Transcript Tragedy of Mariam - Monmouth College

TRAGEDY OF MARIAM
BY MADDY, MISSY, & KELSEY
Thesis Statement: In Cary’s Mariam, typical gender roles and societal norms are
both challenged and adhered to, exemplifying the notion of otherness in the
struggle for power.
Links between Cary’s life and the play
• Cary’s
Marriage
and the play
• Acts of defiance
• Sad at his death
•Cruel mother
Milieu at Time of Mariam—Jacobean Era
Use of the closet drama
•
James I ascension & historical
time period of play (Beilin 137-8)
•
Cary as historian
•
Reasons for success of women
writers (Lewalski 795-8):
•
1. larger space for cultural activity
2. conflicting loyalties to men
3. Christianity’s insistence upon an
immediate relationship with God
and an emphasis on following
one’s conscience
4. a variety of female images
(literature, Anne of Denmark)
5. holding positions of power
http://en.wikipedia.org/wi
ki/File:James_VI_of_Scotla
nd_aged_20,_1586..jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Anne_of_Denm
ark-1605.jpg
A little background on the Religious
aspect….
Religion within the Play



Suggested that Mariam
is a Martyr.
Salome represents Eve.
“Mariam is as chaste,
loyal and naïve as
Salome is lustful,
inconstant, and
scheming”( Beilin 55)
The Roles and Representations of Women in the Play
Salome
Challenges gender
norms
-
Divorce (1.6.41370)
-Successful in getting
what she wants
-
-
Manipulative (4.7)
Does not mask her
speech
-
Why does she live and
Mariam die?
-
Mariam

Internal turmoil


Challenges gender
norms


Internalization of social
norms
Upholds Cary’s own
standard to “be and
seem” (4.3).
More rebellious and
subversive than Salome?
Mariam’s Last Words
“ Tell thou my lord thou saw’st me loose my breath
If guiltily, eternal be my death
By three days hence, if wishes could revive
I know himself would make me oft alive.
”
Significance of Mariam’s Death
Refusal of Mariam to tarnish
her conscience, but knows
that her voice can only be
carried so far to convince
Herod of her innocence
•
End of Herod’s legitimacy as
King
•
Her death symbolizes the
death of women who dare
speak their minds
•
“Tell thou my lord thou saw’st me loose my breath
If guiltily, eternal be my death
By three days hence, if wishes could revive
I know himself would make me oft alive.”
Graphina



Graphina’s name thought to
mean writing.
Only 28 lines but her lines
deserve interpretation.
What mark does Graphina
have on the play and
character?

What does she say about
women’s writing?
Alexandra and Doris

Speak against Mariam
 4.8
 5.1.43-4

Meddler or matriarch?
The Roles and Representations of Men in the Play
Constabarus
-Nurturing
•
-Woman-hater in the end?
•
•
4.6
(not Richard)
Herod
http://en.wik
ipedia.org/
wiki/File:Her
odtheGreat1
.jpg
Tyrant forced to make tough
decisions
•
Relationship with Mariam—
mixture of sexuality and politics
•
Herod Agrippa—persecuted
early Christian church
http://www.sacreddestinations.com/england/fairf
ord-churchphotos/slides/w27d-5060.htm
Herod the Great—”Slaughter
of the innocents”
-Political status result of marriage
with Mariam (Jewish princess)
-Any marital deviance is challenge to
his authority
-jealousy and fear of losing power
Sentencing Mariam to death-interrelatedness of self-destruction
and destruction of the other (Clarke
102)
Herod Antipas—killed John the Baptist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jesus-och-Herodes.jpg
Sexuality & Marriage
Adultery aligned with speaking out
•
Salome is foil to Mariam
•
•
Salome uses lust to get what she
desires
•
Mariam uses her conscience (Clarke
97) and she refuses to use her
sexuality as a tool (101).
“I know I could enchain him with a smile:
And lead him captive with a gentle word,
I scorn my look should ever man beguile,
http://www.duke.edu/web/rpc/student_projects.htm
Or other speech than meaning to afford”
(3.3.163-6).
Voice



Speaker has the power
while listener remains a
passive receptacle for
the information.
More like a tennis matcha game requiring 2
players, and
communication is more
like a rally.
Who speaks freely and
when?
Voice: Private & Public Spheres
The private space provided freedom of speech for
most women.
•
Fear of the unknown inner workings of the
woman’s mind
•
“the metaphorical space of the heart might
harbor deceit and betrayal” (Heller 9).
Women could convey self-sovereignty and selfcontrol (Masten 27-8).
•
Women’s influence was central to politics and
ideology and does not exist in a separate sphere
(Clarke 82)
•
http://www.ripleyonline.com/Under%20Discussi
on/Renaissance%20Woman.htm
Power!

Who has it?


Herod’s way of
enforcing power.


Women or Men ?
What are his influences?
Power within self
Mariam – Be and seem
 Salome- power at what
cost?
