Body Politic in Aracadia
Literature often holds a mirror to the social, political and economic milieu in which it was created; this could not be truer in Elizabethan times. A virgin Queen redefined the role of courtier, amorous intent must be merged with political advice, and this climate provided much fodder for poets, writers and playwrights alike. Elizabeth initially struggled to prove her legitimacy as Queen due to her sex, religion and parents, however through a series of calculated speeches, Elizabeth populized the medieval theory of the king’s two bodies, constructing an image of herself, exploiting femininity, and simultaneously exerting power reserved for a male monarch. Elizabeth’s use of language to describe herself resonates with the way gender, power and sexuality were used in the literature of the time. Marie Axton equates this resurgence of the theory of the king’s two bodies as ‘an attempt to deal with paradox’ . Presenting similar paradoxes in The Old Arcadia, Phillip Sidney not only weaves a subtle yet extravagant tapestry of blatant flattery and cautionary advice, but also literalises the ‘heart and stomach of a king’ in the cross dressing Cleophila. In his letter preceding The Old Arcadia Sidney is quick to dismiss his p
astoral romance as an ‘idle work’. Such a comment invites the reader to look past this initial reflection. In a highly artificial tableau, his mirror offers a distorted manifestation of Elizabethan court and the Queen herself, one angle presenting a warped realm, the other a cautionary tale to his dismissive monarch. Organised around similar elements that Elizabeth employed in her addresses, this highly politicised moment of Cleophila’s speech pays tribute to the Queen, embracing femininity, and expelling magnanimity while simultaneously exerting force. Femininity is fundamental in the success of Cleophila’s speech. It is here that we see how Cleophila, and hence Elizabeth upheld the delicate equilibrium of feminine appearance and masculine leadership. As Elizabeth recognised her womanliness and chastity were valuable political tools, and exploited them to her advantage, so too did Cleophila spy ‘her coming had bred an alteration’, and that even ‘the eyes of the barbarous people [fixed their eyes] with admiration upon her’ it is this modification in atmosphere, brought about by her physical appearance which allowed Cleophila to ‘use the advantage of time’ . Opening with the acknowledgment that ‘an unused thing it is…that a woman should give public council to men’ , she confirms her sex, rather than challenges it, as Elizabeth declares her own ‘body but of a weak and feeble woman’ , and doesn’t defy gender hierarchy. Enhancing her ‘quiet magnanimity’ Cleophila, while accusing her audience as ‘men who have forgotten all manely government’ , demanding they ‘be ashamed’ maintains their favour, alluding to their reputation as ‘wise and quiet’ . Similarly, Elizabeth often flattered her listeners trapping them with obsequiousness before asserting her own views and desires. She offered ‘hearty thanks for the good zeal and loving care of her people’ in her first speech to parliament, and assured her council that the success of her reign who stem from ‘good advise and council’ , before outlining her own demands on the kingdom. Relying on such a formulaic base for Cleophila’s speech, Sidne
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Philisides Philanax,
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Regiment Women,
Arcadia Sidney,
Similarly Elizabeth,
Mary Stuart,
Arcadia Elizabeth’s,
Elizabeth Elizabeth,
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gender hierarchy,
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Approximate Word count = 1452
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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