Conscience in Early Modern English Literature

In the literature of the early modern conscience, conscience is explored through poetry, theology, and politics, resulting in a dynamic scene of salvation and subjectivity. Shakespeare, Spenser, Herbert, and Milton stage the inward experience of conscience, linked to Luther, Calvin, and English Reformation theology, and shape the public discourses of conscience in the toleration debates and the prose of Hobbes and Milton.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 230 pages
\n Publication date: 01 April 2021
\n Publisher: Cambridge University Press
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Conscience in Early Modern English Literature delves into the intricate interplay between poetry, theology, and politics during the early modern era. Following the Reformation, theologians sought to comprehend the functioning of the conscience, poets aimed to capture its essence, and revolutionaries sought to harness its power for political action. The outcome, as argued by Abraham Stoll, is a vibrant and influential scene of conscience in England, characterized by a rich blend of salvation energies and subjective experiences. This literary landscape played a significant role in the politics of the Civil War era. Stoll explores how Shakespeare, Spenser, Herbert, and Milton portray the internal journey of conscience, drawing connections between these poetic scenes and the theology of Luther, Calvin, and the English Reformation. He further demonstrates how these works shape public discourses of conscience, particularly in the context of the toleration debates among Levellers and in the prose of Hobbes and Milton. Throughout this exploration, Protestant subjectivity evolves towards the political subject of modern liberalism, marking a significant shift in the understanding and expression of conscience in early modern English literature.

\n Weight: 348g\n
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 16 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781108407823\n \n