The Elizabethan Mind: Searching for the Self in an Age of Uncertainty.

"The Elizabethan Mind: Searching for the Self in an Age of Uncertainty" by Helen Hackett is a comprehensive exploration of Elizabethan philosophies of the mind and their impact on literature. Hackett argues that the Elizabethan era was a distinct period in the development of the concept of selfhood and that literature played a significant role in understanding the mind during this time. The book examines various theories of the mind, including humoral theory and astrological influence, and analyzes the works of canonical authors such as Shakespeare and Sidney, as well as lesser-known authors like Anne Lock and Isabella Whitney. The study also delves into the portrayal of selfhood in Hamlet and the influence of external factors, such as astrology and demonic presence, on Elizabethan theories of the mind. The final section of the book explores innovations in literary form and the representation of the mind in autobiographical writing, sonnet sequences, and dramatic soliloquies. Overall, "The Elizabethan Mind" offers valuable insights into the understanding of selfhood in the Elizabethan period and its relevance to modern concepts of the mind. [Extracted from the article]

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