Mother Queens and Princely Sons

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

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2. Introduction: Madonna, Child, and Early Modern Accolated Bodies

   • Sid Ray

   Pages 1-16

3. “Above God Himselfe”: The Rogue Madonna and Her Daughter Queens

   • Sid Ray

   Pages 17-43

4. “A Joyful Mother of Two Goodly Sons”: The Madonna of Ephesus and Her Disruptive Twins

   • Sid Ray

   Pages 45-65

5. “So Troubled with the Mother”: The Politics of Pregnancy in The Duchess of Malfi

   • Sid Ray

   Pages 67-80

6. “Partner[s] of Greatness”: The Madonnas of Macbeth

   • Sid Ray

   Pages 81-103

7. “A Shall Not Tread on Me”: Motherless Sons from Titus Andronicus to The Winter’s Tale

   • Sid Ray

   Pages 105-130

8. Afterword

   • Sid Ray

   Pages 131-133

9. Back Matter

   Pages 135-195

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This study explores representations of the Madonna and Child in early modern culture. It considers the mother and son as a conceptual, religio-political unit and examines the ways in which that unit was embodied and performed. Of primary interest is the way mothers derived agency from bearing incipient rulers.

• concept
• culture
• god
• Macbeth
• Madonna
• politics
• William Shakespeare

'A fascinating study that deals with an aspect of early modern Marian imagery in theatrical contexts that has not yet been explored. This work is an important contribution to the ongoing scholarly consideration of Marian theatrical invocations.' - Regina Buccola, associate professor of English, Roosevelt University, USA

Sid Ray is a professor of English and Women s and Gender Studies at Pace University.

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