Tudor England Research Articles

The King's Felons: Church, State, and Criminal Confinement in Early Tudor England by Margaret McGlynn (review)

The King's Felons: Church, State, and Criminal Confinement in Early Tudor England by Margaret McGlynn (review)

Conjurations and Eleanor Cobham in Tudor History, Poetry, and Drama

Conjurations and Eleanor Cobham in Tudor History, Poetry, and Drama

The Impact of the French Revolution to the Great Reform Act

This study delves into the intricate relationship between the French Revolution and the Reform Act of 1832, exploring how revolutionary ideals of liberty and equality, evolving class dynamics, and shifting socio-political contexts shaped political reform in early 19th-century Britain. The passage focuses on two main questions. Firstly, on an ideological level, how did the shock of the French Revolution impact the attitudes of various political powers in the UK towards democratic reforms? Secondly, how did the French Revolution influence the attitudes of different social classes in the UK? By examining the attitudes of different social classes, contentious debates over voting procedures, and various forces for change, this research illuminates the multifaceted impact of the French Revolution on Britain's path to reform.

Polysemous Tradition as a Common Basis for Ideological Resistance in Windsor Forest and The Communist Manifesto

This paper delves into the nuanced use of tradition as a foundation for ideological resistance in Alexander Pope’s “Windsor Forest” and Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels’ “The Communist Manifesto.” Despite their divergent contexts—Pope’s text emerging from early 18th-century England and the Manifesto from mid-19th-century industrializing Europe—both works leverage historical and literary traditions to critique and resist dominant ideologies of their times. “Windsor Forest” subtly confronts ideologies of Protestant ascendancy and anti-Catholic sentiment prevalent in England following the Glorious Revolution of 1688, promoting peace and the unity of Great Britain under Queen Anne’s Stuart monarchy as alternatives to war and division. Through literary devices such as allegory and panegyric, Pope employs tradition not only to question the contemporary political and social landscape but to posit the Stuart dynasty as a symbol of national prosperity and harmony. Contrastingly, “The Communist Manifesto” openly challenges the capitalist ideology that Marx and Engels argue perpetuates class struggle and exploitation of the proletariat. The Manifesto calls for a revolutionary overhaul of the social order, drawing on traditions of socialist thought and the historical precedent of class struggle to justify its radical aims. Despite its revolutionary stance, the Manifesto similarly relies on the manipulation of tradition—both embracing and rejecting it—to articulate a vision of communist society. Both texts, therefore, are situated at the intersection of literary expression and ideological conflict, illustrating how tradition can serve as a versatile tool in the articulation of resistance. Whether through the invocation of historical continuity and national identity in “Windsor Forest” or the revolutionary call to arms in “The Communist Manifesto,” tradition is employed to critique existing social and political orders. The abstract underscores the complexity of these texts’ engagement with tradition, highlighting their shared emphasis on the transformative potential of ideological resistance. This comparison illuminates the rich dialogues between literature and politics, demonstrating how textual analysis can reveal deeper insights into the mechanisms of ideological critique and resistance.

James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, and Punitive Child Loss in the Modern Bureaucratic State

The intense ambivalence of James Joyce’s references to Oscar Wilde throughout Joyce’s literary career poses a riddle to which scholars have proposed an array of answers. This article seeks the basis for Joyce’s simultaneous identification and disidentification with Wilde in the strata of painful affect that informs collective subjectivity in the modern nation-state. In late 19th century Britain, two nebulous new crimes, coined at the urging of the Social Purity movement—gross indecency, and custodial neglect—rendered families and communities newly vulnerable to punitive child loss. The enforcement of these new laws created conditions under which one might lose custody of one’s children based on a charge that could be brought by anyone, based on anything, or nothing. Gross indecency and child neglect were both ill-defined and highly stigmatizing. Both were difficult to defend against, while their most terrible consequences were often extra-judicial. In De Profundis, Oscar Wilde conveys the dehumanizing anguish of extra-judicial punishments that could be indiscriminately imposed on a new kind of moral criminal by depicting the loss of his children as a figurative crucifixion. This article charts accounts by social historians describing the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children’s early years in Dublin, and the organization’s impact on socially precarious families, alongside episodes from Joyce’s biography, and his literary reinventions of these episodes. Using passages from De Profundis that influenced Joyce’s writing, historical accounts of moral policing introduced by the Social Purity movement, and Joyce’s biographical materials, letters, and published writing, this article connects changing affect in Joyce’s childhood family to the intense aversion, outrage and empathy that color his recurrent allusions to what he termed Oscar Wilde’s ‘civil death.’

Love, Hate, and the Law in Tudor England: The Three Wives of Ralph Rishton, by L.R. Poos

Love, Hate, and the Law in Tudor England: The Three Wives of Ralph Rishton, by L.R. Poos

Using craniofacial fluctuating asymmetry to examine the effects of sex, socioeconomic status, and early life experiences on adult age at death in industrial England.

Historical evidence from 18th- and 19th-century England suggests that industrialization's impacts on health were largely negative, especially among marginalized groups. However, available documentary evidence is often biased toward adult men and rarely sheds light on the experiences of other members of the population, such as women and children. Craniofacial fluctuating asymmetry (FA) can serve as a proxy measurement of developmental instability and stress during development. This study examines the associations among age, sex, socioeconomic status (SES), and FA in skeletal samples from industrial-era England. The sample for this study comes from four industrial-era cemeteries from England (A.D. 1711-1857). Geometric morphometric analyses of three-dimensional landmark coordinate data were used to generate a measure of FA for each individual (Mahalanobis distance). A three-way ANOVA was used to evaluate the impacts of sex, SES, and FA scores on adult age at death (n = 168). Significant associations existed between age at death and SES (p = 0.004) and FA scores (p = 0.094). Comparisons of the estimated means indicated that age at death was consistently higher among high SES individuals and individuals with FA scores less than one standard deviation from the mean. This study supports findings from previous studies that have suggested that the differences in resource access and environmental buffering generated by socioeconomic inequality can impact longevity and patterns of mortality among socioeconomic status groups. Likewise, stress in early life-evinced by craniofacial fluctuating asymmetry-can influence observed patterns of longevity in adults decades later.

GALPIN, Lyndsay, Male Suicide and Masculinity in 19th-century Britain: Stories of Self-Destruction, Bloomsbury, Londres, 2022, 194 pp.

GALPIN, Lyndsay, Male Suicide and Masculinity in 19th-century Britain: Stories of Self-Destruction, Bloomsbury, Londres, 2022, 194 pp.

The Select Council of Philip I: A Spanish Institution in Tudor England, 1555–1558

Abstract Traditional interpretations of the reign of Philip and Mary in England and Ireland (1554–58) have tended to investigate this short-lived episode from a strongly Anglocentric perspective. Such an approach has often hindered interpretations of crucial aspects of the reign that have wider implications for the study of Britain, Spain and Europe in an increasingly globalised world. Philip’s creation of a new consultative body in 1555, the select council (consejo escogido), is a case in point. Conventionally viewed as a superfluous body that only worsened the alleged ungovernability of Mary’s privy council—from which, it was claimed, it was never truly separate—it has been assumed that the select council was allowed to function nominally for a while to sustain Philip’s ego. In fact, the creation of the select council responded to the deeply rooted conciliar traditions of Spain and England (based on Aristotelian notions of ‘political friendship’) and its actual level of activity disproves previous assumptions about its role and viability. The diplomatic negotiations undertaken by the English select councillors and their Spanish and Flemish counterparts place England firmly within the conciliar framework of the Spanish Monarchy and provide an invaluable window from which to explore the role of England as a fully integrated member of a composite monarchy extending from Naples and Oran to Lima and Mexico City.

Detective Fiction in Victorian England

This paper explores the origins and evolution of detective fiction, debunking the myth surrounding SherlockHolmes’ famous quote and highlighting his enduring popularity. It traces the genre’s inception back to Edgar Allan Poe’sThe Murders in the Rue Morgue in 1841 and underscores the societal and political changes in 18th and 19th centuryEngland that paved the way for its rise. With the growth of the middle class and the demand for accessible entertainment,periodicals emerged as a key medium for short stories, with detective fiction becoming a prominent genre. This paper alsoemphasizes how Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories achieved commercial success and influenced a generationof writers, while the public’s passionate response to his character’s temporary demise underscores the genre’s profoundimpact on readers and its enduring popularity.

Industry and Identity: The Migration Linkage between Economic and Cultural Change in 19th Century Britain

Industry and Identity: The Migration Linkage between Economic and Cultural Change in 19th Century Britain

Resistance and Reconciliation of Children in George Eliot’s Novels

In 19th century England, fathers were considered the owner of the family estate where they were to decide everything regarding their children, but the children did not always welcome these decisions. This study uncovers, with the help of comprehensive and interdisciplinary supporting literary, social, and historical resources about and from the 19th century, Eliot’s presentation of the resistance of these children, the conflicts they have with their fathers, and finds out if the resistance of these children is justifiable in the context of the period. It also explores how these children come back to reconcile with their fathers emotionally and physically. It is concluded that all these children are inclined to leave home because they have conflicts with their fathers; however, they have to return to their roots, and therefore also to their fathers and embrace them. It is George Eliot’s belief that she keeps her characters attached to the family.

Analysing Speech in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice based on Gender

Pride and Prejudice, a classic novel by Jane Austen, portrays the social and linguistic differences in the speech of men and women in 19th Century England. This paper attempts to explore how language is used as a tool for representation of gender identity, social standing and power dynamics within the characters in the novel. This exploration is done by closely examining conversations and interactions among characters. It studies the differences between the ways the male and female characters use language to navigate their relationships, assert power and deal with social expectations. The syntactic structures, the choice of words, politeness strategies and speech acts are examined to study the interplay between language and gender that Austen brings out in her famed novel. The speech patterns are also involved in studying the gendered expectations and the societal norms, and how they are affected by speech. The paper contributes to the deeper understanding of the use of language based on gender differences and sheds light on the complexities of gender performance and expressions within the Regency-era English society. It gives the readers an insight into the way the author’s portrayal of speech reflects the gender dynamics throughout the novel.

Transnational Catholicism in Tudor England: Mobility, Exile, & Counter-Reformation, 1530–1580 by Frederick E. Smith (review)

Transnational Catholicism in Tudor England: Mobility, Exile, & Counter-Reformation, 1530–1580 by Frederick E. Smith (review)

‘Is that not Titian?’ Echoes of Venice in George Frederic Watts’s Self-Portraits, between Self-Fashioning and Artistic Practice

The reception of Venetian Renaissance painters had a profound effect on the creation of a British tradition of painting and played an important role in the development of the portrait as a typically British genre. This is precisely what this article aims to explore, through the emblematic case of the self-portraits of Victorian artist George Frederic Watts. Many of the artist’s self-portraits, in fact, explicitly engage with the tradition of Venetian art, and do so in multiple ways. On the one hand, the artist models himself on the figure of Titian, playing with the pose, the gesture, and the physical resemblance with the old master. On the other hand, Watts also aims at mastering the secrets of Titian’s painting method, which he discovered through the reading of ancient painting treatises. Thus, the relationship with the Renaissance plays a double role here, as it shapes the public and private image of the artist, but it also affects his artistic practice, and the very materiality of his paintings. This paper will also contextualize Watts’s ‘venetianism’ with that of Frederic Leighton, mid-Victorian photography, and the decadent painter Charles Ricketts, drawing a broader picture of the fascination with Venetian art in late 19th-century England.

The Cloak and the Clog: Tudor Portraiture and Sir Thomas Wyatt's "Myne owne John Poyntz"

Abstract: This essay explores how the visual culture of the portrait in the early Tudor period, epitomized by Hans Holbein's work, informed and intensified the self-examination, pictorialism, and textual play of Sir Thomas Wyatt's "epistolary satire" to John Pointz, a fellow courtier. Specifically, I argue that Wyatt's ambivalent self-description in this overtly self-righteous poem reimagines the memento mori —a visual reminder of vulnerability and death, often incorporated in portraiture—to deliberately undermine his Stoic self-assertion and to rebuke the reader's credulity.

‘A knowledge easely taught, and quickly learned’: learning to sing in Byrd’s England

Abstract William Byrd published his famous eight ‘Reasons briefely set down by th’auctor, to perswade every one to learne to sing’ in his 1588 Psalmes, sonets and songs. The most important reason to learn to sing, according to Byrd, is that ‘it is a knowledge easely taught, and quickly learned, wher there is a good Master, and an apt Scoler’. The ‘knowledge’ of which Byrd speaks is not only the mechanics of singing but also, or perhaps chiefly, the musical knowledge necessary to sing: the rudiments of musical literacy. This article unpacks Byrd’s claims about music education in Tudor England, placing them in the context of print culture and educational practices. It first considers the options for music education available to different social classes and genders, then turns to close study of music theory treatises and other music educational texts printed in 16th-century England. I examine how these printed materials discussed their own role in the process of educating readers, and interrogate their prevailing claims that gaining musical literacy is ‘plain’ and ‘easie’, and possible ‘without any other help saving this booke’.

Challenging Patriarchal Dominance: Jessie Burton's The House of Fortune and the Female Protagonist's Quest for Autonomy

This study delved into the societal landscape of 18th-century England portrayed in Jessie Burton's novel, The House of Fortune. It explored the challenges faced by women in a male-dominated society by highlighting a determined 18-year-old woman's journey for autonomy. It employed radical feminist theory to critically evaluate the pervasive male dominance prevalent in that era and called for a comprehensive societal restructuring by eliminating men's superiority. This study used qualitative methods and textual analysis to explore the protagonist's encounters with patriarchal barriers and emphasized the necessity of self-empowerment strategies to counter such dominance. It advocated for women's proactive adoption of self-empowerment strategies to challenge patriarchal oppression effectively. Furthermore, it highlighted the protagonist's success in taking control of her destiny by defying societal norms and prioritizing personal values over societal expectations. This investigation significantly contributed to discussions on female empowerment by showcasing the protagonist's resilience and successful defiance of societal norms, ultimately seizing control over her destiny in an era characterized by patriarchal values. Through her struggles, she transcends societal norms, fulfilling her aspiration to marry for love rather than succumbing to financial motives. This study advocated for women's autonomy and underscored the importance of challenging and dismantling patriarchal systems for individual empowerment and societal advancement.

Dress Codes: Deciphering Gender and Fashion in Eighteenth-Century London Through Frances Burney's Evelina; or the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World (1778)

Fashion is regarded simply as a display of individual preference, while it offers deep perspectives on social standards, cultural shifts, and the identity construction. Clothing is a medium for reflecting and expressing complex social dynamics, norms, and changes in identity, particularly during significant cultural shifts. In 18th-century Britain, the fashion industry experienced considerable transformation, driven by increased consumerism, and this period revealed a critical relationship between gender roles in society and fashion trends. Women, usually portrayed as erratic and unpredictable, emerged as the most ardent fans of fashion, personifying its transient nature. This paper examines the intricate bond between fashion and gender roles in 18th century London by using Frances Burney's well-known work Evelina; or the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World (1778) as a primary reference. Fashion during this era was not merely a means of decoration; it was inextricably linked to the prevailing social norms and standards. By studying the clothing choices in Evelina (1778), this research aims to expose the rigorous gender conventions of the period and demonstrate fashion's critical role in upholding societal expectations. Essentially, this study goes beyond the physical layers of clothing to uncover the stringent gender conventions prevalent in 18th-century London. It reveals how fashion, typically considered superficial, is a pivotal factor in reflecting and forming societal standards and norms.

The problematisation of Romantic genius in Peter Ackroyd’s The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein

Peter Ackroyd’s novel The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein, as a postmodern intertextual novel, reimagines and rewrites Mary Shelley’s seminal novel Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus, by putting its titular character in the historical conditions in which Mary Shelley composed her narrative. It is proposed in the study that in Ackroyd’s novel, Victor Frankenstein is imagined as a Romantic genius figure who is inspired by the Romantic poets of the early 19th century Britain. This study aims to show how Ackroyd’s portrayal of Victor Frankenstein as a Romantic artist problematises the very concept of Romantic genius by exposing the shortcomings of genius figures and their lack of self-perception. The concept of genius is discussed by referencing to the Romantic tradition in the British literature and it is inspected how Ackroyd’s postmodern novel decentralises the genius figures, by depicting them as productions of a class-conscious society. It is discussed that these historical figures are socially constructed figures who, behind all their idolisations, are fallible human beings. The discussion is expanded by examining the postmodern inclinations of the text which recontextualises the Frankenstein myth. This article questions whether a historical narrative can be considered as valid in a postmodern era in which meaning perpetually multiplies.