ABSTRACT
The most noble and profitable invention of all other, was that of SPEECH, consisting of Names or Appellations, and their Connexion; whereby men register their Thoughts; recall them when they are past; and also declare them one to another for mutuall utility and conversation; without which, there had been amongst men, neither Common-wealth, nor Society, nor Contract, nor Peace, no more than amongst Lyons, and Bears, and Wolves. The censure of Malvolio's speech arises from his presumptions about his status in the household. The topic of women's speech itself crosses several rich critical trends. Critics have discussed literal and figurative controls over women's tongues, as well as the negative representations of talkative women and representations of silenced women. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book argues that early modern women are frequently depicted speaking powerfully, negotiating the boundaries of acceptable practice.
