Katherine of Aragon

Defiant and resentful, as inferred through Wolsey’s account. She is portrayed as a fighter, unwilling to accept blame or back down from her position, even in the face of the king’s obsession with securing an annulment.

Indirectly portrayed as bitter and accusatory, blaming Wolsey for her marital troubles while demonstrating her resilience and fighting spirit.

Resentful and defiant, blaming Wolsey for the king’s dissatisfaction and refusing to accept the annulment. She is portrayed as a strong and determined figure who will fight to maintain her position as queen.

Defiant and resolute, standing firm against the King’s attempts to annul their marriage. Her emotional state is inferred through the context of her role in the marital crisis and her unwavering faith.

Desperate defiance masking deep vulnerability—her plea is both a sword and a shield, but the court’s reaction reveals the precariousness of her moral high ground.

N/A (not physically present, but her emotional state is inferred as one of steadfast resistance and defiance in the face of Anne’s ambitions).

Defiant and fearful, masking deep anger and disgust at Cromwell’s rise and the king’s betrayal. Her emotional state is a volatile mix of maternal protectiveness, regal dignity, and desperation as she realizes the precariousness of her position.

Unseen but implied to be distressed and defiant. Her emotional state is one of quiet resilience, as she faces the court’s efforts to separate her from her daughter and undermine her position.

Absent but ridiculed, her presence in the conversation serves as a target for Anne’s cruelty and a reminder of the court’s shifting loyalties and the cost of political failure.

Not directly observable, but implied to be defiant and unyielding in her resistance to Anne’s rise, fueling Anne’s desire to see her humiliated.

Not directly observable, but implied to be a mix of defiance and despair—her legal claims are buried, her marriage annulled, and her future uncertain in the face of Cromwell’s reforms.

Not applicable (off-screen), but her spectral presence is one of resentment, judgment, and lingering power—Henry’s fear of her suggests she is neither forgotten nor forgiven.

Inferred as a source of deep resentment and guilt for Henry. Her spectral presence embodies his failures—his inability to secure a male heir, his break with the Catholic Church, and his betrayal of his first wife. She is both a curse and a reminder of his past.

A complex blend of pained defiance and calculated manipulation. She is acutely aware of her fading power but uses every word and gesture to assert her moral and political authority, even as she tests Cromwell’s allegiances.

A complex blend of defiance and vulnerability, with flashes of warmth and pity that underscore her humanity even in the face of political betrayal. Her rage is under magnificent control, but her grief and love for Mary are palpable.

Not directly observable, but inferred as defiant and unyielding, even in death, as Henry’s bitterness suggests.

Absent but potent; her death is framed as an inevitability that will clear the way for new alliances, yet her legacy and influence still weigh heavily on the court’s politics.

Not directly observable, but her symbolic role is one of fading influence and moral defiance. Her impending death is treated as a pragmatic opportunity by Cromwell, though her legacy as a figure of resistance remains.

Peaceful in death, yet her absence radiates a profound sense of loss and the weight of what she represented—faith, legitimacy, and resistance. Her death is a quiet but devastating blow to the old order.

Longing and defiant, even in death. Her emotional state is one of spectral devotion, her vow a stark contrast to Henry’s callous dismissal of her legacy. She embodies the moral weight of the court’s actions, her presence a ghostly rebuke to those who seek to erase her.

Devoted and sorrowful, her voice-over conveys a deep sense of betrayal and longing. Even in death, her words serve as a moral rebuke to Henry’s callousness and the court’s complicity in her downfall.

Nostalgic and defiant, her vow serving as a final act of devotion and resistance, even in death.

Absent yet profoundly mourned; her death is a catalyst for grief, political tension, and reflection on the fragility of life and power.

Absent but profoundly felt—her death is a source of grief for Chapuys and a weapon in Cromwell’s psychological arsenal. Her legacy is both a moral compass and a political liability.

Katherine’s absence is felt as a void, filled with the grief of Chapuys and the guilt (or indifference) of Cromwell. Her death is a catalyst for the tension in the scene, and her memory serves as a moral counterpoint to the political machinations unfolding.

Absent but deeply felt—her death has left a void of moral authority that both men grapple with. For Chapuys, she is a source of grief and righteous indignation, her treatment a personal and political betrayal. For Cromwell, she is a complicated symbol: her memory is a liability (as evidenced by the rumors of his involvement in her death) but also a tool (the rose is a prop he uses to assert control over the conversation). Her emotional weight in the scene is tragic and destabilizing, a reminder of the human cost of the game they are playing.

N/A (posthumous presence). Her memory evokes grief, moral outrage, and a sense of lost legitimacy in Chapuys, while serving as a political weapon in Cromwell’s hands.