Scepticism and belief in English witchcraft drama, 1538–1681
This book situates witchcraft drama within its cultural and intellectual context, highlighting the centrality of scepticism and belief in witchcraft to the genre. It is argued that these categories are most fruitfully understood not as static and mutually exclusive positions within the debate around...
Αποθηκεύτηκε σε:
| Κύριος συγγραφέας: | |
|---|---|
| Μορφή: | Online |
| Γλώσσα: | Αγγλικά |
| Έκδοση: |
Lund University Press
2021
|
| Θέματα: | |
| Διαθέσιμο Online: | 1004365 |
| Ετικέτες: |
Δεν υπάρχουν, Καταχωρήστε ετικέτα πρώτοι!
|
| _version_ | 1869519178417831936 |
|---|---|
| author | Pudney, Eric |
| author_browse | Pudney, Eric |
| author_facet | Pudney, Eric |
| author_sort | Pudney, Eric |
| collection | Directory of Open Access Books |
| description | This book situates witchcraft drama within its cultural and intellectual context, highlighting the centrality of scepticism and belief in witchcraft to the genre. It is argued that these categories are most fruitfully understood not as static and mutually exclusive positions within the debate around witchcraft, but as rhetorical tools used within it. In drama, too, scepticism and belief are vital issues. The psychology of the witch character is characterised by a combination of impious scepticism towards God and credulous belief in the tricks of the witch’s master, the devil. Plays which present plausible depictions of witches typically use scepticism as a support: the witch’s power is subject to important limitations which make it easier to believe. Plays that take witchcraft less seriously present witches with unrestrained power, an excess of belief which ultimately induces scepticism. But scepticism towards witchcraft can become a veneer of rationality concealing other beliefs that pass without sceptical examination. The theatrical representation of witchcraft powerfully demonstrates its uncertain status as a historical and intellectual phenomenon; belief and scepticism in witchcraft drama are always found together, in creative tension with one another. |
| format | Online |
| id | doab-20.500.12854ir-34971 |
| institution | Directory of Open Access Books |
| language | eng |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publishDateRange | 2021 |
| publishDateSort | 2021 |
| publisher | Lund University Press |
| publisherStr | Lund University Press |
| record_format | ojs |
| spelling | doab-20.500.12854ir-349712025-01-25T13:20:33Z Scepticism and belief in English witchcraft drama, 1538–1681 Pudney, Eric witchcraft demonology scepticism belief magic The Witch of Edmonton The Late Lancashire Witches The Lancashire Witches Macbeth Dr Faustus thema EDItEUR::D Biography, Literature and Literary studies::DS Literature: history and criticism::DSG Literary studies: plays and playwrights thema EDItEUR::N History and Archaeology thema EDItEUR::3 Time period qualifiers::3M c 1500 onwards to present day This book situates witchcraft drama within its cultural and intellectual context, highlighting the centrality of scepticism and belief in witchcraft to the genre. It is argued that these categories are most fruitfully understood not as static and mutually exclusive positions within the debate around witchcraft, but as rhetorical tools used within it. In drama, too, scepticism and belief are vital issues. The psychology of the witch character is characterised by a combination of impious scepticism towards God and credulous belief in the tricks of the witch’s master, the devil. Plays which present plausible depictions of witches typically use scepticism as a support: the witch’s power is subject to important limitations which make it easier to believe. Plays that take witchcraft less seriously present witches with unrestrained power, an excess of belief which ultimately induces scepticism. But scepticism towards witchcraft can become a veneer of rationality concealing other beliefs that pass without sceptical examination. The theatrical representation of witchcraft powerfully demonstrates its uncertain status as a historical and intellectual phenomenon; belief and scepticism in witchcraft drama are always found together, in creative tension with one another. 2021-02-10T12:58:18Z 2019-03-20 14:39:48 2020-04-01T10:47:29Z 2019 book 1004365 OCN: 1100490919 http://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/25722 https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/34971 eng open access image/jpeg image/jpeg image/jpeg image/jpeg n/a n/a n/a n/a https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/25722/1/9789198376876_fullhl.pdf https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/25722/1/9789198376876_fullhl.pdf https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/25722/1/9789198376876_fullhl.pdf https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/25722/1/9789198376876_fullhl.pdf Lund University Press dd95227d-5742-4444-a491-ca17fb8fea89 360 Lund open access |
| spellingShingle | witchcraft demonology scepticism belief magic The Witch of Edmonton The Late Lancashire Witches The Lancashire Witches Macbeth Dr Faustus thema EDItEUR::D Biography, Literature and Literary studies::DS Literature: history and criticism::DSG Literary studies: plays and playwrights thema EDItEUR::N History and Archaeology thema EDItEUR::3 Time period qualifiers::3M c 1500 onwards to present day Pudney, Eric Scepticism and belief in English witchcraft drama, 1538–1681 |
| title | Scepticism and belief in English witchcraft drama, 1538–1681 |
| title_full | Scepticism and belief in English witchcraft drama, 1538–1681 |
| title_fullStr | Scepticism and belief in English witchcraft drama, 1538–1681 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Scepticism and belief in English witchcraft drama, 1538–1681 |
| title_short | Scepticism and belief in English witchcraft drama, 1538–1681 |
| title_sort | scepticism and belief in english witchcraft drama 1538 1681 |
| topic | witchcraft demonology scepticism belief magic The Witch of Edmonton The Late Lancashire Witches The Lancashire Witches Macbeth Dr Faustus thema EDItEUR::D Biography, Literature and Literary studies::DS Literature: history and criticism::DSG Literary studies: plays and playwrights thema EDItEUR::N History and Archaeology thema EDItEUR::3 Time period qualifiers::3M c 1500 onwards to present day |
| topic_facet | witchcraft demonology scepticism belief magic The Witch of Edmonton The Late Lancashire Witches The Lancashire Witches Macbeth Dr Faustus thema EDItEUR::D Biography, Literature and Literary studies::DS Literature: history and criticism::DSG Literary studies: plays and playwrights thema EDItEUR::N History and Archaeology thema EDItEUR::3 Time period qualifiers::3M c 1500 onwards to present day |
| url | 1004365 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pudneyeric scepticismandbeliefinenglishwitchcraftdrama15381681 |