Abstract
This dissertation examines the proto-feminist elements within three pivotal Renaissance epics: Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, Torquato Tasso's Gerusalemme Liberata, and Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene. This study investigates the ways in which these epic poems portray female agency and power in contexts historically dominated by male authorship and readership.
Central to this analysis is the character of Angelica in Orlando Furioso, whose self awareness and manipulation of gendered expectations reveal Ariosto's subtle critique of societal norms. Similarly, the portrayals of Armida and Erminia in Gerusalemme Liberata offer insights into the complexities of female empowerment against the backdrop of crusader narratives. In contrast, the various representations of women in Spenser's The Faerie Queene reflect the poet's engagement with Elizabethan ideologies of queenship and virtue.
The project also delves into the historical and cultural conditions of early modern women and their access to literature, considering figures like Isabella d'Este to contextualise the readership of such texts. Additionally, it explores the implications of Machiavellian power dynamics, as they relate to gender constructs, and the consequent shaping of proto-feminist thought. The research extends to examine the influence of these texts on the creation of modern binary gender categorisations and the foundations of modern feminist thought.
By adopting a thematic rather than chronological structure, focusing on motifs of power, virginity, feminism, religion, and humanism the study facilitates a comparative 3 analysis that not only juxtaposes the Italian and English narratives but also situates them within the broader discourse of gender and literary studies. This approach allows for a nuanced understanding of how these epics contributed to and were reflective of the evolving concept of female agency during the Renaissance.
This dissertation underscores the enduring significance of these literary works, reinvigorating our understanding of their contribution to the development of feminist thought and enriching our appreciation of their role in the cultural and intellectual heritage of the Renaissance.
Central to this analysis is the character of Angelica in Orlando Furioso, whose self awareness and manipulation of gendered expectations reveal Ariosto's subtle critique of societal norms. Similarly, the portrayals of Armida and Erminia in Gerusalemme Liberata offer insights into the complexities of female empowerment against the backdrop of crusader narratives. In contrast, the various representations of women in Spenser's The Faerie Queene reflect the poet's engagement with Elizabethan ideologies of queenship and virtue.
The project also delves into the historical and cultural conditions of early modern women and their access to literature, considering figures like Isabella d'Este to contextualise the readership of such texts. Additionally, it explores the implications of Machiavellian power dynamics, as they relate to gender constructs, and the consequent shaping of proto-feminist thought. The research extends to examine the influence of these texts on the creation of modern binary gender categorisations and the foundations of modern feminist thought.
By adopting a thematic rather than chronological structure, focusing on motifs of power, virginity, feminism, religion, and humanism the study facilitates a comparative 3 analysis that not only juxtaposes the Italian and English narratives but also situates them within the broader discourse of gender and literary studies. This approach allows for a nuanced understanding of how these epics contributed to and were reflective of the evolving concept of female agency during the Renaissance.
This dissertation underscores the enduring significance of these literary works, reinvigorating our understanding of their contribution to the development of feminist thought and enriching our appreciation of their role in the cultural and intellectual heritage of the Renaissance.
| Original language | English |
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| Qualification | Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) |
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| Award date | 24 Jul 2025 |
| Place of Publication | Kingston upon Thames, U.K. |
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| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 24 Jul 2025 |