'Nature's fragile vessel': rethinking approaches to material culture in literature

Gregory, Johann 2017. 'Nature's fragile vessel': rethinking approaches to material culture in literature. Cahiers Élisabéthains 94 (1) , pp. 37-56. 10.1177/0184767817722260

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Abstract

The notion of fragility is a pervasive one in Western culture. Considering its appearance in early modern texts can help us to understand the history of fragility, as an idea, metaphor, and feeling. The relationship between humans and breakable things is used as a metaphor that recognises human limitations, in body or mind. This essay begins with one peculiar instance of fragility from Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens before analysing other examples in early modern culture. It ends by making a few tentative propositions regarding the relationships between literature, material culture and the representations of human fragility.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	English, Communication and Philosophy
Subjects:	P Language and Literature > PR English literature
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Human fragility, fortune, frailty, material culture, Shakespeare, Timon of Athens,
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
ISSN:	0184-7678
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	6 February 2017
Date of Acceptance:	2 December 2016
Last Modified:	07 Nov 2024 01:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/98052

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