Disgust, Hate, Happiness – Affect and Emotions in Early Modern Literature

In the opening lines of Shakespeare’sThe Merchant of Venice, Antonio insists upon the profound effects of his sadness – and upon his utter ignorance of its causes: „In sooth, I know not why I am so sad,/It wearies me, you say it wearies you;/But how I caught it, found it, or came by it,/What stuff ’ tis made of, whereof it is born.“ Emotions shape individuals, communities and national identities. They are, however, not universal, but cultural and social practices and expressions that change over time. In the seminar we will investigate the way that affects and emotions - such as disgust, hate and happiness - are displayed, expressed and practiced as culturally and historically specific expressions in early modern texts. Taking current research in affect theory and studies on early modern emotions into account we will read texts by Shakespeare and his contemporaries in order to re-evaluate the cultural priorities and phenomenological principles that shaped the understanding of the emotive self in the early modern period.