the Netherlands, indicates a possible meaning for these characters. The Netherlanders are trying to overthrow their monarch, and Elizabeth is persuaded to take action. She does not want to aggressively involve herself in reality, and Sidney is well aware of her choice, as indicated by the Lady of May's choice of Espilus as the proper suitor. Elizabeth eventually did take action concerning the Netherlands, and this play could have been one of the forces that swayed her decision.
Sidney perhaps wrote the play because of his own personal political agenda. He wanted a reputation as competent and educated, which are the proper qualities required for men who work for Elizabeth. The play did not act as force enough to persuade Elizabeth to hire Sidney. While a playwright or any writer who showed a lot of wit was esteemed, it was not enough. .
There is speculation that "The Lady of May" cleverly includes, intertwined into the masque's ability to mask the real inspiration of the text from onlookers, an inclusion of Elizabeth's romantic involvements. She was angry when she secretly discovered the marriage of the Duke of Leicester. "The Lady of May" explicitly describes the conflict of finding an appropriate husband for a young lady. The masque form is perfect to hide elements of the plot that are such a sensitive spot for any audience members, particularly Elizabeth.
