By Mary Floyd-Wilson (NHC Fellow, 2008–09; 2016–17) Belief in spirits, demons and the occult was commonplace in the early modern period, as was the view that these forces could be used to manipulate nature and produce new knowledge. In this groundbreaking study, Mary Floyd-Wilson explores these beliefs in relation to women and scientific knowledge, arguing … Continued
Few subjects are more fascinating than the supernatural. Popular culture is suffused with images of demons, witches, werewolves, ghosts, and other things that go bump in the night. These figures have long, complicated histories that are deeply intertwined with issues of religion, gender, politics, art, and more. But how do we approach something as elusive … Continued
This webinar will consider some of the occult forces that were thought to influence and affect humans in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century. These considerations will provide us with a context for new readings of three of Shakespeare’s plays: Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and All’s Well That Ends Well. Keeping in mind that … Continued