Summary of the Duchess of Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish: Blazing-world

The Description of a New World, Called the Blazing-World

By Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle

A merchant fell in love with a lady. He was a stranger and “beneath her, both in Birth and Wealth.” He kidnapped her in his boat. Heaven wasn’t happy and raised a storm.

Carried to North Pole. The wind guided it through the glaciers for the lady. But the men all froze to death, and the lady, “by the light of her Beauty, the heat of her Youth, and Protection of the Gods” stayed alive. But, the North Pole was connected to the pole of another world, so it was doubly cold. The boat was forced into the second world. She describes how it’s impossible to circumnavigate the earth from north to south because you’ll end up switching into the other world at the poles; the reason the poles have 6 months of sun is that they get the sun from the other world as well.

It started to warm up and the men’s bodies began to rot; she wasn’t strong enough to throw them overboard so she retired to the cabin to avoid the smell. Strange bear-like creatures carried her off the boat and sank it with the bodies.

She was scared and thought they’d kill her. They were civil and kind. Carried her to the city. Brought her to a cave where females tried to help her but realized she couldn’t handle the climate or diet. Decided to bring her to an island where the people were more like foxes. Came to an island of geese-men. They got to a pleasant woody island inhabited by satyrs. Another kingdom of green men. Headed to the island where the emperor of the blazing-world lived. They were skilled sailors. The boat had engines; they’d put them behind when the wind died, and in front when they encountered storms to beat the waves down.

At first the Lady had been scared and sad, but because she was smart, and considering what she’d already been thorough (and the fact that the men were civil) she felt better. She tried to learn the language. She became happy, showing that we’re uncomfortable in new situations but when we get familiar with them we’re better. They headed to paradise, where the emperor lived. Marble and amber cities, labyrinthine river as defense. Paradise was built of gold. “architectures were noble, stately, and magnificent, not like our Modern, but like those in the Romans time”. The buildings were broad, not high (anti-phallic?). Everything was diamond-encrusted – diamonds of all different colors.

Emperor thought she was a goddess and wanted to worship her. She said no. He married her “and gave her an absolute power to rule and govern all that World as she pleased.”

The people wouldn’t believe she was mortal and worshipped her.

Description of her diamond clothing. She carried a spear so that she “was ready to assault… her Enemies”.

There was no currency, just bartering.

Men of all kinds of species. Each had a job that suited his species, and the empress encouraged them, especially in the arts and scientists. She founded schools and societies. She wanted to be taught about their religion and government. Asked why there were so few laws. They said that laws made divisions, which bred factions, which led to war. She asked why they liked a monarchy. They said that as a body has one head, same for a political body. With many governors, you’re like a monster with many heads. Plus, as a divine form of government, monarchy agrees with our religion. One god, one emperor.

There was one religion. They prayed. She asks why there are no women in the congregations. They said it’s not fit “that men and women should be promiscuously together in time of religious worship”. So, do women have their own congregation? No, they say their prayers at home. Priests and governors are eunuchs so they don’t marry, as women and children are distractions and may influence the rulers.

She asked why the houses are not higher than two stories. They’re less subject to the elements. The walls were thick for insulation.

She asked the bird-men to teach her about the sun and moon.

The sun is a solid yellowish stone, and the moon of white. Sun is masculine, moon is feminine. Sun moves in straight line, moon does not. Both bodies have flaws. They don’t believe that the sun has its own fire, as there’s no fuel for it, and it would burn the rest of the universe. So the heat that gets to them is just a result of the light. Others thought that the movement of “globules” caused it. None said it was a fluid body, but a stone.

But why do they look different at different times? Density of the air. Movement of the air.

What are sun motes? Streams of particles. They are living.

So what about stars? They only have blazing stars.

What about the air? It can’t be perceived with the senses. So what about wind? It’s more dense than air so can be felt. But they couldn’t really tell.

They couldn’t agree on the cause of wind. So how is snow made? Mixture of water and an extract of fire. Beaten together to make a froth. After a while it was dissolved by the heat. She didn’t believe it as she thought it was by cold, not fire. The fish men told her about ice, saying that salt from the sea condensed water to the ice.

Water at the equator only condensed into water and rain.

This partially confirmed the snow theory. So what is fire? It’s not solid because it has no fuel. More thin and fluid than our fire.

What about thunder and lightning? Is it caused by ice? They said no, it’s when cold and heat meat. An exhalation kindled in the clouds was lightning, and clouds were torn as thunder. But others said that thunder was stirred up in the air, and didn’t always need a cloud. But she liked the first description better. She told the bear men to use telescopes, but the “telescopes caused more differences and divisions amongst them”. Some thought the earth moved, some thought the sun moved, they fought about the size of their stars. The empress got angry that the telescopes didn’t bring more true info. So she told them to destroy the telescopes. The bear men said it wasn’t the telescope’s faults – it was the sensitivities of their eyes and the difference in their judgment. She says the telescopes delude them and will never lead to truth, so break them and use your eyes. The bear men weren’t happy and asked again if they could not break their glasses. They prefer artificial delusions to natural truths. They like arguing and contradicting; it leads to one being wiser than the other. She finally agreed that the disputes should remain in the schools, and not disturb the state or government. They brought her microscopes and showed her flies’ eyes.

They showed her coal with all of its pores, and the reason it was black is because no light reflected from the holes. She says that black is a color, so you contradict yourself by saying that black is made with no reflection. Let’s look at a nettle. She says if there was such poison in them that hurts the skin, how can we eat them? They said doctors could tell her that – they’re just looking.

They showed her a flea and a louse. They were terrible and she fainted. She asked if the microscopes should prevent fleas from biting. They said no. She asked if there was a glass that could magnify the shapes of larger things. They tried with a whale but it didn’t work. Empress decided that microscopes weren’t sufficient. She asked if they could make one that would shrink something. They did, and they looked at a whale.

Bird and bear men dismissed. Now, fish-men and worm-men. Why is the sea salty? The salt is drank by the sea – the drinking motion is the tides and waves. It’s not the movement of the earth or influence of the moon as some believe.

Do all the animals in the sea have blood? Some do, some don’t. Some have a little.

Some have a small vein. She wondered how there could be animals that can live without blood. She asks about blood in worms. Some do, some don’t. moths don’t, louse has a vein like a lobster. So how can they live? They said that blood isn’t necessary. Do all creatures that do have blood have circulation? They don’t know because that’s internal. Is there anything somewhere between flesh and fish? Several. She asks how? They say that some have different respiration. She asks about reproduction. Some make off-spring like the producer, some don’t. Sexual reproduction. Maggots bred from cheese. (ew).

How is frost made? Same as ice and snow.

Why is some water not salty? Why does some ebb and flow? Some said caverns. Some said it is salty, just not enough to taste. Some said the heat in the center of the earth distills it. Talk about alchemy a bit.

Can you observe the interior motions of vegetables and minerals? She told the bear-men to give the worm-men microscopes to examine under the earth, but the bear-men said there’s no light there, and the glasses only show exterior things. Worm men said that creatures underground have a sense like sight. What color are things under the earth? They laughed. Everything has color.

She was impressed with the answer and pardoned the laughing. Is there anything within the earth that has no dimension or quality that produces vegetables and minerals?

Vegetables had seeds but minerals didn’t. Describes germination and stuff. Are there any non-beings within the earth? They’d never heard of any, but she has to ask immaterial spirits. There is no beginning in nature.

Next, chemist ape-men. Tell me about transmutations. They didn’t all agree. Some said the four elements, other said that there are bodies that don’t contain any. Some are produced just of water. Empress got annoyed at their arguing and gave her opinion.

I’ve made observations. Nature “is but one infinite self-moving bodies.” Divided into parts which are restless and change. Is it vain to look for primary ingredients? Fire is just a creature of nature. Why do you think fire can show you elements? Don’t waste your time with this stuff; try to do experiments that will actually benefit people.

They realized that she was really smart. She asks why the imperial race looks so young even though they’re so old. Rub this oil on them. If an old man rubs it on him, he’ll spit and vomit all kinds of stuff up. Clears out the body and brain. Blood, sweat, urine, stool. Hair, teeth, and nail will scab off. Patient is wrapped for nine months, fed eggs and milk. At the end, he looks twenty. A weaker sort of this gum is used as medicine. Also, nobody dinks anything but lime-water (women tended to be anti-drinking), only eat birds for meat, and have many recreations, especially hunting. She’d heard of a philosophers stone or a liquid that cured all diseases, but never one that could cure age. She would have been more suspicious if it had been created and wasn’t natural (prioritizing the natural).

Now, physicians. What’s the effects of these herbs an drugs? They could tell you the operations of them but not why. Generally cause by their motions.

Asked her anatomists to dissect monsters. They said the only reason they dissect animals is to figure out how to cure things in living ones. They don’t want to cure monsters. She said it might be useful to experimental philosophers. They said, then it’s in vain.

Finally, physicians. Cause of apoplexies and the plague? Plague is gangrene. She wants to know how it’s so contagious. Some say it’s caused by little atom-like things that go from one body to the other through eyes, nose, mouth (germs?) but most people think this is ridiculous. They think it’s about motion and imitation – parts of one person move in imitation of another’s who’s infected.

The spider-men show her math but she has a hard time understanding. She doesn’t get imaginary numbers or the fact that lines and points are so small. She gives up on math.

Lice-men weighed and measured things but couldn’t agree. She said there was therefore no truth in them and dissolved their society.

Bird men were orators and logicians. All the rules of logic and formalities ended up confusing them. She said to think more of the content and less of the art of their speech.

Next, the art of disputing. Start with logic. If every A is B and every C is A, then every C is B. Lots of examples that contradict each other. She says enough. Formal arguments spoil natural cleverness. Natural logic is preferred over artificial.

They’re obscuring truth, not clearing it.

They say, natural philosophy would be imperfect without the art of logic. There’s truth that can only be found through the art of debate. She believes in natural philosophy, and that it is not perfect. But it’s wrong to think that art can regulate it. She doesn’t approve of them and confines the disputes to the schools so they don’t disturb the church or state.

She found their religion defective and was upset that they didn’t understand the divine truth. She decided to build churches and make a congregation of women. She would be the head of the church. The women were smart, clever, wise; soon became devout. The empress was a great preacher. She loved her subjects. She didn’t want them to grow weary and follow their own desires. She tried to figure out how to prevent it. She asks the worm men what causes volcanoes; they say a particular stone. She says to bring her one but keep it a secret. They’ll bring her star stones too.

She uses these stones to build her chapels. In the fire chapel she preaches sermons of terror to the wicked. In the other she preaches sermons of comfort to the repented.

She converted everyone and kept them, not through force, but through persuasion.

She thought about her old world, and wanted to know more. Decided she needed immaterial spirits to help her. Fly-men said they lived in the air and took the shape of whatever garments they wore. They bring them. She asks about her old world, her friends, etc.

Dr. Dee, Ben Johnson, alchemy, plays. They talk about past, memory, etc.

She asks about the Cabbala. Some thought it was metaphorical, some thought it was literal. Natural reason, divine inspiration, divine reason (no such thing). Divine faith. Mystical and divine philosophers. Is it a sin to not know the cabbala? No, god is merciful.

Talk about the spirits’ corporeality and ability to move. Philosophical stuff – can you have knowledge without a body? She asks about Adam. Devil was in the serpent. Was all matter fluid at first? Was the world made in six days? Nobody knows. Is there mysticism in numbers? No. Asks about formation of stars, planets, heavens. Asks about the soul of man. Asks more questions about spirits. There is no world of spirits because that implies corporeality (she keeps asking questions that they have to answer with “we have no bodies!). Purgatory. Where are heaven and hell? That’s presumptuous. Can spirits be naked? That’s a weird question. Are human bodies burdensome to their souls? They imply that no, because bodies give souls motion. Can there be two souls in one body? Not in an inanimate body, but in a composed one. Do souls give life to bodies? No, they have a life of their own. There is a supernatural good but not evil. Beasts of the field are harmless. Some are fierce, but they’re really only cruel when they need food. Men are much more cruel to one another than evil spirits are to you. Talk about the nature of beasts and stuff.

She wants to make the Jews Cabbala. The spirits disappear. She convinces herself that they must have made some errors in their answers and were consigned to a lower plane or something. She’s all depressed that she caused this to happen to them, has the fly and worm men look for them, they’re a the opposite end of the world and doing fine, and apologize for any trouble they caused, and will help her in her Cabbala.

She wants a spiritual scribe to help her write the Cabbala. They can’t write without arms. They ask if she wants the soul of a living or dead man to help her. She wants the soul of an ancient famous writer. The spirits say that those guys were smart, but so into their own ideas that they’d never be a scribe. What about modern riders? They’d scorn a woman. They suggest to her the duchess of Newcastle (really?). She’s not the smartest, but she’s rational. Lady says ok, I’ll take her. Duchess says her handwriting is hard to understand. And if you want a Jews Cabbala, you need the soul of a famous Jew. Like Moses. Duchess says the empress shouldn’t do that. It won’t be an advantage to you b/c you’re not Jewish. Ok, I’ll make a philosophical Cabbala.

Duchess says to add nonsense to the infinite would create confusion. Empress says ok, I’ll make a moral Cabbala. Duchess said the only morality is to fear god. Empress says ok, political Cabbala. Duchess says the only area in government is reward and punishment so you don’t need a Cabbala. If you really want to do it, make it poetical or romantical. Use metaphors and allegories and stuff. Empress thanks her. Lets her hang out a while, then sends her back to her husband. Her soul returns every now and then and they’re platonic lovers “although they were both Femals”.

One day the duchess was sad. Empress asks why? I have ambition. I want to be a princess. Empress says, well, you are almost because you’re a duchess. Blah blah. Then duchess says she wants to be an empress of a world. Empress will give her her best advice and ask the immaterial spirits if it’ spossible. I’ll ask if there’s another would you can be empress of. Spirits appear. Spirits say there are TONS of worlds.

Can my friend be empress of one of them? Well, they all have government. Isn’t there one that’s weak enough that we could conquer it? Spirits imply not really. And the spirits say that’s actually ok b/c conquerers seldom enjoy their conquest because people fear but don’t love them. Duchess asks the spirits to show here which world is most easily conquered. She wants to live and die with fame and achievement. Spirits say, well, if it doesn’t work out that way, you have to deal. But why would you want to be empress of a terrestrial world when you could create a celestial one? Any human can create an immaterial world all within the head.

And we are living, in an immaterial world….

If you had a terrestrial world you could only enjoy a small part of it. Why would you want the responsibility of government? Duchess says ok, sounds good, I’ll create my own world. Empress says, ooh, I’ll make one too, then I’ll be in charge of two worlds!

Duchess tries to make a few worlds but there are various problems – demons, math, ideas. Chaos in her mind. Based them on various philosophers, but realized the various flaws inherent in each. So finally she decides to make a totally original world all her own. Sensitive and rational. Pure.

Empress was also making and dissolving worlds. The empress was so ravished that she wanted to live in the duchess’ world. Duchess says no, make your world, I’ll help. So the empress perfects her world. Nothing left to do unless she wanted to dissolve it, or to make changes in blazing world, which would be silly since it was perfect.

She wanted to see the duchess’ world. Duchess tried to distract her from wanting to do that. She had the spirits take over her body while her soul went. She saw all the follies of humanity, they are vain, ambitious, deceitful, balh blah, all states were power-hungry, slaughter. Duchess believes happiness is from moderation. Talk about how islam rules the emperor instead of vice versa. She saw a play and gave her opinion. Saw the royal family – the king and queen were majestic and did not overshadow each other – they were divine and wise and lot smore ass-kissing. Duchess got sad, empress asked why? I miss my husband’s soul.

They went to Nottingham through Sherwood forest. Empress was delighted. Saw the house. They both jump into the duke’s body. The empress and duke’s souls got along great, and the duchess was jealous at first, but then decided that platonic lovers can’t commit adultery. Finally, a spirit came and told the empress that even though nobody knew her soul was gone, the emperor’s soul was very sad in missing hers and everyone noticed.

The duke and fortune are enemies, and the duchess wants help getting them to be friends. Or something. We’ll get a judge or something to decide the case. He’ll send his friends prudence and honesty to plead his cause. But fortune is inconstant, and there was little chance she’ll have the patience to do so. But she does, and she chooses folly and rashness as her friends, and they decide that truth should be the judge.

Fortune makes a speech; this man preferred innocence to power! He scorns me! Don’t I have reason to be his enemy?

Duchess: he is wise, he would never disrespect a lady, he couldn’t trust fortune with his reputation because she was not honourable, she banished him and ruined his estate. He always respected her and will still, but just wants her to be his friend.

Folly and rashness jumped up and talked over each other so nobody could understand them. Fortune and prudence argue. Folly’s speech was foolish. Rashness makes a speech: if you let honesty and prudence be above you, fortune, nobody will serve you.

Fling more misfortunes on the duke and duchess.

Prudence gives a speech: starts to be really balanced and equal, but honesty jumps in – I didn’t come here to hear fortune flattered. I’m not eloquent, I just want to speak the truth. Personifies a whole bunch of virtues. The real reason fortune hates him is he won’t flatter her! I told him not to. He was always humble and respectful.

Fortune thought this speech was very rude and stormed off. Empress and duchess are upset. Honesty said duchess relied too much on fortune. Duchess said she just didn’t want her husband to have enemies. Empress told honesty to always let prudence be your guide. Duchess goes home to her husband with the condition that she visit whenever possible.

But before you go I need your advice. The world was well ordered at first. But because women love variety, I made some changes, and now there are contentions and divisions, and I’m afraid there will be a rebellion. What do I do? Duchess says to have her go back to the way things were before, when she got there, to unify the world under one language, law, and religion. Otherwise it might end up like England!

Dissolve the societies – you’d rather have peace than knowledge. When there’s learning, there’s controversy and quarreling. Empress says she’ll do it but is worried she’ll be disgraced by undoing her stuff. Duchess assures her that it will reflect well on her as wise and good to perceive her own errors and not persist in them.

The Second Part of the Description of the New Blazing-World.

Empress is all happy, everything’s good, the immaterial spirits visit and let her know stuff.

Found out that her country in her world was involved in a war, and that many countries were making war against her country. She asked about transporting forces to her world.

Emperor asked if the spirits could help her. She says no, they won’t be involved in war, and it would be hard to get that many dead bodies for them to inhabit. They’d either be half-decayed and fall apart, or their souls would war with the spirits and not let them inhabit the bodies. Emperor says to send for the Duchess, she’ll help!

Duchess suggests that she send the fish-men to look for a passage back into the Lady’s world; she got here somehow, so there must be a passage back. They find a small one, but it’s tiny and sometimes frozen over.

Duchess tells the architects about submarines. They’re going to send some bird, worm, and bear men but the empress is worried that they’ll be killed. Duchess says, trust me. Empress invites the duchess’ soul to live in her body. The ships can’t handle cannons. So the fish men will destroy the other ships before they can get too close.

They’ll use the fire stones that burn when they get wet. They’ll serve as light.

Empress began her journey. The fish men pulled the ships. They made air for the animals in the ships (or something). Empress has the fish and bird men bring her intelligence of the enemy’s fleet. She had them go through the water with the fire stones so it looked like the ocean was on fire. Then they put out the lights and the enemies could see their ships, and were frightened. She sent a message to her own country to let them know she was there to help.

They couldn’t decide how to reply and she got angry and wanted to leave. The duchess entreated her to stay. Finally a messenger came to ask who she was, where she was from, and how she was going to help. She said she didn’t have to tell them where she was from but she told them about her plan with the lights and fire. They asked what time. She said one at night. This report scared the counselors but they wanted to see the strange sight.

She comes carried by the fish men so it looks like she’s walking on water. Her countrymen are scared. She looks like an angel or god. They worship her. She doesn’t want to get closer so she makes a speech from out at see.

Tells them she’s a native of the kingdom. I’m not going to bargain – I just want to make you the most powerful nation in the world. I just want you to acknowledge my power, love, and loyalty. I’ll destroy all the enemies that trouble you by sea, and if you have any trying to harm you by land, let me know.

After she went back to the ship, they argued about whether she was an angel, goddess, sorceress, or devil. She shows up the next morning in her diamond clothing. The fish men carried the fire stones to the enemies ships, and when they got under the ships, let the stones get wet. Burned and blew up the ships. They decide ok, she actually was an angel.

That was great but there are still plenty of other fleets who control the waterways of the world that don’t pay tribute to the Sovereign. She asks them to pay tribute to him. They refuse. She burns their ships. Keeps doing this til they all submit.

After a while all the neighboring nations find themselves so enslaved that they decide to rise up against the king. When the empress heard about it, she sent out her fish men. Destroyed their ships again. The nations that didn’t have to use sea traffic were like fine, whatever, so she says she’ll burn their towns and cities. They scorned her, so she went and burned their towns, and if they were still obstinate she’d burn the cities. The worm men took care of it.

Before she sent them though, she had the bear men look at the towns and cities through their telescopes. She also told the princes of those nations that she would start to burn some of their smaller towns to prove her power, and if they continued to be obstinate, she’d burn the cities. The bird men put fire stones on roofs, and the worm men put them by the foundations, and they warned the town that the next time it rained they’d burn. Obviously the people laughed.

It rained. They burned. So she made her country the absolute monarchy of the world. Every wanted to see her. She was resolved to go home to the blazing world, but they all wanted to see her. She said she’d meet them on the sea in her ship. She appeared to them in all of her royal diamond gowns. They think she’s a goddess. She puts on a light show with the fire stones and everyone’s afraid they’re going to die.

She speaks to the other princes: I came to help the king of ESFI. Heaven was displeased that others were trying to take his rights. I’m rewarding him with absolute power. Pay him tribute. Live peaceably and happily. She sends their fleet back, hers drops underwater and goes back to the blazing world.

The duchess and empress’ souls hare having a gay old time. So why didn’t the empress bring them gold and stuff? She says no, they’re too greedy. But I shish I could give YOU, duchess, gold. The duchess says thanks, and that she’s not greedy, she just wants what her husband had before the civil war. Empress says I’ll have the fish men try.

They talk about how horrible it is to imitate others, but to be singular and unique.

The empress says, well, in this world, people would think you vain. Duchess doesn’t care b/c nobody can say it based on her actions. I am virtuous. Empress asks, then why do you plead for dishonest and wicked people in your writing? Duchess says it’s to show her wit.

Empress gets home, her husband is happy. They rejoice. Duchess’ soul begs to leave.

Emperor wants her to stay to see how he’s set up the stable just like the Duke’s.

Duchess is delighted. Emperor wants her to stay. He has built a theater and wants advice on putting on plays. Talk about art and wit. She stays and makes plays for her. Duchess goes home. Tells him about how the empress had killed all those people.

Tells him about the stables.

At the end there’s another description of the Blazing world and how amazing it is.