Charismatic Authority in Early Modern English TragedyCharismatic groups form around a leader who displays extraordinary abilities in times of social distress and who is often thought to have supernatural or magical powers. Raphael Falco demonstrates that English tragedies are full of such figures, including Marlowe's Tamburlaine; Shakespeare's Richard II, Hamlet, and Othello; Milton's Samson; and the various dramatic representations of Cleopatra. Most charisma is at first revolutionary, challenging traditional or bureaucratic forms of authority. But sooner or later groups that depend on the pure or personal charisma of a central figure begin to change, even to break down. Tragedies often focus on this difficult process of charismatic transformation--a process, Falco argues, that is best understood not in terms of a single tragic figure but as a group experience. Charismatic Authority in Early Modern English Tragedy reassesses the force of group experience in tragedy by combining literary analysis with research in sociological theory, particularly the theories of Max Weber. Chapters address such manifestations of authority as pure charisma, lineage charisma, office charisma, and erotic charisma. This is a genuinely interdisciplinary critical study that will interest scholars of drama as well as critics attracted to sociological approaches to literature. |
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Page 93
... duke setting out from London toward foreign exile . " Our- self and Bushy , " he announces , Observ'd his courtship ... duke's " supple knee , " seems quietly awed by the way in which " he did seem to dive into their hearts / With humble ...
... duke setting out from London toward foreign exile . " Our- self and Bushy , " he announces , Observ'd his courtship ... duke's " supple knee , " seems quietly awed by the way in which " he did seem to dive into their hearts / With humble ...
Page 94
... duke only underscores the bond between Bolingbroke and his followers- " my countrymen , my lov- ing friends . " Bolingbroke's charismatic appeal to the common people need not be seen in opposition to his appeal to aristocrats . In the ...
... duke only underscores the bond between Bolingbroke and his followers- " my countrymen , my lov- ing friends . " Bolingbroke's charismatic appeal to the common people need not be seen in opposition to his appeal to aristocrats . In the ...
Page 98
... duke . Bolingbroke's return fulfills the salvationistic promise of the char- ismatic bond , satisfying his followers ' charisma hunger and instantly reorganizing the symbolic order around his charismatic mission . His followers , of ...
... duke . Bolingbroke's return fulfills the salvationistic promise of the char- ismatic bond , satisfying his followers ' charisma hunger and instantly reorganizing the symbolic order around his charismatic mission . His followers , of ...
Contents
Revolution to Routinization | 27 |
Charismas in Conflict | 65 |
THREE | 78 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
action Antony and Cleopatra Antony's asceticism becomes blood body natural body politic Bolingbroke bond Brabantio calls Cassio charis charisma hunger charismatic authority charismatic claim charismatic experience charismatic group charismatic leader charismatic movement charismatic status charismatic symbols chorus Claudius conflict Coriolanus Cosroe crown Danites deliverer Desdemona disruptive dissipative structure divine dynastic early modern emotional erotic charisma erotic sacrament eroticism extraordinary father followers force Geneva Bible gifts grace group function group ideal group members Hamlet honor Iago Iago's individual irrational ismatic Israelite judge king kingship Laertes leadership libidinal lineage charisma manipulation martial matic means metanoia mission mutuality myth Nazarite notion Othello's personal charisma Philistines play pure charisma rational recognize relationship revenge revolutionary Richard Richard II Roman routinization royal rulership sacred Samson scene seems sexual Shakespeare shared experience shofet social speech strength suggests supernatural Tamburlaine Tamburlainian Theridamas thou tion traditional tragedy tragic violence warrior Weber Zenocrate