Gender and Heroism in Early Modern English Literature

This insightful book explores the evolution of heroism in early modern English literature, focusing on gender dynamics and the significance of endurance as a heroic trait.

In Gender and Heroism in Early Modern English Literature, Mary Beth Rose presents a compelling argument that challenges traditional notions of heroism during the late 16th to late 17th centuries. She posits that a more passive, feminine aspect of heroic identity began to emerge and gain prominence in English culture. While conventional heroism is often associated with public displays of masculinity—characterized by acts of bravery, adventure, and conquest—Rose suggests that for both men and women, true heroism began to be defined by the capacity to endure suffering and adversity with grace and patience.

Rose intricately weaves together various discourses of gender to illustrate how this heroics of endurance became the prevailing model of heroism. She delves into the lives and fates of heroes depicted in the works of iconic playwrights such as Shakespeare, Jonson, and Marlowe. Additionally, she examines the powerful public persona of Elizabeth I and the autobiographies of ordinary women who found themselves in the public eye due to civil conflict. Rose also explores the theme of seduction and the loss of agency in the context of heroism, as illustrated in the writings of Milton, Aphra Behn, and Mary Astell.

Ultimately, Gender and Heroism in Early Modern English Literature offers a nuanced critique of both the glorification of action-oriented heroism and the valorization of suffering. By highlighting the essential role of the feminine in shaping modern conceptions of heroism, Rose invites readers to reconsider the complexities of gender and identity in literary history.