Model
Digital Document
Publisher
Florida Atlantic University
Description
The moon as a symbol reflects the social, religious and historical
tumult of Ben Jonson's day. In Cynthia's Revels, the moon is a
highly mannered, religious symbol with classical overtones. It paid
tribute to Elizabeth, another virgin ruler, as well as providing
the audience with an ideal of chastity to emulate. In Masque of
Queens, the black face of the moon rather than the white appears.
Spouting common superstitions of the day, the witches bring to mind
the then current religious inquisitions and King James I's fascination
with demonology. Last but not least appears Ursula in
Bartholomew Fair. Lusty and capricious, she projects the image of the
moon promoted by astrologers. Her lunatic influence on her "customers"
underlines the impact of the telescope, which by revealing imperfections
on the lunar face, brought the moon down to earth. The symbol begins
as a transcendant emblem and ends as a mundane caricature.
tumult of Ben Jonson's day. In Cynthia's Revels, the moon is a
highly mannered, religious symbol with classical overtones. It paid
tribute to Elizabeth, another virgin ruler, as well as providing
the audience with an ideal of chastity to emulate. In Masque of
Queens, the black face of the moon rather than the white appears.
Spouting common superstitions of the day, the witches bring to mind
the then current religious inquisitions and King James I's fascination
with demonology. Last but not least appears Ursula in
Bartholomew Fair. Lusty and capricious, she projects the image of the
moon promoted by astrologers. Her lunatic influence on her "customers"
underlines the impact of the telescope, which by revealing imperfections
on the lunar face, brought the moon down to earth. The symbol begins
as a transcendant emblem and ends as a mundane caricature.
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