The power of emotions : sibling relations in England in the long 17th century

Sibling relationships were crucial in the lives of many early modern English men and women. In this dissertation, I examine how English siblings expressed emotions to each other in the long 17th century and how emotional expressions contributed to upholding or challenging power relations and gaining agency in sibling relations. I also take note of the ways in which siblings could attempt to influence the emotions that their brothers or sisters expressed. The nine main sets of primary sources consist of egodocuments, including diaries, letters and autobiographies, but I connect the analysis to the wider contemporary normative context as well. These primary sources provide in-depth descriptions of sibling relations and direct and indirect emotional expressions, which connect to power and its uses. While some research has been done on early modern English siblings, this study’s focus on emotional expressions and their connections to power relations brings forth new perspectives into the histories of families and emotions. Hierarchical structures and social expectations influenced siblings’ abilities to convey feelings and to gain agency. Nevertheless, this dissertation shows that emotional expressions gave chances for all siblings to try to have some power, even if there was considerable variation in how this was achieved and what contexts limited individual behaviour. To a degree, age influenced how siblings expressed emotions and used power, for example due to the influence that age could have on duties and primogeniture. However, situations differed among siblings, and a brother could be in a less fortunate position than his sister. While the context of patriarchy influenced the lives of sisters, they too had opportunities to convey feelings and to gain agency. Many ways of expressing emotions were used regardless of age and gender. Among other things, acting as a victim in order to create a contrast between the offender and the offended was one possible way for all siblings to express anger, although some variation existed concerning the topics involved.