sunnyskywalker (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sunnyskywalker) wrote2011-06-03 11:20 am
sunnyskywalker) wrote2011-06-03 11:20 am
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How to become Empress of a world
Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle, in The Blazing-World: "I am not Covetous, but as Ambitious as ever any of my Sex was, is, or can be; which is the cause, That though I cannot be Henry the Fifth, or Charles the Second; yet, I will endeavour to be, Margaret the First: and, though I have neither Power, Time nor Occasion, to be a great Conqueror, like Alexander, or Cesar; yet, rather than not be Mistress of a World, since Fortune and the Fates would give me none, I have made One of my own."
And here, later on, is her version of how she managed this:
Then follows a funny section where she tries creating worlds according to various philosophers' theories, but Epicurus's atoms make that one too misty, Aristotle's wouldn't let anything come from nothing, and so forth, until she finally just designs her own.
Also, she's very close with the Empress of the Blazing-World: "and truly their meeting did produce such an intimate friendship between them, that they became Platonick Lovers, although they were both Femals." The Emperor doesn't appear much in this work, nor Margaret's husband... ETA: Except for this part! "And then the Duke had three Souls in one Body; and had there been some such Souls more, the Duke would have been like the Grand-Signior in his Seraglio, onely it would have been a Platonick Seraglio. But the Duke's Soul being wise, honest, witty, complaisant and noble, afforded such delight and pleasure to the Empress's Soul by his conversation, that these two souls became enamoured of each other; which the Duchess's soul perceiving, grew jealous at first, but then considering that no Adultery could be committed amongst Platonick Lovers, and that Platonism, was Divine, as being derived from Divine Plato, cast forth of her mind that Idea of Jealousie."
Also, there are bird-men and bear-men and worm men and people with green or purple skin and a whole lot of diamonds and gold, and they sit around debating science stuff, and it's a very interesting and extremely odd work.
And here, later on, is her version of how she managed this:
"What, said the Empress, can any Mortal be a Creator? Yes, answered the Spirits; for every human Creature can create an Immaterial World fully inhabited by Immaterial Creatures, and populous of Immaterial subjects, such as we are, and all this within the compass of the head or scull; nay, not onely so, but he may create a World of what fashion and Government he will, and give the Creatures thereof such motions, figures, forms, colours, perceptions, &c. as he pleases... and all these to move by one jolt or stroke: also he may alter that World as often as he pleases... And since it is in your power to create such a World, What need you to venture life, reputation and tranquility, to conquer a gross material World? For you can enjoy no more of a material world then a particular Creature is able to enjoy, which is but a small part, considering the compass of such a world... The truth is, a soveraign Monarch has the general trouble; but the Subjects enjoy all the delights and pleasures in parts, for it is impossible, that a Kingdom, nay, a Country, should be injoyed by one person at once, except he take the pains to travel into every part, and endure the inconveniencies of going from one place to another? wherefore, since glory, delight, and pleasure lives but in other mens opinions, and can neither add tranquility to your mind nor give ease to your body, Why should you desire to be Empress of a Material World, and be troubled with the cares that attend Government? when as by creating a World within your self, you may enjoy all both in whole and in parts, without controle or opposition; and may make what World you please, and alter it when you please, and enjoy as much pleasure and delight as a World can afford you? You have converted me, said the Duchess to the Spirits, from my ambitious desire; wherefore, I'le take your advice, reject and despise all the Worlds without me, and create a World of my own."
Then follows a funny section where she tries creating worlds according to various philosophers' theories, but Epicurus's atoms make that one too misty, Aristotle's wouldn't let anything come from nothing, and so forth, until she finally just designs her own.
Also, she's very close with the Empress of the Blazing-World: "and truly their meeting did produce such an intimate friendship between them, that they became Platonick Lovers, although they were both Femals." The Emperor doesn't appear much in this work, nor Margaret's husband... ETA: Except for this part! "And then the Duke had three Souls in one Body; and had there been some such Souls more, the Duke would have been like the Grand-Signior in his Seraglio, onely it would have been a Platonick Seraglio. But the Duke's Soul being wise, honest, witty, complaisant and noble, afforded such delight and pleasure to the Empress's Soul by his conversation, that these two souls became enamoured of each other; which the Duchess's soul perceiving, grew jealous at first, but then considering that no Adultery could be committed amongst Platonick Lovers, and that Platonism, was Divine, as being derived from Divine Plato, cast forth of her mind that Idea of Jealousie."
Also, there are bird-men and bear-men and worm men and people with green or purple skin and a whole lot of diamonds and gold, and they sit around debating science stuff, and it's a very interesting and extremely odd work.