8.8 Louis Montrose

Louis Montrose's new historicism approach revolutionized literary analysis in the 1980s. He emphasized examining texts within their historical and cultural contexts, arguing that literature both reflects and shapes societal dynamics.

Montrose's work focused on Renaissance literature, particularly Shakespeare. He explored how texts interact with power structures, containing both subversive elements and mechanisms reinforcing dominant ideologies. This approach influenced scholars like Stephen Greenblatt and Catherine Gallagher.

Montrose's new historicism approach

• Montrose is a key figure in the development of new historicism, a critical approach that emerged in the 1980s
• New historicism emphasizes the historical and cultural context in which literary works are produced and received
• Montrose's approach involves close reading of texts alongside analysis of historical documents and cultural artifacts to uncover the complex interplay between literature and society

Renaissance literature and culture

• Montrose's work focuses primarily on Renaissance literature, particularly the works of Shakespeare and his contemporaries
• He explores how Renaissance texts both reflect and shape the cultural, political, and social dynamics of the period
• Montrose argues that literature cannot be separated from its historical context and that texts actively participate in the construction of cultural meaning

Textuality and historicity interplay

• Central to Montrose's approach is the idea that textuality and historicity are inextricably linked
• Textuality refers to the literary and linguistic features of a text, while historicity encompasses the historical and cultural context in which the text is produced and received
• Montrose contends that texts both reflect and construct historical realities, and that the relationship between textuality and historicity is reciprocal and dynamic

Subversion and containment dynamics

Subversive elements in texts

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• Montrose argues that Renaissance texts often contain subversive elements that challenge or undermine dominant power structures and ideologies
• These subversive elements may take the form of marginalized characters, transgressive themes, or alternative perspectives that resist or complicate the status quo
• However, Montrose also recognizes that subversive elements are rarely straightforward or unambiguous, and may be subject to multiple interpretations

Containment through power structures

• Alongside subversive elements, Montrose identifies containment mechanisms within texts that work to reinforce or restore dominant power structures
• Containment may occur through the ultimate defeat or marginalization of subversive characters, the reassertion of traditional values and hierarchies, or the co-optation of transgressive energies
• Montrose argues that the tension between subversion and containment is a key dynamic in Renaissance literature, reflecting the complex negotiations of power in early modern society

Montrose's key essays

"Professing the Renaissance"

• In this influential essay, Montrose outlines his vision for a new historicist approach to Renaissance literature
• He argues for the need to situate literary texts within their historical and cultural contexts, and to consider how they both reflect and shape the power dynamics of their time
• Montrose also reflects on the role of the literary critic, suggesting that scholars must be attentive to their own historical and institutional positions as they interpret texts

"The Purpose of Playing"

• This essay explores the social and political functions of theater in Renaissance England, with a particular focus on Shakespeare's plays
• Montrose argues that the theater served as a space for the negotiation of power relations, both on and off the stage
• He examines how Shakespeare's plays engage with issues of gender, class, and authority, and how they both challenge and reinforce the dominant ideologies of Elizabethan society

Influence on Greenblatt and Gallagher

• Montrose's work has been highly influential in the development of new historicism, particularly in the scholarship of Stephen Greenblatt and Catherine Gallagher
• Greenblatt, a leading figure in new historicism, has built upon Montrose's insights to explore the circulation of social energy in Renaissance texts and the role of literature in the construction of self and identity
• Gallagher has extended Montrose's approach to consider issues of gender, sexuality, and the body in early modern literature, as well as the relationship between literary and historical narratives

New historicism vs old historicism

• Montrose's new historicism represents a significant departure from traditional historical approaches to literature
• Old historicism tended to view literature as a reflection of historical reality, and focused on uncovering the biographical and historical "facts" behind literary works
• In contrast, new historicism sees literature as an active participant in the construction of historical meaning, and emphasizes the complex interplay between texts and their cultural contexts
• New historicism also rejects the idea of a single, objective historical truth, instead recognizing the multiplicity of perspectives and the role of power in shaping historical narratives

Critiques of Montrose's approach

Accusations of political bias

• Some critics have accused Montrose and other new historicists of imposing modern political agendas onto Renaissance texts
• They argue that new historicist readings are often shaped by the scholars' own ideological commitments, particularly to left-wing or progressive politics
• However, defenders of new historicism contend that all literary interpretation is inevitably shaped by the critic's historical and political position, and that acknowledging this bias is a strength of the approach

Overemphasis on historical context

• Another critique of Montrose's approach is that it can lead to an overemphasis on historical context at the expense of close textual analysis
• Critics argue that new historicist readings sometimes treat literary works as mere products of their historical moment, rather than as complex aesthetic objects in their own right
• However, Montrose and other new historicists maintain that close reading and historical analysis are not mutually exclusive, and that the most productive interpretations emerge from a dialogue between text and context

Applications to Shakespearean texts

Power dynamics in plays

• Montrose's approach has been particularly fruitful in the study of Shakespeare's plays, which are deeply engaged with questions of power, authority, and resistance
• New historicist readings have explored how Shakespeare's works navigate the complex power dynamics of early modern England, from the tensions between monarchy and subjects to the negotiations of gender and class hierarchies
• Plays such as "Hamlet," "King Lear," and "The Tempest" have been subject to extensive new historicist analysis, revealing how they both reflect and shape the political and social anxieties of their time

Reflections of Elizabethan society

• Montrose and other new historicists have also examined how Shakespeare's plays engage with the specific concerns and preoccupations of Elizabethan society
• For example, readings of "The Merchant of Venice" have considered how the play reflects and responds to early modern attitudes towards Jews, commerce, and religious difference
• Similarly, interpretations of "Romeo and Juliet" have situated the play within the context of Renaissance debates about marriage, family, and social order
• By placing Shakespeare's works in dialogue with the historical and cultural forces that shaped them, Montrose's approach illuminates the complex ways in which literature and society interact

Legacy in literary theory

• Montrose's contributions to new historicism have had a lasting impact on the field of literary studies
• His emphasis on the reciprocal relationship between literature and history has become a central tenet of much contemporary scholarship
• Montrose's work has also helped to bridge the divide between literary and historical studies, encouraging interdisciplinary approaches that recognize the inseparability of text and context
• While new historicism has evolved and diversified since its emergence in the 1980s, Montrose's insights continue to shape the way scholars approach the study of literature and culture