The Jonsonian masque and the politics of decorum

New Directions in Jonson Scholarship

“…Rooting Jonson's political stance in Seneca and Cicero, she exonerates Jonson from sycophancy by arguing that he follows classical principles of decorum involving truth and kairos, the notion that timeless truths must be adapted 'in responding to a given situation'. 49 Jonson's masques do not flatter, but find ways of praising constant virtues even in commissioned works. At the heart of Scott's essay is Martin Butler's argument that historicist approaches have led to 'formulaic and transhistorical' understandings of masque politics.…”

“…At the heart of Scott's essay is Martin Butler's argument that historicist approaches have led to 'formulaic and transhistorical' understandings of masque politics. 50 Both Butler and Leslie Mickel argue that individual masques negotiate power in specific and individual ways even as they work to uphold 'the values of order of the court' as Jonathan Goldberg claims. 51 Scott's case studies examine the relationship of masque and antimasque, a relationship that highlights 'trifles' as 'vital to decorum'; thus the masque 'stages the redemption from triviality through measure'.…”