Torture And Brutality In Medieval Literature: N... < 2025 >

: Explores how identity was shaped by resisting the rod, emphasizing the alterity of those who practiced judicial brutality.

: Investigates the fabliaux and other humorous texts where pain and castration were used as public displays of power for comedic effect. Critical Takeaway Torture and Brutality in Medieval Literature: N...

: Examines how the "rending of flesh" served an orthodox purpose . The failure of horrific tortures to break a saint proved that faith could overcome physical suffering. : Explores how identity was shaped by resisting

In (2012), Larissa Tracy challenges the popular myth that the Middle Ages were a time of sadistic and unprovoked torment . Her central argument is that literary depictions of torture were not mirrors of actual historical practice but were instead complex rhetorical tools used to critique authority and define national boundaries. Core Argument: Torture as "Othering" The failure of horrific tortures to break a

Provide a list of the she uses as case studies

Torture and Brutality in Medieval Literature - Boydell and Brewer

Tracy posits that medieval literature often condemned torture as the mark of a tyrant rather than an accepted part of the legal system. The prevalence of torture in fiction functioned as satire, critique, and dissent against the status quo. If you'd like to explore this further, I can: