Rhetorical Affect In Early Modern Writing: Renaissance Passions Reconsidered

Rhetorical Affect in Early Modern Writing Renaissance Passions Reconsidered Robert Cockcroft Rhetorical Affect in Early Modern Writing Also by the same author PERSUADING PEOPLE: An Introduction to Rhetoric (with Susan M. Cockcroft) Rhetorical Affect in Early Modern Writing Renaissance Passions Reconsidered Robert Cockcroft Former Lecturer in English University of Nottingham © Robert Cockcroft 2003 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4LP. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. The author has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. First published 2003 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS and 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010 Companies and representatives throughout the world PALGRAVE MACMILLAN is the global academic imprint of the Palgrave Macmillan division of St. Martin’s Press, LLC and of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. Macmillan® is a registered trademark in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries. Palgrave is a registered trademark in the European Union and other countries. ISBN 0–333–80252–7 This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Cockcroft, Robert, 1939– Rhetorical affect in early modern writing: renaissance passions reconsidered/Robert Cockcroft. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0–333–80252–7 1. English literature – Early modern, 1500–1700 – History and criticism. 2. Emotions in literature. 3. Authors and readers – Great Britain – History – 16th century. 4. Authors and readers – Great Britain – History – 17th century. 5. English language – Early modern, 1500–1700 – Rhetoric. 6. Renaissance – England. 7. Affect (Psychology) I. Title. PR428.E56 C63 2002 820.9′353–dc21 2002074895 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 Printed and bound in Great Britain by Antony Rowe Ltd, Chippenham and Eastbourne To my partner in persuasion Susan Cockcroft Contents Preface viii 1 Introduction: Reconsidered Passions 1.1 From perception to persuasion 1.2 Renaissance passions reconsidered 1.3 Emotion, now – and then 1.4 Introducing the new rhetoric 1.5 Empowering the reader? 1.6 A ‘double analysis’ – with a difference 1 1 2 6 10 30 34 2 Sable Clouds and Silver Linings 2.1 A pathetic muddle? 2.2 Ideas of pathos from Plato to Milton 2.3 The applications of pathos 2.4 Milton’s A Masque: the progression of pathos 38 38 40 73 77 3 Old 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 4 Going to Extremes 4.1 The extremes of love and hate 4.2 Passionate to a purpose 117 117 131 5 <