Apocalypse and anti-Catholicism in seventeenth-century English drama

This Book Examines The Many And Varied Uses Of Apocalyptic And Anti-catholic Language In Seventeenth-century English Drama. Adrian Streete Argues That This Rhetoric Is Not Simply An Expression Of Religious Bigotry, Nor Is It Only Deployed At Moments Of Political Crisis. Rather, It Is An Adaptable And Flexible Language With National And International Implications. It Offers A Measure Of Cohesion And Order In A Volatile Century. By Rethinking The Relationship Between Theatre, Theology And Polemic, Streete Shows How Playwrights Exploited These Connections For A Diverse Range Of Political Ends. Chapters Focus On Playwrights Like Marston, Middleton, Massinger, Shirley, Dryden And Lee, And On A Range Of Topics Including Imperialism, Reason Of State, Commerce, Prostitution, Resistance, Prophecy, Church Reform And Liberty. Drawing On Important Recent Work In Religious And Political History, This Is A Major Re-interpretation Of How And Why Religious Ideas Are Debated In The Early Modern Theatre. Adrian Streete, University Of Glasgow. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Title page......Page 5 Copyright information......Page 6 Dedication......Page 7 Table of contents......Page 9 Acknowledgements......Page 10 Note on Texts and Terminology......Page 13 Introduction......Page 15 I......Page 16 II......Page 30 III......Page 37 I......Page 38 II......Page 55 III......Page 71 I......Page 73 II......Page 74 III......Page 95 I......Page 108 II......Page 112 III......Page 120 I......Page 136 II......Page 139 III......Page 155 IV......Page 159 V......Page 177 I......Page 178 II......Page 180 III......Page 191 IV......Page 198 I......Page 213 II......Page 217 III......Page 234 Conclusion: Drama and the Legacies of Anti-Catholicism......Page 254 II......Page 270 Primary Sources......Page 275 Secondary Sources......Page 284 Index......Page 293 Streete studies the political uses of apocalyptic and anti-Catholic rhetoric in a wide range of seventeenth-century English drama, focusing on the plays of Marston, Middleton, Massinger, and Dryden. Drawing on recent work in religious and political history, he rethinks how religion is debated in the early modern theatre. This book studies the varied political uses of apocalyptic and anti-Catholic rhetoric in a wide range of seventeenth-century English drama