Date of Award

2015

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Harrawood, Michael

Abstract

Dr. John Dee, 16th century advisor to Queen Elizabeth, conducted a series of mystical sessions to converse with angelic spirits in the early 1580s, asking a variety of questions ranging from hidden treasures to the organization of the cosmos. At a glance the experiments appear focused solely on the field of magic, separated from organized scientific research or religious belief. I argue that Dee’s research within this period does not separate the three from one another, but instead serves as a meeting point where magic, science, and religion overlap one another. They are not separate discourses, but instead constantly mingling as practitioners like Dee pursue knowledge. Christopher Marlowe, a playwright of the 16th century, mirrors Dee’s research in his play Doctor Faustus, ultimately condemning the pursuits of magic as fruitless and useful only for one’s damnation.

Comments

Includes bibliography.

Extent

43 p

Identifier

FA00003640

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