15/3/07 - English Literature - Milton, Crashaw and Southwell: (Anglo) Catholic Devotions

Southwell (1561-1595) was appropriated by Protestants and Catholics. Yet he was in fact a Jesuit, and became a Jesuit priest. He was distinctly Catholic: so why do we say 'anglo-Catholic'?

Lines 1-12 of Southwell's Blessed Sacrament of the Altar are about transubstantiation. In 79-90 he uses paradoxical logic to challenge Protestants to maintain their own logic. He uses simple meters, often thought to be 'drab' and 'dull'. Yet he cultivates the native English medieval style - this could be a statement about continuity and patriotism.

Penance is often explored by Renaissance poets (and others) through the figure of Mary Magdalen, which Southwell does in Mary Magdalen's complaint at Christ's death. The poem is controlled and ungendered. It is startling in comparison to The death of Our Lady. The latter invokes more sadness about the death of Mary than of Christ. His Virgin Maries conception also feels sadness at her death.

It should be noted that some of Southwell's work is aimed at Catholic audiences, and others at Protestant. His plain style made him more acceptable to Protestants than, for example, Crashaw, who was said to have a 'tasteless' Baroque style.

Crashaw (1612-1648) wrote On the Wounds of our Crucified Lord. Lines 1-20 seem to be obsessed with orifices and wounds. There is an indistinguishability of objects and who they belong to. There is an allusion to Mary Magdalen in lines 9-10. Crashaw uses saints to more and more extreme ends in his poems.

Crashaw's poem about St Teresa was thought to be based on drawings of the sculpture, but this is unproven.

Cowley wrote a poem, On the Death of Mr Crashaw. In lines 48-59 he comes dangerously close to identifying himself with Catholicism.

Crashaw's father was against Catholicism, especially Jesuits. Crashaw went to Pembroke College, Cambridge and converted to Catholicism later, astonishingly considering his upbringing. Note that the titles of his poetry suggest transition.

Herbert does with hearts and stones what Crashaw does with mouths and eyes.