PERCEIVING ANIMALS
Also by Erica Fudge and from the same publishers AT THE BORDERS OF THE HUMAN: Beasts, Bodies and Natural Philosophy in the Early Modern Period (edited with Ruth Gilbert and Susan Wiseman)
Perceiving Anitnals Humans and Beasts in Early Modern English Culture Erica Fudge Lecturer in English Literary Studies Faculty of Humanities and Cultural Studies Middlesex University
First published in Great Britain 2000 by MACMILLAN PRESS LTD Houndmills. Basingstoke. Hampshire RG21 6XS and London Companies and representatives throughout the world A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN 978-0-333-72812-3 First published in the United States of America 2000 by ST. MARTIN'S PRESS, INC., Scholarly and Reference Division. 175 Fifth Avenue. New York. N.Y. 10010 ISBN 978-1-349-62417-1 ISBN 978-1-349-62415-7 (ebook) DOl 10.1007/978-1-349-62415-7 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Fudge. Erica. Perceiving animals: humans and beasts in early modem English culture / Erica Fudge. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Philosophical anthropology-history. 2. Human beings-animal nature-history. 3. Animals (Philosophy)-History. I. Title. BD450.F7945 1999 179'.3 - dc21 99-15589 CIP Erica Fudge 2000 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2000 978-0-312-22572-8 All rights reserved. No reproduction. copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced. copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright. Designs and Patents Act 1988. or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. 90 Tottenham Court Road. London WI P OLP. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. The author has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright. Designs and Patents Act 1988. This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources. 1098765432 I 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 00
To my parents, Heather and Erik Fudge
Contents Illustrations Acknowledgements viii ix Introduction: The Dangers of Anthropocentrism 1 1 Screaming Monkeys: The Creatures in the Bear Garden 11 2 Wild Beasts Making Havoc of the Soul: Animals, Humans and Religion 34 3 Judging Like a Malt-Horse: The Humanist Interpretation of Humanity 64 4 Seeing All Their Insides: Science, Animal Experimentation and Aesop 91 5 The Shape of a Man: Knowing Animals and the Law 115 6 The Bestialisation of Humanity and the Salvation of the Beast: The Politics of the Animal Soul 143 Epilogue: Return to the Bear Garden 167 Notes 171 Bibliography 210 Index 226 vii
Illustrations Fig. 1. 'In curiosos', from Geffrey Whitney, A Choice of Emblemes and Other Devices (1586). By permission of the British Library, classmark C 57 I 2. 29 Fig. 2. 'Illvstr. XlIII', from George Wither, A Collection of Emblems Ancient and Modern (1635). By permission of the British Library, dassmark 641 k 17. 32 viii
Acknowledgements During the researching and writing of this book I have been very lucky to have received help and support from many colleagues, friiends and family members who have all been generous with time and references, and who have shown immense patience. The project began under the stimulating and thoughtful supervision of Michael Hawkins at the School of English and American Studies, University of Sussex. I am grateful for his generosity. A complete draft of the manuscript was read by Sue Wiseman. Her comments, ideas, references and good humour have pulled out some of the horrors which lurked at its heart. I am very lucky to have such an insightful friend. Various chapters were read by kind friends and colleagues. I am grateful for all of the time and effort they put in. Thanks to Nicola Bown, a friend who always listened and came up with good ideas from the beginning to the very end of the project; Ruth Gilbert who was generous with ideas; James Knowles, who has taught, advised and helped me with great kindness over a frighteningly long period of time; Gareth Roberts who made some useful suggestions and sent me off to the library with some new references, and whose advice and friendship I will miss; and Nigel Smith and Wendy Wheeler, who both gave up their time to read chapters. I hope that I have been able to take on their suggestions. Alan Sinfield and Kate McLuskie were generous examiners and have remained thoughtful presences over the years. Tracey Hill and Alan Marshall read parts of the book and offered helpful suggestions. I am also grateful to The Faculty of Humanities, Bath Spa University College for allowing me the time to complete the book. As well as these friends and colleagues I wish also to thank for various reasons Mark Adams, Amanda Boulter, Carolyn Burdett, Nicola Chambers, Gill Clayborough, Karen Gale, Lisa Gamsby, Jennie McCabe, Alison McInnes, Paul McSorley, Chris Mounsey, Kathryn Perry, and all the contributors to At The Borders of the Human. I would like to thank the librarians and staff at the University of Sussex Library, the British Library, Senate House Library, the Public Record Office (Chancery Lane) and the East Sussex Record Office (Lewes) for their help during the writing of this book. Charmian ix
x Acknowledgements Hearne at Macmillan has been a patient and thoughtful editor who had faith in the project and has guided it through from a very early stage. I am indebted to her for her support. Christina Zaba cast an expert eye over the final version, for which I am very grateful. As ever, any remaining mistakes are mine. Finally thanks go to my family. To Tim, Julie and Tessa for not laughing too much. Most of all I am grateful to my parents, Heather and Erik Fudge: first for the name, and second for their support which came in many forms. This book is dedicated to their kindness. I am grateful to the publishers for the right to reproduce the following: Part of Chapter 4 appeared in 'Calling Creatures By Their True Names: Francis Bacon, The New Science and the Beast in Man', in Erica Fudge, Ruth Gilbert, Susan Wiseman (ed.), At the Borders of the Human: Beasts, Bodies and Natural Philosophy in the Early Modern Period (Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1999). Part of Chapters 3 and 4 appeared in 'Temples of God: William Prynne and the New Science', in Tracey Hill and Jeff Rodman ed., The Body of Truth: Corporeality and Power in Early Modern Culture (Bath: Sulis Press, 1999). Part of Chapter 2 appeared in 'Pocahontas' Baptism: Reformed Theology and the Paradox of Desire', Critical Survey, 11/1 (1999).