Hello and welcome to the Discourse. The School of Abuse by Stephen Gosson is a significant work in Elizabethan literature, primarily as a polemical attack on the theater and other forms of popular entertainment. Published in 1579, it reflects the Puritanical concerns of the time regarding the moral and social dangers posed by plays, poetry, and other frivolous pastimes. Though not a literary masterpiece itself, Gosson’s treatise is historically important for its role in the broader debate about the value of art and entertainment in Renaissance England.
Stephen Gosson wrote The School of Abuse as a moral and religious critique of the flourishing Elizabethan theater and secular entertainment culture. A former playwright, Gosson had personal experience with the world he condemned, which lent his arguments a tone of reformed conviction. His primary motivation was Puritanical disapproval of what he saw as the corrupting influence of plays, poetry, and other leisurely pastimes. Living in an era when London’s public theaters were gaining popularity—and, in the eyes of religious conservatives, encouraging vice—Gosson sought to expose what he believed were the dangers of unchecked artistic expression. His treatise was part of a larger movement of anti-theatrical sentiment among English Puritans, who viewed theater as a threat to public morality, social order, and religious devotion.
Gosson’s work was also shaped by his time's political and cultural anxieties. The late 16th century saw increasing concerns about idleness, crime, and moral decay in rapidly growing urban centers like London. Authorities often associated theaters with rowdy crowds, prostitution, and the spread of disease, leading to periodic crackdowns on playhouses. Gosson amplified these fears, arguing that plays distracted citizens from honest labor and tempted them into sin. His arguments drew heavily from classical philosophy, particularly Plato’s Republic, which warned that poets and storytellers could deceive audiences and undermine virtue. By framing his critique in both Christian and classical terms, Gosson aimed to persuade educated elites, such as his dedicatee, Sir Philip Sidney, that theater was not just frivolous but actively harmful to society.
Summary of The School of Abuse:
Gosson’s The School of Abuse is structured as a moralistic critique, condemning contemporary drama and poetry as corrupting influences. He argues that theaters are breeding grounds for vice, idleness, and deception, luring people away from productive labor and virtuous living. Drawing on classical and Christian authorities, Gosson claims that plays encourage immorality by depicting sinful behavior, such as adultery and violence, without proper condemnation. He also attacks poets, comparing them to deceitful sophists who manipulate emotions rather than instruct in truth.
Gosson dedicated his work to Sir Philip Sidney, likely hoping for approval from the influential literary figure. However, Sidney’s later Defence of Poesy (or An Apology for Poetry,1595) indirectly rebuts Gosson by arguing that poetry and drama can morally educate and inspire virtue. Despite Gosson’s fervor, his arguments were not universally accepted, and the Elizabethan theater continued to flourish, defended by playwrights like Ben Jonson and later by Shakespeare’s enduring works.
Moral and Religious Criticism
Gosson’s work reflects Puritan anxieties about the secularization of culture. He viewed theater as a distraction from religious duty and a corrupting force, particularly for the youth. His arguments aligned with broader 16th-century debates about the role of art in society, mirroring earlier attacks on medieval mystery plays and later Puritan closures of theaters in the 1640s.
Classical Influences
Gosson borrowed heavily from Plato’s Republic, particularly the idea that poets spread falsehoods and should be excluded from an ideal society. He also cites Roman writers like Cicero to bolster his case against idleness. However, his selective use of classical sources ignores counterarguments, such as Aristotle’s defense of catharsis in tragedy.
Social and Economic Concerns
Beyond morality, Gosson worries about the theater’s disruption of social order. He criticizes actors for misleading audiences and young men for wasting time and money on plays instead of honest work. This reflects broader Elizabethan concerns about urbanization and the destabilizing effects of commercial entertainment.
Literary and Historical Significance
Though Gosson’s arguments were not original, The School of Abuse is important as part of the "anti-theatrical controversy" of the Renaissance. It provoked responses from defenders of literature, most notably Sidney, who argued that poetry could elevate virtue. Much before that, Thomas Lodge wrote a spirited rebuttal to Stephen Gosson titled A Defence of Poetry, Music, and Stage Plays (1580). Unlike Gosson’s Puritanical condemnation of the arts, Lodge’s work defends poetry and theater as valuable, morally instructive, and culturally enriching. His response is significant because it represents the voice of Renaissance humanism, countering Gosson’s rigid moralism with arguments rooted in classical tradition and the transformative power of literature.
Gosson’s work also provides insight into the cultural tensions of Elizabethan England, where the theater’s popularity clashed with religious conservatism.
While The School of Abuse is largely forgotten as literature, it remains a valuable historical document, illustrating the ideological conflicts of its time. Gosson’s rigid moralism contrasts sharply with the creative explosion of the Elizabethan stage, highlighting the tension between artistic freedom and social control. His arguments, though extreme, remind us that debates over the media’s influence on morality are not just modern phenomena but have deep roots in Western cultural history.
So this is it for today. We will continue to discuss the history of Literary Criticism. Please stay connected with the Discourse. Thanks and Regards!
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