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Elizabethan Drama and Its Mad Folk / The Harness Prize Essay for 1913 cover

Elizabethan Drama and Its Mad Folk / The Harness Prize Essay for 1913

By E. Allison Peers
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History - Early Modern (c. 1450-1750)Plays/Films/Dramas

About This Book

The essay examines portrayals of mental disorder in early modern English drama, combining historical background with close literary analysis. It surveys medical and popular attitudes toward insanity, then classifies theatrical mad folk into types—mania, imbecility, melancholy, delusions and hallucinations, and deliberate pretenders—illustrating how tragedians and comedians shaped those figures. Adopting the dramatist's perspective rather than a clinical one, the author assesses accuracy, dramatic function, and artistic technique, and draws conclusions about changing theatrical conventions and wider social views of mental disturbance.

About the Author

Peers, E. Allison portrait

E. Allison Peers

E. Allison Peers was a scholar and writer known for his contributions to the study of Elizabethan drama. His notable work, "Elizabethan Drama and Its Mad Folk," was awarded the Harness Prize in 1913, reflecting his deep engagement with the themes and characters of this vibrant period in English literature. Peers' analysis offers insights into the complexities of madness as portrayed in Elizabethan plays, showcasing his expertise in literary criticism and historical context. Through his scholarship, he has contributed to a greater understanding of the cultural and artistic landscape of the time.

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