Kylee Wong
Professor Emrich
ENL 3
November 27, 2017
Mariam’s Voice Was Too Powerful In a time and place in which women were encouraged to conform to the classical “chaste, silent, and obedient” model of femininity, supporting independent thought in women was seen as potentially transgressive. In 1613, Elizabeth Cary addresses this topic in her play, The Tragedy of Mariam. The author shapes a complex network of deceit and betrayal between characters, and represents a theme of women’s voice. Mariam, the Queen of the Jews, was incredibly unrestrained when expressing her ideas. Mariam’s development can be seen through four significant moments: her processing the news of Herod’s death, her reaction when she discovers that Herod is alive, her first conversation with Herod after his return, and her soliloquy shortly before her execution. With Mariam dead and the other outspoken women of the play still alive, it is clear that women’s voice can be powerful. In Mariam’s case, her …show more content…
/ But now, though out of time, I plainly see / It could be drawn, though never drawn from me,” (4. 8. 32-34). There are multiple interpretations of Mariam’s death, but it is clear that Mariam never truly loved her husband Herod. By stating that Herod’s love “could be drawn,” Mariam is realizing that Herod is generally a lovable person and isn’t as evil as she proclaimed him to be in the beginning. Although Herod is a lovable person, Mariam states that her love for him could “never [be] drawn” from her. Mariam is using pathos to credit Herod for not being as terrible as she thought he was, but Mariam is discrediting herself for not having any love for him. This reading could potentially explicate that Mariam regrets not loving Herod. If Mariam had loved Herod in the first place and never proclaimed her hatred towards Herod, Mariam may have been able to
Professor Emrich
ENL 3
November 27, 2017
Mariam’s Voice Was Too Powerful In a time and place in which women were encouraged to conform to the classical “chaste, silent, and obedient” model of femininity, supporting independent thought in women was seen as potentially transgressive. In 1613, Elizabeth Cary addresses this topic in her play, The Tragedy of Mariam. The author shapes a complex network of deceit and betrayal between characters, and represents a theme of women’s voice. Mariam, the Queen of the Jews, was incredibly unrestrained when expressing her ideas. Mariam’s development can be seen through four significant moments: her processing the news of Herod’s death, her reaction when she discovers that Herod is alive, her first conversation with Herod after his return, and her soliloquy shortly before her execution. With Mariam dead and the other outspoken women of the play still alive, it is clear that women’s voice can be powerful. In Mariam’s case, her …show more content…
/ But now, though out of time, I plainly see / It could be drawn, though never drawn from me,” (4. 8. 32-34). There are multiple interpretations of Mariam’s death, but it is clear that Mariam never truly loved her husband Herod. By stating that Herod’s love “could be drawn,” Mariam is realizing that Herod is generally a lovable person and isn’t as evil as she proclaimed him to be in the beginning. Although Herod is a lovable person, Mariam states that her love for him could “never [be] drawn” from her. Mariam is using pathos to credit Herod for not being as terrible as she thought he was, but Mariam is discrediting herself for not having any love for him. This reading could potentially explicate that Mariam regrets not loving Herod. If Mariam had loved Herod in the first place and never proclaimed her hatred towards Herod, Mariam may have been able to