Gothic plays and American society, 1794-1830
By: M. Susan Anthony.
Publisher: McFarland & Co., Publishers; McFarland
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Jefferson, N.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 195
ISBN-13: 9780786433377
Subjects: American drama -- 19th century -- History and criticism; Gothic literature -- United States -- History and criticism; Literature and society -- United States -- History -- 19th century; Women in literature; National characteristics, American, in literature; Gothic literature -- Great Britain -- History and criticism; United States -- Intellectual life -- 19th century
Description: "This first full-length study of early American Gothic drama examines the relationship between Gothic plays and the developing society in which they flourished. It discusses topics ranging from the novelty of American artistic talent and critical opinions of Gothic melodramas to the representation of women in the dramas as compared with the reality of the contemporary female plight"--Provided by publisher.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction: "gothic mania" : gothic plays and American society, 1794-1830; title: "Gothic America" : dramas, theatres, and American society; title: "An appetite for gothic" : productions of gothic plays by city, 1794-1830; title: "The senseless brawl of barbarians" : profane plays and patrons; title: "The 'illustrious spirit' meets the 'sanguinary monster'" : characterization of males in gothic plays; title: "Angel-maids" and "withered flowers" : the gothic heroine; title: "An exquisite treat for feeling minds" : the gothic female "stars" of gothic plays; title: "'Dreadful thunder' and 'lurid lightning'" : spectacle in gothic plays; title: "What dreadful place is this?" : women and dangerous spaces; title: "A plain unvarnish'd tale" : adaptations of British plays for the American stage; title: "This sort of thing" : reception of gothic plays in America; title: A gothic view of America.