Female authorship in the 17th century England at the example of Margaret Cavendish

Term Paper , 2010 , 17 Pages , Grade: 1,3

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

Contents

Introduction

1 The 17th Century Britain
1.1 Political Background
1.2 Population and Religion
1.3 Literature and Theatre

2 Female Authorship
2.1 Situation of Women
2.2 Writing and Publishing as a Woman

3 Margaret Cavendish
3.1 Biography
3.2 Life and Work as a Writer
3.3 Cavendish’s Natural Philosophy
3.4 The Atomic Poems

Summary

Bibliography

Introduction

The present paper deals with the topic oft female authorship in the literary world of the seventeenth-century England and puts the emphasis on an exceptional and prolific female writer: Margaret Cavendish.

This works is divided into three main parts. The first section serves as an introduction to the main topic and provides the reader with background information about the political, social, religious and literary situation during that time. It presents a review of the tumultuous succession of the English throne, the rising Puritan movement throughout the century and the development of English theatre after the era of the Elizabethan Stage at the end of the sixteenth century.
The second part describes women’s role in the patriarchal society of the seventeenth century and the difficulties of their every-day life. It also points out the obstacles and difficulties women encountered when trying to enter the male-dominated literary world and names Aphra Behn and Katherine Philips as two women, who, nevertheless, established themselves as successful female writers.

Finally, the third and last part of this paper is dedicated to the prolific writer Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle. It contains an overview of her life and work and especially examines her as the first woman to publish her own natural philosophy, for which she was criticized by many of her contemporaries.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• The 17th Century Britain
  • Political Background
  • Population and Religion
  • Literature and Theatre
• Female Authorship
  • Situation of Women
  • Writing and Publishing as a Woman
• Margaret Cavendish
  • Biography
  • Life and Work as a Writer
  • Cavendish's Natural Philosophy
  • The Atomic Poems

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper explores the complex and challenging world of female authorship in 17th century England, focusing on the remarkable figure of Margaret Cavendish. It examines the political, social, and religious contexts that shaped the lives and opportunities of women writers, while highlighting the unique challenges they faced in a male-dominated literary world.

• The political, social, and religious context of 17th century England.
• The limitations and challenges faced by women writers in a patriarchal society.
• The life and work of Margaret Cavendish, a prominent female writer of the period.
• The significance of Cavendish's contributions to natural philosophy.
• The impact of Cavendish's writing on the literary landscape of 17th century England.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first chapter provides a comprehensive overview of 17th century England, covering the turbulent political landscape, including the succession of the English throne, the rise of Puritanism, and the evolution of English theatre. The chapter also examines the demographic shifts and social changes of the period, highlighting the influence of religion and the challenges faced by women in a patriarchal society.

The second chapter delves into the specific challenges women writers faced in the 17th century, exploring the limitations imposed by their gender and societal expectations. This chapter analyzes the societal context that shaped women's roles and their ability to participate in public life, including writing and publishing.

The third chapter focuses on the remarkable life and work of Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle. It provides a detailed biography and analyzes her contributions to literature and natural philosophy, exploring her unique perspective and her groundbreaking work as a female writer in a male-dominated field.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

Female authorship, 17th century England, Margaret Cavendish, natural philosophy, patriarchal society, women's rights, literary history, social context, political context, religious context.

• College: University of Leipzig (Institut für Anglistik)
• Course: Culture and Literature of 17th century England
• Grade: 1,3
• Author: Luise Ihlo (Author)
• Publication Year: 2010
• Pages: 17
• Catalog Number: V144588
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640556113
• ISBN (Book): 9783640556489
• Language: English
• Tags: female authorship, 17th century England, Margaret Cavendish, British female Writers, Female Writers, Women in 17th Century England