Date of Thesis

Spring 2026

Description

In this thesis I explore the incestuous dynamics between siblings in two Stuart era (c. 1603-1714) plays: The Duchess of Malfi (1612-13) by John Webster and‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore (1633) by John Ford. In examining the Renaissance tradition of incest as subject matter, I identify my selected texts as co-opting this motif as an indicator of behavior they urge us to deplore: the social detachment of turning inwards. I contend that these dramas are not primarily concerned with incest, but rather the implications of a solipsistic desire for oneness with the sibling. As part of my discussion, I also focus on the nature of brother-sister interactions due to the gender dynamics that they illuminate, which I analyze from a feminist perspective. Ultimately, my thesis contends that my selected texts are cautionary tales about the dangers of withdrawing from society in favor of confinement to that which is familiar and comfortable, as depicted through the shunning of “outsiders” and the social retreat that incest implies.

Keywords

incest, isolation, Renaissance era, drama

Access Type

Honors Thesis (Bucknell Access Only)

Degree Type

Bachelor of Arts

Major

English- Literary Studies

First Advisor

Emily Loney

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