Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
English
Date of Award
5-2022
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Dr. Robert Sawyer
Committee Members
Dr. Judith Slagle, Dr. Joshua Reid
Abstract
This thesis examines the existence of posthumanism in the dramas of Ben Jonson, Christopher Marlowe, and William Shakespeare – the three most prominent playwrights of the early modern period. Posthumanist theory, which gives scholars the opportunity to look at past works in a new and unique way, attempts to re-locate the human in the diverse creatures and objects in the world we inhabit. By applying posthumanist theory to older works, we can better understand the early modern period and its writers as well as their relevance to the present. Their plays’ messages serve as warnings that work to guide humanity in the right direction if we are willing to listen. Current events show us the dangers of continuing down the path of our present course. In short, by looking to the past I hope to chart the course of posthumanist interpretation on literature and our own species in the future.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Compton, Kayli, "Posthumanism in the Early Modern Period: Jonson, Marlowe, and Shakespeare" (2022). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 4037. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/4037
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.