UC Irvine UC Irvine Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
UC Irvine UC Irvine Electronic Theses and Dissertations Title The Hospitable Globe: Persia and the Early Modern English Stage Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8jt2w2xs Author Kaufman, Sheiba Kian Publication Date 2016 Peer reviewed|Thesis/dissertation eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE The Hospitable Globe: Persia and the Early Modern English Stage DISSERTATION submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in English by Sheiba Kian Kaufman Dissertation Committee: Julia Reinhard Lupton, Chair Professor Jayne Elizabeth Lewis Professor Jane O. Newman 2016 © 2016 Sheiba Kian Kaufman DEDICATION For Bret and Tommy My fellow wayfarers “They must cleanse their hearts from even the slightest trace of hatred and spite, and they must set about being truthful and honest, conciliatory and loving to all humankind—so that East and West will, even as two lovers, hold each other close; that hatred and hostility will perish from the earth, and universal peace be firmly rooted in their place.” - ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF FIGURES iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS v CURRICULUM VITAE vii ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION ix INTRODUCTION: On (not) Turning Turk: Persia’s Place in Early Modern English Drama 1 CHAPTER 1: “The Persians example is to be followed”: Staging Politique Persians 34 CHAPTER 2: Hidden Hospitality: Visiting Shakespeare’s Strangers 73 CHAPTER 3: From Magi to Mirza: Persian Transformations in Caroline Drama 113 CHAPTER 4: Spiritual Cosmopolitanism: Cyrus the Great Restored 163 CODA: Seeing Hospitality 211 BIBLIOGRAPHY 214 iii LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1 “Cyrus Receives Message from Harpagos” c. 1590. 59 The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles. Figure 2 “Queen Tomyris has Cyrus’ head plunged into urn of blood” c. 1590. 60 The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles. Figure 3 “After conquering Babylon, Cyrus grants Israelites their liberty” 61 c.1575-1600. The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles. Figure 4 Sir Robert Shirley, Anthony Van Dyck, 1622. University of California, 110 San Diego. ARTstor Collections. Figure 5 Tomb of “Coya Shasware,”1633. Early English Books Online. 114 Figure 6 Frontispiece of the Cyrupaedia, 1632. Early English Books Online. 122 Figure 7 Frontispiece of Cyrus Le Grand, 1654. Early English Books Online. 204 iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS When I arrived at UCI, I met a soul who embodies the foundational belief of my life: “Let deeds, not words, be your adorning” (Bahá’u’alláh). In Julia Reinhard Lupton, I have seen the beauty of the hospitable spirit in action, guiding me, nurturing me, and creating capabilities in me I never knew existed. In her being, eloquent words combine with supernatural deeds, leaving all who are fortunate to know her and work alongside her, in complete awe. The generous and exemplary guidance and support of Jane O. Newman, a paragon of scholarly humility, deepened my love for and knowledge of European history as we shared in our mutual enthusiasm for the twists and turns of this turning point in Western civilization we call the early modern period. Jayne Elizabeth Lewis is a champion builder of the intellectual mind, a master architect who sees the end in the beginning. Her radiant and joyful spirit brought my intellectual vision to its fruition with the utmost care, skill, and erudition. At moments of doubt, she sustained me, uplifting me to a state of certitude. These three angels of the humanities have increased my capacity tenfold, bringing my hopes and thoughts into being and exemplifying the maxim that “man is even as steel, the essence of which is hidden: through admonition and explanation, good counsel and education, that essence will be brought to light” (Bahá’u’lláh). My academic village has been home to dedicated and awe-inspiring faculty members. I am especially grateful to Touraj Daryaee for teaching me about the amazing world of ancient Persia and his kind, generous support of my work on and off campus. My love of the medieval period was nourished by Rebecca Davis. Elizabeth Allen revealed to me the beauty of the Romance genre and encouraged me to be the educator I knew I could be. Rebeca Helfer reminded me to look for the “big picture” in academia and in life. A special thanks is due to those exceptional faculty members at UCI and beyond that guided me to a greater understanding of literature, history, and scholarship, trusting in my abilities and fostering my talents: Nasrin Rahimieh, Daniel Gross, Tesha Sengupta-Irving, Catherine Fisk, Mona Lynch, Glen Mimura, Rajagopalan Radhakrishnan, Bradin Cormack, Rosalind Ballaster, Michael J. B. Allen, Karen E. Rowe, David Goldstein, Jodi Johnson, Brett Gamboa, Brook Haley, Ayesha Ramachandran, Kevin Curran, and James Kearney. My love of literature was first planted in me by Mary Petersen, and I will always cherish her beautiful spirit. I am indebted to Gina Anzivino for her comraderie and tactical support. My work has been enriched by conversations and insights gleaned from my amazing peers at UCI and throughout the country: Maria Bose, Robin Stewart, Lance Langdon, Cara Watkins, Jeff Wilson, Ricardo Matthews, and Nedda Mehdizadeh. I’m thankful for the mentorship of Katherine Ryan, the kindness of Jie Zhuang, and the mutual joy I continue to share with Shirley Tung, a fellow academic mother dedicated to her little one above all else. I found a kindred spirit in the incomparable Shaina Trapedo, and I know our friendship will last a lifetime. v I am especially thankful for the generosity of the American Association of University Women for funding the completion of this project, as well as the School of Humanities at UCI, the Center for Law, Society, and Culture at UCI, and the Samuel Jordan Center for Persian Studies at UCI for support along the way. Portions of the Introduction and Chapter Two are reprinted with permission from Shakespeare and Hospitality: Ethics, Politics, and Exchange, eds. David B. Goldstein and Julia Reinhard Lupton (New York: Routledge, 2016). My dear family and friends have been patient and encouraging travelers with me on this journey. Great thanks is due to my sincere, generous, and steadfast friend Cecilia Chan and her radiant family, Evie Landa Biegun, Sina Taheri, Aden Michael, Chitra Golestani Maghzi, Jeffrey Albert, and Mona Kashani Heern. I am thankful for the continual support of my loving aunts, uncles, and cousins, in the US and in England. I am grateful to the Bahá’í communities of Irvine, Agoura Hills, and Los Angeles who have offered me opportunities to serve humanity in tangible ways throughout these years. The thanks that is due to my selfless, brilliant mother, Shahnaz Avvali-Seisan, runs very deep. It was her daily example and sacrifice that led me to achieve my dreams. My father, Hoss Kian, always encouraged me to pursue my education. My mother-in-law, Alva Lois Kaufman, has been the sweetest, gentlest “mama” one could ever find. My dearest brother, Seraj Ardakani, has loved me like no one else and my kind sister-in-law, Kavita Adrakani, has complemented and magnified my brother’s limitless generosity. Finally, this dissertation is for my best friend, my intellectual and spiritual partner, my fortress for well-being, my eternal consort, my husband, Bret Kaufman, and the love of our lives, Thomas Burhan Kaufman, a tender sapling who will grow into a glorious tree of love, hope, and inspiration for our family. May we three together “enjoy everlasting unity” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá). vi CURRICULUM VITAE Sheiba Kian Kaufman Education 2016 Ph.D. in English, University of California, Irvine 2012 M.A. in English, University of California, Irvine 2005 M.ST. in English Literature, 1550-1780, Oxford University, England 2004 B.A. in English with minor in Applied Linguistics, summa cum laude, University of California, Los Angeles Fields of Specialization Renaissance drama and poetry, cultural studies and theory, ancient Persia, comparative religious studies, cosmopolitanism, hospitality Publications “Her father loved me, oft invited me”: Staging Shakespeare’s Hidden Hospitality in The Travels of the Three English Brothers in Shakespeare and Hospitality: Ethics, Politics, and Exchange, Routledge Studies in Shakespeare Series, editors Julia Reinhard Lupton and David Goldstein, 2016. Conference Presentations (selected) “‘To bestow a Cyrus upon the world to make many Cyruses’: Discovering Europe’s Ideal Ruler in Persia’s Legendary King,” UCI Irvine, Cyrus the Great: From Ancient Persia to the European Literary Imagination. Conference in conjunction with Cyrus Cylinder Tour and Exhibit at the Getty Villa, October 2013 (invited). “Eastern Embraces: Staging Early Modern Diplomacy and Interreligious Hospitality” Renaissance Society of America, San Diego, April 2013. ““Learning ‘foreign matters’ in Early Modern London: A Looking Glass for Biblical History,” Oxford University English Faculty Conference, The Public and Private, 1550-1780, February 2005. Awards Oxford University, Alice Horsman Scholarship, Somerville Alumni Award, 2016 American Association of University Women Dissertation Fellowship, 2015-16 vii Nora Folkenflik Endowed Graduate TA Award, 2014 UC Irvine Humanities Dean's Gateway Award in Persian Studies, 2014 UC Irvine Summer Dissertation Fellowship, 2014 Farhang Foundation, Cyrus Cylinder Tour, Honorarium, October 2013 UC Irvine Center in Law, Society and Culture Travel Grant, Summer 2013 UC Irvine Samuel Jordan Center for Persian Studies and Culture, Zarrinkelk