Margaret Cavendish
Gender, Science and Politics

Exploring connections between Cavendish's science, literature, and politics, Walters challenges the view that Cavendish's thought was characterised by conservative royalism.

Lisa Walters (Author)

9781107647718, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 26 October 2017

265 pages
23 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm, 0.4 kg

'Walters's book is most helpful in examining Cavendish's complex thinking in a new way … Recommended. Graduate students, researchers [and] faculty.' M. Cole, Choice

It is often thought that the numerous contradictory perspectives in Margaret Cavendish's writings demonstrate her inability to reconcile her feminism with her conservative, royalist politics. In this book Lisa Walters challenges this view and demonstrates that Cavendish's ideas more closely resemble republican thought, and that her methodology is the foundation for subversive political, scientific and gender theories. With an interdisciplinary focus Walters closely examines Cavendish's work and its context, providing the reader with an enriched understanding of women's contribution to early modern scientific theory, political philosophy, culture and folklore. Considering also Cavendish's ideas in relation to Hobbes and Paracelsus, this volume is of great interest to scholars and students of literature, philosophy, history of ideas, political theory, gender studies and history of science.

Introduction
1. Redefining gender in Cavendish's theory of matter
2. Margaret Cavendish's fusion of Renaissance science, magic and fairy lore
3. The politics of free will in The Blazing World: Hobbes, Paracelsus and absolute rule
4. Margaret Cavendish the republican? Revolution and gender in Cavendish's romances
Select bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Philosophy of science [PDA], Western philosophy: c 1600 to c 1900 [HPCD], Literary studies: c 1500 to c 1800 [DSBD]