Becky,
Have another look at the biographical article I distributed on the first
day of the semester. Spenser was secretary to Lord Grey de Wilton, who at
Smerwick slaughtered prisoners after they surrendered, and who starved out
resistors among the native Irish. Spenser also authored a treatise--a
dialogue, actually--on the situation in Ireland. It was never published,
and it's not clear when, why, or for whom it was written; but in it, the
character who seems to speak for the author has been understood by many
readers to endorse starvation as a means of subduing resistance. Finally,
Spenser's own estate, acquired during his years as a colonial administrator
in Ireland, consisted of lands and buildings that had been confiscated from
Irish "rebels" by the occupying English forces.
For those who go to look, you'll find that I added my own tuppence-worth to
the discussion.
David
David Lee Miller
Department of English 543 Boonesboro Avenue
University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40508-1953
Lexington, KY 40506-0027
(859) 257-6965 (859) 252-3680
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