Date of Award
Spring 5-5-2018
Document Type
Honors Project
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
English, Linguistics, and Communication
Department Chair or Program Director
Richards, Gary
First Advisor
Mathur, Maya
Major or Concentration
English
Abstract
The societies in the Arden of Faversham (1592) and The Tragedy of Mariam (1613) reflect the patriarchal values of Renaissance England. Alice Arden, Arden’s female lead, and Salome, the antagonist in Elizabeth Cary’s Mariam, defy the social and legal parameters placed on early modern women by killing their husbands in order to marry their lovers. While Alice and Salome succeed in carrying out the respective murders, Alice is killed for her crimes and Salome remains unpunished.
In this paper, I argue that Alice’s lack of access to legal power means that she must act outside the law; however, her reliance on multiple accomplices also leads to her downfall. In contrast, Salome's unchecked access to her brother, King Herod, ensures her husband's execution for treason. While Alice's failure stems from her lack of access to men in authority and her inability to act in secret, Salome's success results from her discretion and the assistance of powerful men.
Recommended Citation
Tyler, Briana, "The Renaissance Woman's Guide to Divorce: Exploring Marriage in Arden of Faversham and The Tragedy of Mariam" (2018). Student Research Submissions. 231.
https://scholar.umw.edu/student_research/231