The ghost of Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, remains one of history’s most fascinating figures. Her story of a world-changing romance, political intrigue, betrayal, and a tragic end, has preoccupied the public imagination for centuries.

In the season one finale of Paranormal Pajama Party, we’re taking a look at the stories surrounding Anne’s afterlife and the societal perceptions that have shaped her legacy.

The Tower of London’s dark history, largely built on its association with the Tudor dynasty, has made it one of the world’s most popular haunted locations, and Anne’s ghost has a lot to do with its enduring popularity.

Catch up: The Tower of London (Part 1)

As the scene of Anne Boleyn’s beheading, it makes some sense that she’s been seen roaming around the Tower, leading a spectral procession and carrying her head. But Anne’s ghost has been spotted pretty much anywhere she ever went in life because people really, really want to see Anne.

Victorians, Spiritualism, and Anne

The 19th century witnessed a surge in interest in Spiritualism, coinciding with a growing fascination with Tudor-era horror associated with the Tower. People were intrigued by communicating with spirits, especially those who had died in mysterious or tragic circumstances. Anne Boleyn’s execution, a historical injustice that has troubled people for nearly 500 years, became one of the focal points of this spiritual curiosity.

Anne Boleyn: more than a stereotype

One of the most intriguing aspects of Anne Boleyn’s posthumous legacy is the way she has been stereotyped and reduced to simplistic, often contradictory, archetypes.

In pop culture, Anne is often depicted as a temptress who used her beauty and charm to manipulate Henry and secure her position at court. This seductress narrative not only diminishes Anne’s intelligence, wit, and political acumen but also perpetuates harmful myths about women as inherently deceptive and manipulative.

Anne was a woman of substance, with interests and ambitions beyond mere courtly intrigue and romantic entanglements. Her relationship with Henry was fraught with political implications, religious tensions, and personal complexities that defy easy categorisation. Her story is a poignant reminder of the patriarchal biases that often overshadow the real lives and experiences of historical women.

A blank slate

The enduring popularity of Anne Boleyn’s ghost can be attributed, in part, to our collective desire to fill in the gaps in her story and make sense of her tragic fate. Because her personal papers were destroyed after her execution, her ambiguous legacy allows for various interpretations, ranging from feminist icon to political pawn. This flexibility has made her a versatile and enduring figure in literature, film, and folklore. She’s easy to identify with when you can assign her any identity you want.

Historical guilt

Sometimes it seems like we use ghosts as a way of dealing with unresolved historical guilt. Anne’s unjust execution and the societal prejudices she faced invite us to reflect on past injustices and consider their relevance in today’s world. Her story resonates with themes of power, gender dynamics, and the human capacity for empathy and cruelty. Maybe we see Anne so often because on some level, we want to apologise for what happened to her, and somehow make it right.

This episode – lucky number 13 – is the last of season one of Paranormal Pajama Party. The podcast is a one-woman show, and I need to take a few weeks off to research, write, record and edit season two. I’ve got some good ones for us that I’m pretty excited about.

Never fear – I’ll be back very soon with brand-new spine-tingling tales and critical discussion. In the meantime, if you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

Sources

• Places to walk inspired by myths and legends

• Erasing Anne Boleyn From History: The Badges and Emblems

• Under These Restless Skies: Erasing Anne Boleyn From History: The Portraits

• Under These Restless Skies: Erasing Anne Boleyn From History: The Documents

• Anne Boleyn | Tower of London | Historic Royal Palaces

• When Ghosts Come Knocking | Perspectives on History | AHA

• Why Henry VIII Orchestrated Every Detail of Anne Boleyn’s Execution | Smart News| Smithsonian Magazine

• The Ghost Of Anne Boleyn: What A Traveler Beheld At The Scaffold On Tower Hill (c. 1912)

• Anne Boleyn | Tower of London | Historic Royal Palaces

• Anne Boleyn – Wikipedia

• Tower of London – Wikipedia

• Tower Green – Wikipedia

• Botter, M. E. (2007, Nov 05). The ghosts come calling at the Tower of London. McClatchy – Tribune News Service.

• Russo, S. (2020). At the Border of Life and Death: The Ghost of Anne Boleyn. Parergon, 37(2), 125+.

• The 13 Ghosts Of The Tower Of London

• Clarke, J. (2000, Mar 12). IT’S GHOST STORIES GALORE AT THE TOWER OF LONDON: [CHICAGOLAND FINAL EDITION]. Chicago Tribune.

• Tower of London. (2001). In J. G. Melton (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology (5th ed., Vol. 2, p. 1579). Gale.