Author: Joshua (Josh) Tolbert

Sir Philip Sidney and Lady Mary Roth

The Romance form is characterized by the three phases of integration, disintegration, and reintegration. This form is simple enough so that it can be used and tweaked to fit many different narratives. For example, Sir Philip Sidney uses the form to create humor and entertain the reader. The selection we read was from the disintegration phase and was filled with dramatic irony used for comedic effect. Mary Roth also uses the Romance form but to a different effect. We read a part of the disintegration from The Countess of Montgomery’s Urania which played off of what her uncle’s earlier work The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia. Since when Roth and Sidney were writing the Romance would have already been an archaic form, it would apparent that Roth’s work was playing off of her uncle’s work.

Even today, the Romance form is used as the basis for many modern narratives. One way is through children’s movies and cartoons, such as Finding Nemo or The Spongebob Squarepants Movie. The Romance form is simple enough that it can be used to tell simple stories that hold moral truths (both movies teach children to believe in themselves and the power of perseverance albeit through different means), but also can tell a complicated or more mature story and hold complex meanings as in the work of Roth and Sidney.

Julian of Norwich

I really enjoyed reading the excerpts from Julian of Norwich’s A Book of Showings. Julian describes her visions briefly before she expounds upon their meaning “as to [her] sight.” (415) The use of phrases such as “as to my sight” is one way that Julian navigates the difficult position of writing as a woman in the fourteenth century. I personally found it really funny that she basically says some version of IMO after spending paragraphs discussing the deep theological meanings of her visions. It is as if she is saying “but that’s just my opinion” after every profound point she makes. It is a very effective way of countering any backlash from men higher up in the church.

Since she can not rely on directly stating her authority on such theological matters to make her argument, Julian has to appeal to her audience in other ways. One way is by making clear logical statements and comparisons. For example, she compares Jesus and the love he has for everyone as the love a mother has for her children (420). This example sets up a metaphor that is woven throughout most of our selections in the book. Jesus’ crucifixion is compared to a mother who dies giving birth, then Jesus is compared to a mother protecting her children when they need it (421).

Julian also writes about an incredibly optimistic outlook on the human condition. She writes that Jesus told her “all shall be well.” (418) Julian comes to believe that the visions sent to her were to show her “that Love is our Lord’s meaning.” (424) The sheer optimism of her views is shown in that even sin is beneficial to us because we come to see the love of God better through sin and suffering.

One last thing. I found it very interesting how Julian describes all of creation as a hazelnut, a spherical object. The idea of a spherical earth was not unheard of in the late middle ages, but I think it is still interesting that she believed in some way that the earth of all of creation was spherical.