Detail the specific Tracy argues were later "mythologized" as medieval (like the Iron Maiden)
The guide is structured by genre and region to show how these motifs shifted across different traditions: Torture and Brutality in Medieval Literature: N...
Break down the of a specific author she covers, such as Chaucer or Shakespeare Detail the specific Tracy argues were later "mythologized"
: 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. The prevalence of torture in fiction functioned as
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: