Queen Elizabeth's overall purpose in her response to Parliament's request that she marry was to persuade members of Parliament that a queen does not need to marry in order to effectively rule. She used rhetorical strategies to evade the request, emphasizing her position and the public good rather than yielding to pressure to marry or name a successor. Elizabeth sought to maintain her authority and independence while reassuring Parliament without committing to marriage or an heir, thus persuading them to accept her choices as sovereign.