Lehigh Preserve Institutional Repository Mapping significance : geographical musings on the three "hoe" plays Blaisdell, Theodore A. 1997 Find more at https://preserve.lib.lehigh.edu/ This document is brought to you for free and open access by Lehigh Preserve. It has been accepted for inclusion by an authorized administrator of Lehigh Preserve. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Blaisdell, Ted , Mapping Significance Geographical Musings on the Three "Hoe" Plays. June 1, 1997 ' Mapping Significance . Geographical Musings on the three "Hoe" Plays by Ted Blaisdell J A Thesis Presented to the Graduate and Research Committee of Lehigh University in Candid.acy for the Degree of Master ofArts in English Lehigh University April, 1997 TABLE OF CONTENTS ... Abstract Page 1 Text -- "Mapping Significance" Page 2 Bibliography Page 39 11 Abstract for "Mapping Significance" This study examines the use oftopography as a stylistic device in the Jacobean City Comedies. Beginningwith an examination ofthe critical history of this device and its relevance to current New Historical approaches to literary criticism, the paper then focuses specific attention on Westward Hoe, Eastward Hoe, and Northward Hoe, three collaborative City Comedies whose geographic· sensitivity with respect to the London river trade is revealed in their titles. The authors' employed the language ofposition and direction to provide relevance and depth to their plots and their characterizations. The authors portray London as a hub ofvirtue surrounded by the relative "viciousness" ofthe Suburbs and the Liberties. This characterization ofLondon as the center ofvirtue rests on a set of values valorizing the capitalistic principles offree trade and private property.