Masculinity and Marian Efficacy in Shakespeare's England

207 Pages·2011·3.504 MB·English

by  Ruben Espinosa

Masculinity and
Marian Efficacy in
Shakespeare’s England
Ruben Espinosa
Masculinity and Marian Efficacy
in shakEspEarE’s England
Women and gender in the
Early Modern World
Series Editors:
allyson poska, the university of Mary Washington, usa
abby Zanger
the study of women and gender offers some of the most vital and innovative
challenges to current scholarship on the early modern period. now approaching
its tenth anniversary, “Women and gender in the Early Modern World” is an
established forum for presenting fresh ideas and original approaches to the field.
interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary in scope, this ashgate book series strives to
reach beyond geographical limitations to explore the experiences of early modern
women and the nature of gender in Europe, the americas, asia, and africa. We
welcome proposals for both single-author volumes and edited collections which
expand and develop this continually evolving field of study.
Titles in the series
English Women, religion, and textual production, 1500–1625
Edited by Micheline White
gender, sexuality, and Material Objects in English renaissance Verse
Pamela S. Hammons
Women’s Wealth and Women’s Writing in Early Modern England
Elizabeth Mazzola
Biblical Women’s Voices in Early Modern England
Michele Osherow
Widowhood and Visual culture in Early Modern Europe
Edited by Allison Levy
Masculinity and
Marian Efficacy in
shakespeare’s England
ruBEn EspinOsa
University of Texas at El Paso, USA
© ruben Espinosa 2011
all rights reserved. no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher.
ruben Espinosa has asserted his right under the copyright, designs and patents act, 1988,
to be identified as the author of this work.
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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Espinosa, ruben.
Masculinity and Marian efficacy in Shakespeare’s England. – (Women and gender in the
early modern world)
1. shakespeare, William, 1564–1616 – criticism and interpretation. 2. Mary, Blessed
Virgin, saint – in literature. 3. Masculinity in literature. 4. English drama – Early
modern and Elizabethan, 1500–1600 – history and criticism. 5. English drama – 17th
century – history and criticism. 6. christianity and literature – England – history – 16th
century. 7. christianity and literature – England – history – 17th century.
i. title ii. series
822.3’3–dc22
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Espinosa, ruben, 1975–
Masculinity and Marian efficacy in Shakespeare’s England / by Ruben Espinosa.
p. cm. — (Women and gender in the early modern world)
includes index.
1. shakespeare, William, 1564–1616—criticism and interpretation. 2. shakespeare,
William, 1564–1616—religion. 3. Mary, Blessed Virgin, saint—in literature. 4. religion
in literature. 5. religion and literature—England—history—16th century. 6. religion and
literature—England—history—17th century. 7. religion in literature. i. title.
pr3011.E87 2011
822.3’3—dc22
2011000712
ISBN 9781409401162 (hbk)
ISBN 9781409401179 (ebk)
v
For Melissa, Sophia, and Marcello
This page has been left blank intentionally
contents
List of Figures ix
Acknowledgments xi
introduction: fracturing Mary: the rise and decline of the cult of the
Virgin Mary in England 1
1 “England, Mary’s dowry”: Joan la pucelle and the impotent
fellowships and imagined communities of 1 Henry VI 37
2 Marian intercession and intercessory promiscuity in
The Merchant of Venice and Measure for Measure 59
3 Virgins, Mothers, and the Virgin Mother in Hamlet, Othello,
and King Lear 91
4 Marian Miracles and the theatrical Wonder of Antony
and Cleopatra, Pericles, and The Winter’s Tale 149
Afterword 173
Works Cited 177
Index 189
This page has been left blank intentionally
list of figures
i.1 giovanni Bellini, Madonna and Child, c. 1480/85. Oil on panel.
samuel h. kress collection, 1939.1.352. image courtesy of the
Board of trustees, national gallery of art, Washington, d.c. 23
2.1 attributed to filippo Bellini, italian, c. 1550–1603. Virgin of
Mercy (Madonna della Misericordia), n.d. pen and black ink,
with brush and gray wash, heightened with lead white
(partially oxidized), on gray-blue paper, laid on ivory wove card.
the leonora hall gurley Memorial collection, 1922.919.
reproduction, the art institute of chicago. 62
2.2 Workshop of dieric Bouts, netherlandish, c. 1410–1475.
Mater Dolorosa (Sorrowing Virgin), 1480/1500. Oil on panel.
chester d. tripp fund; chester d. tripp Endowment;
through prior acquisition of Max and leola Epstein,
1986.998. reproduction, the art institute of chicago. 70
3.1 pisan, 14th century. The Virgin Annunciate, 1325/50. Wood,
polychromed and gilded. samuel h. kress collection, 1961.9.98.
image courtesy of the Board of trustees, national gallery
of art, Washington, d.c. 106
3.2 Workshop of rogier van der Weyden, netherlandish,
c. 1399–1464. Virgin and Child, c. 1460/65. Oil on panel.
Mr. and Mrs. Martin a. ryerson collection, 1933.1052.
reproduction, the art institute of chicago. 131
4.1 Workshop of Jacob cornelisz van Oostsanen, netherlandish,
1470/75 – by 1533. Virgin and St. John the Evangelist, c. 1510.
Oil on panel. Mr. and Mrs. Martin a. ryerson collection,
1937.1011. reproduction, the art institute of chicago. 165