Feminine Virtue’s Network of Influence in Early Modern England

In contrast to the paradoxes of chastity that appear to limit women’s options, prescriptive literature often portrays obedience as a virtue that is both performative and reformative. Early modern women were not taught to be unquestioningly obedient but rather that they had a responsibility to be virtuous: to perform submission in order to reform others. This model of performance requires women critically to analyze behavioral prescriptions, because the proper performance necessitates interpretation on their part; this shows that self-reflection is possible and even encouraged. Texts discussed include Robert Snawsel’s A Looking-glasse for Married Folkes and Robert Greene’s Penelope’s Web.