John Gower's Magical Rhetoric.
- Author/Editor
- Donavin, Georgiana.
- Title
- John Gower's Magical Rhetoric.
- Published
- Donavin, Georgiana. "John Gower's Magical Rhetoric." Accessus: A Journal of Premodern Literature and New Media, 6.2 (2020): n.p.
- Review
- Georgiana Donavin argues that in Gower's CA "[rhetoric's] sphere is governed by the almighty Word, imbuing verbal magic with divine creative force and modeling a benevolent speech act to which rhetoric can aspire." She contrasts Gower's tales in Book VI with "a benevolent rhetoric of enchantment" found in Book VII. Gower's rhetoric relies on the Augustinian concept of the Word, which is invested with "divine influence" and has the "ultimate suasive influence." Donavin asserts that "[The Word] is at once the basis of all incantations and the channel for Christian purpose in rhetoric." She then surveys Gower's "complex characterizations of magicians" throughout CA, beginning with the particularly negative portraits in Book VI. But then in Book VII, she claims "Genius moves toward a more positive view of verbal magic by connecting spells and 'carectes' to the holy and inventive Word" and he rejects the models put forth in Book VI. "It is the supernatural W/word that becomes the cornerstone of Gower's definition of rhetoric," Donavin continues, and "The mystical W/word, necessary for all incantations, render the magical Christological." Repetition is key for Gower and "has the potential to enact an 'imitatio Christi'." Finally, Donavin concludes, "In Gower's rhetoric lecture in Book VII of the CA, the Word casts a spell and is God's spell, potentially reinventing the truth for every speaker and transforming the mind of anyone who has an ear." [JGS. Copyright. The John Gower Society eJGN 40.1]
- Date
- 2020
- Gower Subjects
- Confessio Amantis
Style, Rhetoric, and Versification