Anatomy of a Scandal season 1 – why did Holly Berry change her name to Kate Woodcroft?

In the meeting during the final episode of the series Anatomy of a Scandal, Kate Woodcroft finally admits to Sophie that she is, in fact, Holly Berry (not that one). She even digs at Sophie, asking if she will ask Holly again to keep doing her homework as she did at Oxford. She explained to Sophie that Kate is her middle name. And her last name, Woodcroft, was her ex-husband’s surname. She just kept it. This allowed her to freely move through the Queen’s Court circles without drawing suspicion during the rape court case of James Whitehouse. Kate changed her name, most likely, to feel protected from her rapist, James Whitehouse.

Anatomy of a Scandal season 1 – why did Holly Berry change her name to Kate Woodcroft?

Why Kate Woodcroft? There is a famous Woodcroft Castle built at the end of the 13th century near Cambridgeshire. Prevalent in the English Civil War, Jon Clare wrote a Woodcroft Castle poem that talked about its siege. If you look back at the series, Kate’s whole facade is a wall she put up to protect herself from being hurt. If you remember, she even took excessive pride in pointing out how she was “Kate Woodcroft” and struck the nameplate on her office door several times like it was not only a badge of honor but a point of protective armor.

There is also the last line in a poem by George MacDonald called “The Old Castle,” which some believe to be inspired by Woodcroft Caste and talked about the English Civil war. He writes, “Good boys and girls lost no more.” Initially, her last name could be symbolism of her strength in self-protection. For years no one knew where she was. She no longer has to run away for her name. She is now found since James was arrested for his part in Alec’s death.

Is she lost? Perhaps she is not anymore.

The question is: Will Kate being Holly Berry hurt the chances of a conviction of James Whitehouse?

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