The Blazing World

by

Margaret Cavendish

Platonic Love/Friendship Term Analysis

Platonic love (or Platonic friendship) is a deep but non-romantic kind of love that is based on admiration for the beauty, virtue, and divinity in another person’s soul. In The Blazing World, the Empress and the Duchess become close Platonic friends. Philosophers influenced by Plato’s Symposium first popularized this idea in Queen Henrietta Maria’s court, where Cavendish spent much of her youth. Today, the term is often used to refer to any non-romantic friendship, but Plato’s followers (and Cavendish) meant it in this more specific sense.

Platonic Love/Friendship Quotes in The Blazing World

The The Blazing World quotes below are all either spoken by Platonic Love/Friendship or refer to Platonic Love/Friendship. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Fiction, Fancy, and Utopia Theme Icon
).
Part 1 Quotes

Then I will have, answered she, the soul of some ancient famous writer, either of Aristotle, Pythagoras, Plato, Epicurus, or the like. The spirit said, that those famous men were very learned, subtle, and ingenious writers, but they were so wedded to their own opinions, that they would never have the patience to be scribes. Then, said she, I’ll have the soul of one of the most famous modern writers, as either of Galileo, Gassendus, Descartes, Helmont, Hobbes, H. More, etc. The spirit answered, that they were fine ingenious writers, but yet so self-conceited, that they would scorn to be scribes to a woman. But, said he, there’s a lady, the Duchess of Newcastle, which although she is not one of the most learned, eloquent, witty and ingenious, yet is she a plain and rational writer, for the principle of her writings, is sense and reason.

Related Characters: Margaret Cavendish (speaker), The Empress, The Emperor, The Duchess, The Immaterial Spirits
Page Number: 181
Explanation and Analysis:

The Duke’s soul being wise, honest, witty, complaisant and noble, afforded such delight and pleasure to the Empress’s soul by her 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 Platonic lovers, and that Platonism was divine, as being derived from divine Plato, cast forth of her mind that Idea of jealousy. Then the conversation of these three souls was so pleasant, that it cannot be expressed; for the Duke’s soul entertained the Empress’s soul with scenes, songs, music, witty discourses, pleasant recreations, and all kinds of harmless sports; so that the time passed away faster than they expected.

Related Characters: Margaret Cavendish (speaker), The Empress, The Duchess, The Duke of Newcastle, Fortune
Related Symbols: Fire, Blazes, and Light
Page Number: 194-5
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2 Quotes

ln time of the voyage, both the Empress’s and Duchess’s soul were very gay and merry, and sometimes they would converse very seriously with each other.

Related Characters: Margaret Cavendish (speaker), The Empress, The Duchess
Page Number: 216
Explanation and Analysis:
Epilogue Quotes

If any should like the world I have made, and be willing to be my subjects, they may imagine themselves such, and they are such, I mean, in their minds, fancies or imaginations; but if they cannot endure to be subjects, they may create worlds of their own, and govern themselves as they please: but yet let them have a care, not to prove unjust usurpers, and to rob me of mine; for concerning the Philosophical World, I am Empress of it myself; and as for the Blazing World, it having an Empress already, who rules it with great wisdom and conduct, which Empress is my dear Platonic friend; I shall never prove so unjust, treacherous and unworthy to her, as to disturb her government, much less to depose her from her imperial throne, for the sake of any other; but rather choose to create another world for another friend.

Related Characters: Margaret Cavendish (speaker), The Empress, The Duchess
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 224-5
Explanation and Analysis:
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The Blazing World PDF

Platonic Love/Friendship Term Timeline in The Blazing World

The timeline below shows where the term Platonic Love/Friendship appears in The Blazing World. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
The Description of a New World, Called the Blazing World
Fiction, Fancy, and Utopia Theme Icon
Gender Hierarchy and Women’s Freedom Theme Icon
Philosophy, Science, and Religion Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
...her to visit from time to time. They become so close that they turn into Platonic lovers(full context)
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
...until she realizes that the Empress’s admiration for the Duke is really a kind of Platonic love . The Duke’s soul sings songs, gives speeches, and plays games to entertain the Empress. (full context)
Fiction, Fancy, and Utopia Theme Icon
Gender Hierarchy and Women’s Freedom Theme Icon
Monarchy and Government Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
...share “an immaterial kiss, and shed immaterial tears.” They part, but they always remain true Platonic friend s. (full context)
The Epilogue to The Reader
Fiction, Fancy, and Utopia Theme Icon
Gender Hierarchy and Women’s Freedom Theme Icon
Philosophy, Science, and Religion Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
...usurp hers. And she concludes by pledging her undying love and loyalty to her “dear Platonic friend ,” the Empress of the Blazing World. (full context)