Why court?

Marry and secure social development – have children, run a hime

Security – difficulty of divorse – guaranteed relationship

Safe option – wouldn’t be accused of being a witch

Convention of the court – an expectation, wooing and winning of ladies was expected

Social mobility – could move up the social scale

Fundamental courtship ideas

Not a love

Social standing – to legitimise children

Boys – 14 and Girls 12 – Age of consent at 21

Marriages between young to secure a prosperous bloodline asap

Familial Arrangement

Best to trust your parents – authority and maturity – you might not meet before courting or
marrying

Might have a stitched picture of the woman

In lower classes between friends and neighbors – knowledge that these children would marry – unite
families

Mutual enrichment – stabilising family line or gaining goods

Women

Slightly more important than cattle – goods in a trade

They would gain reverence – but also objectified

Had little say in the matter – accept father’s decision

Dowry

Links to Astrophil and Stella

Divorce was illegal – so Stella is unwilling to enter physical relationship – she is loyal to her husband

Expectationdf on women to be chaste and pure in society

Astro’s desire is uncontrollable – often had a relentless pursuit in court – if they wanted a woman

It damages his reputation, family, friends, emotional stance

Petrachan form – presents himself as a humble suitor – wants to control the experience of Stella

Stella’s reputation – loyalty and fidelity is central – she gives the final rejection

Sonnet 7 – Eyes, typical blazon form as list of characteristics, based on lust – balance reason vs
desire
Sonnet 63 – Uses his intellect to attempt to trick Stella into sex – outsmarting

Address to = Cupid, Muses, Reader, Friends, Abstract Noun, Other writer

He doesn’t know who is going to be reading it

Even his friend is a fictional construct – they might be courtiers but not necessarily his friends

Allow him to explore different angles

How far can we go in separating Astrophil’s voice and Sydney’s?

Reminding that he is actually writing this – that is Sydney (?)

Multiple Astrophil’s? – Is it a generalised love stories

Is there a difference between this and modern poetry?

Are we to assume the speaker is the same as the author?

It isn’t a very positive image if so. And Sydney was very private…