Literature, gender, and politics during the English Civil War

In this innovative study, first published in 2005, Diane Purkiss illuminates the role of gender in the English Civil War by focusing on ideas of masculinity, rather than on the role of women, which has hitherto received more attention. Historians have tended to emphasise a model of human action in the Civil War based on the idea of the human self as rational animal. Purkiss reveals the irrational ideological forces governing the way seventeenth-century writers understood the state, the monarchy, the battlefield and the epic hero in relation to contested contemporary ideas of masculinity. She analyses the writings of Marvell, Waller, Herrick and the Caroline elegists, as well as in newsbooks and pamphlets, and pays particular attention to Milton's complex responses to the dilemmas of male identity. This study will appeal to scholars of seventeenth-century literature as well as those working in intellectual history and the history of gender. Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 3 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 Acknowledgements......Page 8 Introduction......Page 9 chapter 1 Dismembering and remembering: the English Civil War and male identity......Page 40 chapter 2 Republican politics......Page 60 chapter 3 Opening the king’s cabinet......Page 79 chapter 4 Charles I......Page 106 chapter 5 Cromwell......Page 139 chapter 6 Monsters and men......Page 171 chapter 7 Milton and monsters......Page 194 chapter 8 Matthew Hopkins and the panic about witches......Page 218 Conclusion......Page 237 INTRODUCTION......Page 244 DISMEMBERING AND REMEMBERING: THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR AND MALE IDENTITY ......Page 247 REPUBLICAN POLITICS......Page 251 OPENING THE KING’S CABINET......Page 259 CHARLES I......Page 263 CROMWELL......Page 270 MONSTERS AND MEN......Page 276 MILTON AND MONSTERS......Page 284 MATTHEW HOPKINS AND THE PANIC ABOUT WITCHES......Page 288 CONCLUSION......Page 295 Index......Page 297 Diane Purkiss Illuminates The Role Of Gender In The English Civil War By Focusing On Ideas Of Masculinity, Rather Than On The Role Of Women, Which Has Hitherto Received More Attention. She Analyses Representations Of Masculinity In The Writings Of Marvell, Waller And Herrick, As Well As In Newsbooks And Pamphlets, And Pays Particular Attention To Milton's Complex Responses To The Dilemmas Of Male Identity. This Study Will Appeal To Scholars Of Seventeenth-century Literature As Well As Those Working In Intellectual History And The History Of Gender.--jacket. Dismembering And Remembering: The English Civil War And Male Identity -- Republican Politics -- Opening The King's Cabinet -- Charles I -- Cromwell -- Monsters And Men -- Milton And Monsters -- Matthew Hopkins And The Panic About Witches. Diane Purkiss. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 236-288) And Index. Diane Purkiss illuminates the role of gender in the English Civil War by analysing representations of masculinity in the writings of Milton, Marvell, Waller and Herrick. This study will appeal to scholars of seventeenth-century literature as well as those working in intellectual history and the history of gender.