Ben Jonson's Theatrical Republics

This timely book challenges conventional critical wisdom about the work of Ben Jonson. Looking in particular at his Jacobean and Caroline plays, it explores his engagement with concepts of republicanism. Julie Sanders investigates notions of community in Jonson's stage worlds - his 'theatrical republics' - and reveals a Jonson to contrast with the traditional image of the writer as conservative, absolutist, misogynist, and essentially 'anti-theatrical'. The Jonson presented here is a positive celebrant of the social and political possibilities of theatre Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 10 Note on Editions Used......Page 12 1 Introduction......Page 14 Part I Republics - Fake and Genuine......Page 22 2 Roman Frames of Mind......Page 24 3 'Saying Something About Venice'......Page 47 Part II Theatrical Republics......Page 60 4 The Alternative Commonwealth of Women......Page 62 5 Republicanism and Theatre......Page 81 6 The Republic in the Fair......Page 102 Part III Theatrical Commonwealths and Communities......Page 118 7 The Commonwealth of Hell: The Devil is an Ass......Page 120 8 The Commonwealth of Paper: Print, News and The Staple of News......Page 136 9 Alternative Societies: The New Inn and the Late Plays......Page 157 10 Local Government and Personal Rule in A Tale of a Tub......Page 177 11 Conclusion: 'The End of [T]his Commonwealth Does Not Forget the Beginning'......Page 193 Notes......Page 201 Bibliography......Page 236 Index......Page 266