Ovidian myth and sexual deviance in early modern English literature
By: Sarah Carter
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Basingstoke [Hampshire]; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 212
ISBN-13: 9780230244238
Subjects: English literature; Mythology, Classical, in literature; Paraphilias in literature; History and criticism; Influence; Roman influences; Sex role in literature
Description: " ... explores early modern culture's reception of Ovid through the manipulation of Ovidian myth by creative writers such as Shakespeare, Middleton, Heywood, Marlowe, Lyly and Marston. Sarah Carter analyses the strong cultural presence of particular myths and mythic characters involving potentially ideologically deviant sexual behaviour, including sexual violence, homosexuality, hermaphroditism and incest, in the myths of Philomela, Lucrece, Ganymede, Hermaphroditus, Pygmalion, Myrrha and Adonis. Cross-genre and  cross-author analysis is combined with sexuality and gender theory to claim that classical mythology facilitates full engagement for early modern thinkers with both depictions of sexual behaviour and discourse on deviant sexualities. It is also argued that this negotiation of sexual deviance is potentially radical in allowing depictions and discussions of non-conformist sexual behaviour in popular culture, and that this subversive potential is ultimately deflated through representation which is ideologically conservative"--Publisher's description, p. [4] of cover.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 198-206) and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: Rape, revenge, and verse : Philomela; title: 'Chastity's first martyr' : Lucrece; title: 'That female wanton boy' : Ganymede, Iphis, and myths of same sex desire; title: 'Not perfect boy nor perfect wench' : Hermaphroditus; title: Objects of desire : Pygmalion, Myrrha, Adonis; title: Conclusion.