Deposition and the Absolute King: The 'Confessio Amantis' and Gower's Philosophy of Kingship.
- Author/Editor
- Hodgson-Jones, T. J.
- Title
- Deposition and the Absolute King: The 'Confessio Amantis' and Gower's Philosophy of Kingship.
- Published
- Hodgson-Jones, T. J. Deposition and the Absolute King: The 'Confessio Amantis' and Gower's Philosophy of Kingship. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of London, King's College, 2006. Dissertation Abstracts International C70.45. Abstract accessible via ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.
- Review
- "The thesis proposes that, with the 'Confessio Amantis' John Gower produced a philosophy of kingship that defended the freedoms of the king whilst accepting the legal possibility of royal deposition. This thesis will begin with a discussion of royal legitimacy, arguing that Gower saw heredity as the beginning in a king's search for legitimate authority and not the end. This discussion continues with the theory of separation and [the] relationship between the king and his crown, thereby placing Gower's view within its historical context. The thesis continues by analysing the relationship between the king and the law as descried in the 'Confessio Amantis.' Although Gower accepts that the king is above the law, he argues that a just ruler should willingly subjugate himself; he is not the crown but its first subject. A discussion of Gower's view of counsel follows this, arguing that the king has absolute freedom to choose royal councillors alongside total responsibility for the results; Gower will not allow his monarch to escape blame for his mistakes by hiding behind his advisors. Warfare is a constant theme within the 'Confessio Amantis,' and Gower's attitude has attracted much critical discussion. This thesis argues that Gower is uncompromising in his abhorrence of royal militarism, seeing it as a rejection of a king's duty to give peace and justice to his subjects. The thesis concludes with a discussion of a number of contemporary poetic texts. This allows the thesis to put the 'Confessio Amantis' within its literary context; there are places where the work is expressing relatively common sentiments and others where Gower is taking a stand on his own."
- Date
- 2006
- Gower Subjects
- Confessio Amantis
Backgrounds and General Criticism