Gender, theatre, and the origins of criticism from Dryden to Manley : from Dryden to Manley

In Gender, Theatre and the Origins of Criticism, which was originally published in 2003, Marcie Frank explores the theoretical and literary legacy of John Dryden to a number of prominent women writers of the time. Frank examines the pre-eminence of gender, sexuality and the theatre in Dryden's critical texts that are predominantly rewritings of the work of his own literary precursors - Ben Jonson, Shakespeare and Milton. She proposes that Dryden develops a native literary tradition that is passed on as an inheritance to his heirs - Aphra Behn, Catharine Trotter, and Delarivier Manley - as well as their male contemporaries. Frank describes the development of criticism in the transition from a court-sponsored theatrical culture to one oriented toward a consuming public, with very different attitudes to gender and sexuality. This study also sets out to trace the historical origins of certain aspects of current criticism - the practices of paraphrase, critical self-consciousness and performativity. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Dedication......Page 7 Contents......Page 9 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction. Th critical stage......Page 13 CHAPTER 1 "Equal to ourselves": John Dryden’s national literary history......Page 27 THE AGE......Page 32 THEATRICALIZED LITERARY HISTORY......Page 39 CLASSICIZING THE NATIVE LITERARY TRADITION......Page 44 CHAPTER 2 Staging criticism, staging Milton: John Dryden’s The State of Innocence......Page 54 STAGING MILTON......Page 56 CRITICAL IDENTIFICATION......Page 67 CHAPTER 3 Imitating Shakespeare: gender and criticism......Page 76 ALL FOR LOVE?: LOVING AND CRITICIZING SHAKESPEARE......Page 84 UNIVERSALIZING SHAKESPEARE AND ITS CRITICAL CONSEQUENCES......Page 96 CHAPTER 4 The female playwright and the city lady......Page 103 APHRA BEHN, THE CRITIC......Page 108 THE GENDER OF LITERARY GENEALOGY......Page 112 THE CITY LADY AS CRITIC......Page 115 CHAPTER 5 Scandals of a female nature......Page 128 MANLEY’S SATIRICAL CRITICISM......Page 130 MANLEY’S THEATRICAL CRITICISM......Page 133 MANLEY’S SCANDALOUS CRITICISM......Page 139 MANLEY AMONG THE MEN......Page 147 INTRODUCTION. THE CRITICAL STAGE......Page 152 1."EQUAL TO OURSELVES": JOHN DRYDEN’S NATIONAL LITERARY HISTORY......Page 156 2. STAGING CRITICISM, STAGING MILTON: JOHN DRYDEN’S THE STATE OF INNOCENCE......Page 160 3. IMITATING SHAKESPEARE: GENDER AND CRITICISM......Page 163 4. THE FEMALE PLAYWRIGHT AND THE CITY LADY......Page 166 5. SCANDALS OF A FEMALE NATURE......Page 171 Bibliography......Page 175 Index......Page 185 "In Gender, Theatre and the Origins of Criticism, Marcie Frank explores the theoretical and literary legacy of John Dryden to a number of prominent women writers of the time. Frank examines the pre-eminence of gender, sexuality and the theatre in Dryden's critical texts that are predominantly rewritings of the work of his own literary precursors - Ben Jonson, Shakespeare and Milton. She proposes that Dryden develops a native literary tradition that is passed on as an inheritance to his heirs - Aphra Behn, Catharine Trotter, and Delarivier Manley - as well as their male contemporaries. Frank describes the development of criticism in the transition from a court-sponsored theatrical culture to one oriented towards a consuming public, with very different attitudes to gender and sexuality. This study also sets out to trace the historical origins of certain aspects of current criticism - the practices of paraphrase, critical self-consciousness and performativity."--BOOK JACKET. Marcie Frank explores the theoretical and literary legacy of John Dryden to a number of prominent women writers of his time. Frank examines the pre-eminence of gender, sexuality and the theater in Dryden's critical texts that are predominantly rewritings of the work of his own literary precursors--Ben Jonson, Shakespeare and Milton. She proposes that Dryden develops a native literary tradition that is passed on as an inheritance to his heirs--Aphra Behn, Catharine Trotter, and Delarivier Manley--as well as to their male contemporaries. The Critical Stage -- Equal To Ourselves : John Dryden's National Literary History -- Staging Criticism, Staging Milton : John Dryden's The State Of Innocence -- Imitating Shakespeare : Gender And Criticism -- The Female Playwright And The City Lady -- Scandals Of A Female Nature. By Marcie Frank. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 163-172) And Index. This study explores the theoretical and literary legacy of Dryden to a number of prominent women writers of the time. Marcie Frank proposes that Dryden develops a native literary tradition that is passed on as an inheritance to his heirs - Aphra Behn, Catharine Trotter, and Delarivier Manley.