Gender Theatre and the Origins of Criticism

Marcie Frank explores the theoretical and literary legacy of John Dryden to a number of prominent women writers of his time. Frank examines the pre-eminence of gender sexuality and the theater in Dryden''s critical texts that are predominantly rewritings of the work of his own literary precursors--Ben Jonson Shakespeare and Milton. She proposes that Dryden develops a native literary tradition that is passed on as an inheritance to his heirs--Aphra Behn Catharine Trotter and Delarivier Manley--as well as to their male contemporaries.