Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University English Dissertations Department of English 1-12-2006 "Like Another Esther": Literary Representations of Queen Esther in Early Modern England Saralyn Ellen Summer Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/english_diss Recommended Citation Summer, Saralyn Ellen, ""Like Another Esther": Literary Representations of Queen Esther in Early Modern England." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2006. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/english_diss/3 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of English at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in English Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. “LIKE ANOTHER ESTHER”: LITERARY REPRESENTATIONS OF QUEEN ESTHER IN EARLY MODERN ENGLAND by SARALYN ELLEN SUMMER Under the Direction of Paul J. Voss ABSTRACT This dissertation explores the significance of Queen Esther in early modern England by exami ning her literary representations in light of historical, religious, political, and so cial contexts. Although she is often linked to Deborah and Judith, Esther’s multifaceted character allows for greater flexibility in representation than is the case with other biblical heroines. The differing aspects of her character – obedient orphan, beautiful virgin, clever and courageous queen, savior of Diaspora Jews – inspire multiple, at times even contradictory, depictions of Esther in early modern literature. Whether Protestant or Catholic, male or female, Queen or commoner, sixteenth - and seventeenth -century English writers appropriate Esther in ways that paradoxically challenge and support women’s traditional roles in society. Chapter One introduces the Esther narrative as presented in the Old Testament and Apocrypha.