Aemilia Lanyer Research Paper

Aemilia Lanyer is regarded as potentialy the first woman to create a large volume of poetry, Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum, in 1611. Her work was created with the intention to be printed and to attract patronage. On the surface, Salve Deus was seen as a devotional work of poetry. Under the surface, however, the work reveals itself as less of a devotion and more of a highly dramatic work of exigesis, which envisions a post-apocolyptic world. Lanyer gives a new perspective in her works, writing from a female point of view. This is shown in her story of Christ’s passions. For this reason, Lanyers work is not only widely regarded as works of art, but also large contributions to feminist writings. The work of poems is the first true feminist publication in England. As a post on Poetry Foundation states, “all of the work’s dedicatees are women, the poem on the Passion specifically argues the virtues of women as opposed to the vices of men, and Lanyer’s own authorial voice is assured and unapologetic.” …show more content…
Bassano was the daughter of a court musician Baptist Bassano and Margaret Johnson, his common-law wife. It is likely for the family to have been secretly Marrano Jews, practicing Protestanism to save face. Her father died when Aemilia was only seven years old, and her mother died when Aemilia was eighteen. Aemilia was the subject of many mens’ affections, For nearly a decade, Aemilia was the mistress of Henry Carey, first cousin of Elizabeth I of England. The age difference of approximately 45 years didn’t seem to bother her. She was later married Alfonso Lanyer, a court musician, in 1592 after she became pregnant by Hunsdon, and reportedly the marriage was unhappy. Aemilia also suffered many miscarriages throughout her