Ideology and desire in Renaissance poetry
Subtitle: the subject of Donne
By: Ronald Corthell.
Publisher: Wayne State University Press
Published: 1997
Place of publication: Detroit, Mich
Language: eng
Number of pages: 227
Subjects: Donne, John, 1572-1631 -- Criticism and interpretation.; Literature -- History and criticism -- Theory, etc.; Poetry -- Psychological aspects.; Literature -- Philosophy.; Ideology in literature.; Desire in literature.; Renaissance -- England.
Description: Drawing on the work of Zizek and other psychoanalytic theorists, Corthell presents an alternative to new historicist ideas of "containment" by emphasizing the role of desire in the ideological work of creating, studying, and teaching Renaissance poetry. The gendered character of these activities is further critiqued by means of recent feminist work on psychoanalysis and literature.

Each chapter explores the interrelationships of representation, identification, and desire, while the book as a whole gradually shifts in emphasis from new historicist concerns with representation and the social realm toward psychoanalytic themes of identification, desire, and inwardness.

Analyzing both Donne's texts and Donne criticism from new historicist, feminist, and psychoanalytic perspectives, Corthell explores the reasons and desires behind our continued investment in the Renaissance, and Donne's poetry in particular.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 167-219) and index.