Mary Sidney, the Psalms, and Feminine Values in Early Modern England

This dissertation analyses Mary and Philip’s translation of the Psalms, focusing mainly on the ones that give insight into women’s universal experiences of gender restrictions, arranged marriages, pregnancies, and childbirth. This dissertation also focuses on why Mary inserted her voice into her translation, providing a more intimate and personal version of the Psalms than the original versions of the Geneva Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. Moreover, this research analyses how important the Psalms were for women in early modern England and why Mary decided to complete the translation that her brother Philip had left unfinished. This dissertation also analyses Mary Sidney’s relevance in England during the Early Modern Period; despite being mainly known as Philip Sidney’s sister, Mary Sidney created her own legacy through her translations and influence on other early modern poets. The study explores her life, from her childhood to her marriage to the Earl of Pembroke, her works, and some of the challenges she faced throughout her life. Moreover, this dissertation gives a brief insight into her brother Philip’s life and works to understand his relationship with his sister. Additionally, this research investigates the difficulties of being a woman during the Early Modern Period, focusing on how men perceived and treated them, shedding light on the challenges they faced. It also explores the varying treatment of women based on their social classes, expanding on women’s education, the jobs they were allowed to do, how religion affected their lives, and how women were treated if they committed a crime.