벤 존슨의 『바톨로뮤 장날』에 재현된 르네상스 시대의 광기

초록

This paper aims to explore Renaissance perspectives on madness in Ben Jonson’s Bartholomew Fair. As Carol Thomas Neely indicated, Renaissance England was fascinated with madness, and this play also reflects an interest in madness. It should be noted that the meaning of madness in the context of the Renaissance was mixed with folly, which implies the characters in Bartholomew Fair were described as fools and madmen. Moreover, the act of these characters heading to the fair is compared to a “voyage”, which reminds us of the “ship of fools” that separated madmen from society during the Renaissance period. This suggests that the Batholomew fair is a place that separates madmen from society, just like the ship of fools. The characters commit “enormity”, which implies folly and madness in the play. The acts of the characters that convey folly and madness are described as evil. This is related to the negative perception of madness in the Middle Ages. But it is worth noting that madness in the Renaissance period was not treated negatively only, and there were positive aspects associated with it as well. Michel Foucault emphasizes the positive aspects of madness, noting that madness is closer to truth and happiness than reason. Erasmus also argues that there is wisdom in the nature of folly. The positive aspects of madness are further highlighted through the voyage of the ship of fools. This is because the madmen on board monopolize the ship, which then becomes a place where madmen enjoy as much freedom as they please. Similarly, the Bartholomew fair is also a place where characters can express folly and madness and enjoy freedom.

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