Overview

Grieving women in early modern English drama, this study argues, recall not only those of Classical tragedy, but also, and more significantly, the lamenting women of medieval English drama, especially the Virgin Mary. Looking at the plays of Shakespeare, Kyd, and Webster, this book presents a new perspective on early modern drama grounded upon three original interrelated points. First, it explores how the motif of the mourning woman on the early modern stage embodies the cultural trauma of the Reformation in England. Second, the author here brings to light the extent to which the figures of early modern drama recall those of the recent medieval past. Finally, Goodland addresses how these representations embody actual mourning practices that were viewed as increasingly disturbing after the Reformation. Female Mourning and Tragedy in Medieval and Renaissance English Drama synthesizes and is relevant to several areas of recent scholarly interest, including the performance of gender, the history of emotion, studies of death and mourning, and the cultural trauma of the Reformation.

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9781138275638

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Reviews

'Her book is impressive not only in its breadth of coverage but in the tenacity with which its pursues its claims...Goodland's study is well worth reading...teaches us a great deal about the prevalence and significance of female mourning in pre- and post-Reformation drama.' Renaissance Quarterly '... compelling study... The strength of this book is its dedication to thinking across the medieval-early modern divide that structures English literary studies. Goodland's sustained interest in medieval drama is a welcome addition to current trend in thinking across the divide between pre- and early modern England... an informative and stimulating read for medievalists and Shakespeareans alike.' Journal of British Studies

Author Information

Katharine Goodland is Assistant Professor of English at the City University of New York's College of Staten Island, USA.

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