scussions Of Abnormality And Deformity In Early Modern EngJan With Particular Reference To The

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scussions Of Abnormality And Deformity In Early Modern EngJan
With Particular Reference To The Notion Of Monstrosity
KatkrynM. Brammall
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
at
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia
May, 1996
©Copyright by Kathryn M. Brammall, 1995
1*1
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ISBN 0-612-15855-1
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Nome Kathrvn M. 3rammall
Dissertation Abstracts International is arranged by broad, general subject categories. Please select the one subject which most
nearly describes the content of your dissertation. Enter the corresponding four-dir)it code in the spaces provided.
History, Early Modern England, Monsters, Rhetoric 1 ° I3 I 3I5 I UlVrl
SUBJECT TERM SUBJECT CODE
Subject Categories
TNI HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
COMMUNiailONS AND THE ARTS P^cWogy 0525 PHILOSOPHY, RELIGION AND Ancient 0579
Architecture 0729 Reading 0535 THEOLOGY Medieval 0581
Art History 0377 Religious 0527 Philosophy 0422 Modern 0582
Grama 0900 Sciences 0714 Religion Black 0328
Donee 0378 Secondary 0533 General 0318 African 0331
fine Ails 0357 Social Sciences 0534 Biblical Studies 0321 Asia, Australia and Oceania 0332
Irrrormoron Science 0723 Soaologyof 0340 Clergy 0319 Canadian 0334
Journalism 039' Spado??. 0529 History o( 0320 European 0335
library Science 0399 Teacher Training 0530 Philosophy of 0322 Latin American 0336
Moss Communications 0708 Technology 0710 Theology 0469 Middle Eastern 0333
Music 0413 Tests ancTMeasurements 0288 United States 0337
Speech Communication 0459 Vocational 0747 SOCIAL SCIENCES History of Science 0585
Theater 0465 American Studies 0323 Law.... 0398
LANGUAGE, UTERATURE AND Anthropology Political Science
EDUCATION LINGUISTICS Archaeology 0324 General 0615
Ge.ieral 0515 language Cultural 0326 International Law and
Administration 0514 General 0679 Physical 0327 Relations 0616
Adult and Continuing 0516 Public Administration 0617
Ancient 0289 Business Administration
Agricultural 0517 Recreation 0814
linguistics 0290 General 0310
Art 0273 Modern 0291 Accounting 0272 Social Work 0452
Bilingual and Multicultural 0282 Literature Banking 0770 Sociology
Buvnem 0688 General 0626
General 0401 Management 0454
ComiTbnir/ Cc »m, T.2/5 Criminology and Penology... 0627
CL.TIOI1.."" a-j Si' -.:•.;:•• j/tl CCloamsspicaaral tive 00229945 CanMadairakne tSintugd ies 00333B85 Demography 0938
Early Childhood 0518 Ethnic ana Racial Studies 0631
Medieval 0297 Economics
Elementary 0524 Individual and Family
Modem 0298 General 0501
Finance 0277 African 0316 Agricultural 0503 Studies 0628
Guidance and Counseling 0519 American 0591 Commerce-Business 0505 Industrial and labor
Health ....0680 Relations 0629
Asian 0305 Finance 0508
Higher 0745 Canadian (English) 0352 History 0509 Public ond Social Welfare.... 0630
History of 0520 Canadian (French) 0355 Labor 0510 Social Structure and
Home Economics 0278 English 0593 Theory 0511 Development 0700
Industrial 0521 Theory and Methods 0344
Germanic 0311 Folklore 0358
language and Literature 0279 Transportation 0709
Latin American 0312 Geography 0366
Mathematics 0280 Urban and Reqional Planning ....0999
Music 0522 Middle Eastern 0315 Gerontology 0351 Women's Studies 0453
Romance 0313 History
Philosophy of 0998
Slavic and East European 0314 General 0578
Physical 0523
THE SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES Geodesy 0370 Speech Pathology 0460 Engineering
Agriculture Geology 0372 Toxicology 0383 General 0537
General 0473 Geophysics 0373 Home Economics 0386 Aerospace 0538
Agronomy 0285 Hydrology 0388 Agricultural 0539
Animal Culture and Mineralogy 0411 PHYSICAL SCIENCES Automotive 0540
Nutrition 0475 Paleobotany 0345 Pure Sciences Biomedical 0541
Animal Pathology 0476 Paleoecology 0426 Chemical 0542
Food Science and Paleontology 0418 Chemistry Civil 0543
General 046 j
Technology 0359 Paleozoalogy 0985 Electronics and Electrical 0544
Agricultural 0749
Forestry and Wildlife 0478 Porynology 0427 Heat and Thermodynamics... 0348
Analytical 0486
Plant Culture 0479 Physical Geography 0368 • Hydraulic 0545
Biochemistry 0487
Plant Pathology 0480 Physical Oceanography 0415 Industrial 0546
Inorganic 0488
Plant Physiology 0817 Marine 0547
Range Management 0777 HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL Nuclear 0738 Materials Science 0794
Organic 0490
BiolWogoyo d Technology 0746 SECnIvEiNroCnEmSe ntal Sciences 0768 PPhhyasrmicaalc eutical 00449914 MMeectahllaunrgicya l 00574483
GAneanteormaly 00320867 Health Sciences Polymer 0495 MNuincilnega r 00555512
Biostatistics 0308 General 0566 Radiation 0754 Packaging 054?
Botany 0309 Audiology 0300 Mathematics 0405 Petroleum 0765
Cell 0379 Chemotherapy 0992 Physics Sanitary and Municipal 0554
Ecology 0329 Dentistry 0567 General 0605 System Science 0790
Entomology 0353 Education 0350 Acoustics 0986 Geotechnology 0428
Geneves 0369 Hospital Management 0769 Astronomy and Operations Research. 0?96
Limnology 0793 Human Development 0758 Astrophysics 0606 B'csi':i"'K-r.ongy 07'i
Microbiology 0410 Immunology 0982 Atmospheric Science 0608 Tux! !>.• "eci">o.og'y' 09'£
Medicine and Surgery 0564 Atomic 0748
Molecular 0307
Neuroscience 0317 Mental Health 0347 Electronics and Electricity 0607 PSYCHOLOGY
Nursing 0569 Elementary Particles ana
Oceanography 0416 General 0621
Nutrition 0570 High Energy 0798
Physiology 0433 Obstetrics and Gynecology .. 0380 fluidand Plasma 0759 Behavioral 0384
Radiation 0821 Occupational Health ana Molecular 0609 Clinical 0622
Veterinary Science 0778 Developmental 0620
Therapy 0354 Nuclear 0610
Zoology 0472 Experimental 0623
Ophthalmology 0381 Optics 0752
Biophysics Pothology 0571 Radiation 0756 Industrial 0624
General 0786 Pharmacology 0419 Solid State 0611 Personality 0625
Medical 0760 Pharmacy 0.^72 Statistics 0463 Physiological 0989
Psychobiology 0349
EARTH SCIENCES Physical Therapy 0382 Applied Sciences Psychometrics 0632
Public Health 0573
Biogeochemistry 0425 Radiolog; 0574 Applied Mechanics 0346 Social 0451
Geochemistry 0996 Recreation 0575 Computer Science 0984
Dedication
For Wayne, Kieran, and Mallorie.
In Memoriam
Philip G. Lawson
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Dedication iv
Takle of Contents v
Akstract vi
Acknowledgements vii
Introduction 1
Ckapter 1: In tke Before Time: Classical and Medieval Heritage 23
Ckapter 2: Wkat Makes a Monsbei?: Pkysical Deformity 1550-1625 69
Ckapter 3: Monstrous Metamorpkosis:
Tke Rketoric of Monstrosity, 1550-1570 127
Ckapter 4: Crime, Treason, and Tyranny: Deformity witk tke Body Politic 191
Ckapter 5: Defending God: Religious Crises and tke Rketoric of Monstrosity 260
Ckapter 6: Monstrous Female: Transgression and Gender Structures 329
Chapter 7: "Monstrous, filtkie, and uglie kearts":
Morality, Manners, and Monstrosity 404
Conclusion 464
Appendix 1 471
Appendk 2 476
Appendix 3 478
Bikliograpky 479
Abstract
The idea of "monstrosity" has traditionally korn a close relationship to attitudes regarding
aknormality and deformity, notions that helped okservers define for tkeir respective
societies the concept of "other". Throughout history okservers suggested tkat tke normal
and natural was superior to what they deemed imperfect, unusual, or exotic in mankind.
This study investigates early modern English uses of the term "monster", highlighting a
transformation that built upon earlier attitudes kut ultimately created an innovative and
rhetorically powerful category ot monstrosity, differing from that discussed ky classical
and medieval writers. In 1550, as over the preceding .nillennia, all monsters were ky
definition physically malformed and misshapen. In contrast, ky 1625 a monster could ke
a kuman wkose deformity was hidden from view. Late Tudor and early Stuart okservers
manipulated tke perceptions of tkeir audience in an attempt to persuade tke population
that individuals who transgressed — whetner morally, religiously, politically, or socially —
were as inhuman as the physically exotic. Understanding well the connection ketween
motivation and compulsion (as well as tke inakility of contemporary authorities to impose
the latter), late Tudor and early Stuart writers developed and vigorously exploited the
invective rhetoric of monstrosity within their polemic in order to draw their audiences into
an alliance that made the reader as much an adversary of the despised activity or belief as
was the author in question. The enemies such authors identified as "monsters" were
various and included such marginal groups as heretics, rekels, transgressive women,
drunkards, and sexual deviants. It is testament to tke power of tke rketoric of
monstrosity, kowever, tkat not all victims were powerless outsiders; indeed, it was possible
for denigrated women and heterodox Christians to employ this polemical device against
powerful memkers of society suck as defenders of patriarckal, religious, and political
norms.
VI
Acknowledgements
I would gratefully like to acknowledge tke assistance provided ky tke Izaak Walton Killam
Memorial Sckolarskip Fund, tke Albei-ta Heritage Scholarship Fund, the Social Science
and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and the Histcry Department at Dalhousie
University. In addition, this work could not have been produced without the ceaseless
encouragement from family and friends and, most notably, the commitment of time from
my supervisors, Daniel R. Woolf and Cynthia J. Neville. I want, finally, to thank Philip
G. Lawson, who inspired me in the first place and whose guidance I cherished and will
miss.
I have benefitted from the advice of scholars who have been free with their criticism and
their praise; I thank them for both and willingly absolve um of responsibility for
whatever errors remain.
"The consideration of this straungfe and monstrous discourse,
I committe to your honours good construction".
Introduction
I'm a monster; no fangs, no excessive hair, just a real bad desire to
deflower little, little girls. —Joseph Harold Boutilier. convicted
pedophile
In late twentieth-century parlance the term monster is used to depcribe a variety of
entities that are usually negative, occasionally neutral, and only rarely positive. Included
in such a categorisation are malformed plants or animals; misshapen births; imaginary
animals or composite beings (such as centaurs and sphinxes); objects, both animate and
inanimate, of vast proportions; and persons of inhuman cruelty. Of the things so
described we regard some as benign and even winsome; others we think of as mysterious,
even frightening, but fascinating nevertheless. We delight, for example, in fiction that
imagines tke existence of creatures in tke mould of Frankenstein's monster and of
Grendel, literary creations tkat at once astound and mesmerise. We never tire of
recounting legends that postulate the existence of huge, semi-human beings, mysterious
creatures thought by many to haunt remote and unexplored geographic regions suck as
unpopulated forests and deserts. At least in part, our fascination witk tkese tales is based
upon tkeir fantastic nature. We sit engrossed as tke television or movie screen depicts
encounters witk alien races and yet cynically dismiss similar stories found in tabloids. We
are not afraid because we can satisfy ourselves that such extraordinary creatures exist
nowhere but "n our imaginations. As a consequence, even when the fantasy has elements
of danger, the main purpose behind our interest is escapism and entertainment; indeed,
1
we even educate our ckildren ky employing fumbling, kumorous, innocent and brigktly
coloured monsters to inculcate moral messages. Tkougk Frankenstein's creation kas tke
potential to kecome vicious, tke most aggressive acts of popular pre-sckool monsters are
directed at cookies.
Suck monsters captivate us because though many possess the potential to frighten,
they lack tkorougkly sinister ckaracteristics. Tkeir monstrosity is based upon external
appearance and a fascination witk tke unknown more tkan it is on any innate evil.J Tke
Sasquatck is kuge and covered witk hair, Grover's rur is blue and yet kis nose is pink, tke
space aliens encountered in science faction are frequently skapeless klobs or reptilian
bipeds and, tkougk at least 1 ke first and tke last of tkese kave tke potential to cause karm,
it is a capacity tkat is unproved. They are different, and therefore separated, from
humanity on the kasis of tkeir pkysical uniqueness and yet, despite this otkemess, tkey
threaten us barely at all.
There exists, however, a category or monster that is far more ominous: a type of
individual whose deviance is based upon predatory and criminal behaviour. Such a person
may look perfectly "normal" and his or her monstrosity has little to do with physical
anomaly; rather, morally aberrant actions distinguish such individuals from the rest of
society. In the twentieth century, the foreboding and sense of danger associated with the
term monster derives from this type of deviant transgressor: we fear and despise most tke
Even possible exceptions to this, such as Godzilla ana Dracula, are somewhat mysterious and definitely
physically anomalous.
3
individual who looks just like everyone else kut wko manifests some uncontrollable
appetite to karm others.2 Rapists, murderers, and child molesters, to name but a few
groups that fit within modern conceptions of the term monster, do not usually betray
their tendencies in any distinguishing, readily identifiable physical deformity but they are
definitively dangerous and aberrant.3 Indeed, the very fact tkat suck deviance does not
disfigure the criminal means that such monsters represent a greater threat to modern
society than mysterious legends, such as the Loch Ness Monster, possibly could. This is
not to suggest that we consider violent criminality to be any less mysterious or fascinating
than Bigfoot or extra terrestrials because the average person can barely conceive of the
inhumanity required, for instance, to torture another living creature. Moreover, many of
us are perversely attracted by the exploits of deviant individuals, but ultimately most of us
are repelled and disgusted by them. The difference is that cruel, brutal, dehumanising
criminality is a much more immediate threat to us than is the possibility that Ogopogo
will overturn our koat in searck of food.
In tke 1? te twentietk century, then, various types of creatures are perceived to he
monsters, kut tke "deformity" afflicting tke pkysically anomalous is relatively untroukling
" In his discussion of medieval perceptions of the Devil, Jeffrey B. Russell identifies such deviants as evil
incarnate, Lucifer: The Devil in the Middle Ages (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1984), chapter 1. In the
Middle Ages observers might have regarded such individuals as representations of the Devil; today we
consider them monsters. Clearly, the rhetoric is so powerful that occasionally perpetrators like Joseph
Boutilier agree.
3 Indeed, serial killers and rapists are so dangerous because they ofton look "just like everyone else". Few
who knew Paul Bernardo or Jeffrey Dahmer before their arrests would have thought these clean-cut,
attractive, well-spoken men capable of such manifest evil.