The Blazing World

by

Margaret Cavendish

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Themes and Colors
Fiction, Fancy, and Utopia Theme Icon
Gender Hierarchy and Women’s Freedom Theme Icon
Monarchy and Government Theme Icon
Philosophy, Science, and Religion Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Blazing World, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Monarchy and Government Theme Icon

Margaret Cavendish’s The Blazing World is most often praised for its dazzling depiction of an alternate world and forward-thinking ideas about gender, but Cavendish also wrote the book to explore various different approaches to politics and government. She depicts the Blazing World’s Emperor as an absolutely powerful ruler, who maintains peace across his entire world and is beloved by all. Later, the Emperor hands his absolute power to the Empress, whom he and his subjects consider a goddess. But when the Empress changes laws and starts to favor some groups over others, conflict starts to emerge, and she eventually realizes that she has made a terrible mistake. She returns to the old system of “one sovereign, one religion, one law, and one language,” which solves the kingdom’s troubles. In other words, she learns that the best way to foster peace and unity is by concentrating all power in as few hands as possible. In fact, at the end of the book, the Empress dresses up as a radiant goddess, invades the world where she originally lived, and conquers every single country in it—then hands power to her native country’s king. Thus, she recreates the Blazing World’s system of government in her own world. This is particularly significant because Cavendish was writing in the aftermath of the English Civil War, which briefly overthrew the English monarchy and forced royalists into exile—including Cavendish and her husband, the Duke of Newcastle. Clearly, the Empress’s revolution, regret, and restoration of the old system are a metaphor for the English monarchy’s fall and restoration in the 1650s–60s.

Cavendish presents benevolent but absolute monarchy as the best system of government because she believes that the best way to foster unity and equality in a nation is by concentrating power in as few hands as possible. This might seem counterintuitive to modern readers, particularly those who view Cavendish as an early feminist icon. Modern feminists generally fight against women’s oppression by appealing to broader democratic values, like the idea that all people are equal and should share power. But these ideas simply didn’t exist in Cavendish’s time—and if they did, she no doubt would have opposed them, as her life and marriage made her a lifelong defender of the British monarchy. In fact, The Blazing World can be seen as an aggressive anti-democratic response to the Parliamentarians, who fought the Civil War to hand power to Parliament (an assembly of wealthy landowners). Specifically, Cavendish suggests that dividing power into many hands inevitably causes factionalism, tension, and violence because, when nobody has absolute power, elites will fight to take it.

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Monarchy and Government ThemeTracker

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Monarchy and Government Quotes in The Blazing World

Below you will find the important quotes in The Blazing World related to the theme of Monarchy and Government.
To the Reader Quotes

Though I cannot be Henry the Fifth, or Charles the Second, yet I endeavour to be Margaret the First; and although I have neither power, time nor occasion to conquer the world as Alexander and Caesar did; yet rather than not to be mistress of one, since Fortune and the Fates would give me none, I have made a world of my own: for which no body, I hope, will blame me, since it is in every one’s power to do the like.

Related Characters: Margaret Cavendish (speaker), The Empress, Fortune
Page Number: 124
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 1 Quotes

No sooner was the Lady brought before the Emperor, but he conceived her to be some goddess, and offered to worship her; which she refused, telling him, (for by that time she had pretty well learned their language) that although she came out of another world, yet was she but a mortal; at which the Emperor rejoicing, made her his wife, and gave her an absolute power to rule and govern all that world as she pleased. But her subjects, who could hardly be persuaded to believe her mortal, tendered her all the veneration and worship due to a deity.

Related Characters: Margaret Cavendish (speaker), The Empress, The Emperor
Page Number: 132
Explanation and Analysis:

And thus the Empress, by art, and her own ingenuity, did not only convert the Blazing World to her own religion, but kept them in a constant belief, without enforcement or blood-shed; for she knew well, that belief was a thing not to be forced or pressed upon the people, but to be instilled into their minds by gentle persuasions; and after this manner she encouraged them also in all other duties and employments, for fear, though it makes people obey, yet does it not last so long, nor is it so sure a means to keep them to their duties, as love.

Related Characters: Margaret Cavendish (speaker), The Empress
Related Symbols: Fire, Blazes, and Light
Page Number: 164
Explanation and Analysis:

She asked again, whether they were none of those spirits that frighted Adam out of the Paradise, at least caused him not to return thither again? They answered they were not. Then she desired to be informed, whither Adam fled when he was driven out of the Paradise? Out of this world, said they, you are now Empress of, into the world you came from.

Related Characters: The Empress (speaker), The Immaterial Spirits (speaker)
Related Symbols: Fire, Blazes, and Light
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 170
Explanation and Analysis:

We wonder, proceeded the spirits, that you desire to be Empress of a terrestrial world, when as you can create your self a celestial world if you please. What, said the Empress, can any mortal be a creator? Yes, answered the spirits; for every human creature can create an immaterial world fully inhabited by immaterial creatures, and populous of immaterial subjects, such as we are, and all this within the compass of the head or scull. […] And since it is in your power to create such a world, what need you to venture life, reputation and tranquility, to conquer a gross material world? For you can enjoy no more of a material world than a particular creature is able to enjoy, which is but a small part.

Related Characters: The Empress (speaker), Margaret Cavendish (speaker), The Immaterial Spirits (speaker), The Duchess, Fortune
Related Symbols: Fire, Blazes, and Light
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 185-6
Explanation and Analysis:

Thus those two female souls travelled together as lightly as two thoughts into the Duchess her native world; and which is remarkable, in a moment viewed all the parts of it, and all the actions of all the creatures therein, especially did the Empress’s soul take much notice of the several actions of human creatures in all the several nations and parts of that world, and wondered that for all there were so many several nations, governments, laws, religions, opinions, etc. they should all yet so generally agree in being ambitious, proud, self-conceited, vain, prodigal, deceitful, envious, malicious, unjust, revengeful, irreligious, factious, etc.

Related Characters: Margaret Cavendish (speaker), The Empress, The Emperor, The Duchess
Page Number: 190
Explanation and Analysis:

When the soul of the Empress viewed the King and Queen, she seemed to be in amaze, which the Duchess’s soul perceiving, asked the Empress how she liked the King, the Queen, and all the royal race? She answered, that in all the monarchs she had seen in that world, she had not found so much majesty and affability mixed so exactly together, that none did overshadow or eclipse the other; and as for the Queen, she said, that virtue sat triumphant in her face, and piety was dwelling in her heart, and that all the royal family seemed to be endued with a divine splendour: but when she had heard the King discourse, she believed, that Mercury and Apollo had been his celestial instructors; and my dear lord and husband, added the Duchess, has been his earthly governor.

Related Characters: The Empress (speaker), The Duchess (speaker), Margaret Cavendish (speaker), The Duke of Newcastle
Related Symbols: Fire, Blazes, and Light
Page Number: 192
Explanation and Analysis:

Fortune hearing thus Honesty’s plain speech, thought it very rude, and would not hearken to Truth’s judgement, but went away in a passion: at which, both the Empress and Duchess were extremely troubled, that their endeavours should have no better effect: but Honesty chid the Duchess, and said, she was to be punished for desiring so much Fortune’s favours; for it appears, said she, that you mistrust the gods’ blessings: at which the Duchess wept, answering Honesty, that she did neither mistrust the gods’ blessings, nor rely upon Fortune’s favours; but desired only that her lord might have no potent enemies.

Related Characters: Margaret Cavendish (speaker), The Empress, The Duchess, The Duke of Newcastle, Fortune, Honesty, Prudence
Page Number: 200
Explanation and Analysis:

The Duchess answered, that since she heard by her Imperial Majesty, how well and happily the world had been governed when she first came to be Empress thereof, she would advise her Majesty to introduce the same form of government again, which had been before; that is, to have but one sovereign, one religion, one law, and one language, so that all the world might be but as one united family, without divisions; nay, like God, and his blessed saints and angels: otherwise, said she, it may in time prove as unhappy, nay, as miserable a world as that is from which I came.

Related Characters: The Empress (speaker), The Duchess (speaker), The Emperor, The Bear-Men, The Fish-Men, The Worm-Men, The Ape-Men, The Satyrs
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 201
Explanation and Analysis:
Part 2 Quotes

The Empress before she came in sight of the enemy, sent some of her fish- and bird-men to bring her intelligence of their fleet; and hearing of their number, their station and posture, she gave order that when it was night, her bird-men should carry in their beaks some of the mentioned fire-stones, with the tops thereof wetted; and the fish-men should carry them likewise, and hold them out of the water; for they were cut in the form of torches or candles, and being many thousands, made a terrible show; for it appeared as if all the air and sea had been of a flaming fire; and all that were upon the sea, or near it, did verily believe, the time of judgement, or the last day was come, which made them all fall down, and pray.

Related Characters: Margaret Cavendish (speaker), The Empress, The Bear-Men, The Bird-Men, The Fish-Men, The Giants
Related Symbols: Fire, Blazes, and Light
Page Number: 208
Explanation and Analysis:

If I had long speeched councillors, replied the Empress, I would hang them, by reason they give more words, than advice. The Duchess answered, that Her Majesty should not be angry, but consider the differences of that and her Blazing World; for, said she, they are not both alike; but there are grosser and duller understandings in this, than in the Blazing World.

Related Characters: The Empress (speaker), The Duchess (speaker)
Page Number: 209
Explanation and Analysis:

The Empress appeared upon the face of the water in her imperial robes; in some part of her hair she had placed some of the star-stone, near her face, which added such a lustre and glory to it, that it caused a great admiration in all that were present, who believed her to be some celestial creature, or rather an uncreated goddess, and they all had a desire to worship her; for surely, said they, no mortal creature can have such a splendid and transcendent beauty, nor can any have so great a power as she has, to walk upon the waters, and to destroy whatever she pleases, not only whole nations, but a whole world.

Related Characters: Margaret Cavendish (speaker), The Empress, The King of ESFI, The Bird-Men, The Fish-Men
Related Symbols: Fire, Blazes, and Light
Page Number: 214-5
Explanation and Analysis:

Great, heroic, and famous monarchs: I came hither to assist the King of ESFI against his enemies, he being unjustly assaulted by many several nations, which would fain take away his hereditary rights and prerogatives of the narrow seas; at which unjustice Heaven was much displeased; and for the injuries he received from his enemies, rewarded him with an absolute power, so that now he is become the head-monarch of all this world; which power, though you may envy, yet you can no ways hinder him; for all those that endeavour to resist his power, shall only get loss for their labour, and no victory for their profit. Wherefore my advice to you all is, to pay him tribute justly and truly, that you may live peaceably and happily, and be rewarded with the blessings of Heaven, which I wish you from my soul.

Related Characters: The Empress (speaker), The King of ESFI
Page Number: 216
Explanation and Analysis:

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: