Margaret Cavendish Called The Blazing World

In the short novel, The Description of a New World, Called The Blazing World, by Margaret Cavendish, Cavendish repetitively introduces the concepts of monarchy and how it relates to institutionalized power over a society. It appears, through the development of the Lady Empress of a character, Cavendish idealizes a utopian society based of the unchallenged leadership of a monarchal ruler. Moreover, the Lady Empress and her rule over The Blazing World embodies Cavendish’s desires to seek unequivocal monarchal power and authority. In a way, the Lady Empress is the manifestation of Cavendish’s dreams and desires to have unlimited power in the United Kingdom; therefore, the utopian representation of The Blazing World is the manifestation of Cavendish’s idealistic structure of the British Government.

Not only did the half-beings accept the Lady Empress’ complete political authority, but also, accepted her as a divine being and worshipped her like a deity. Although Lady Empress did not accept the emperor believing her to be a deity, she began to accept her role as a political and religious monarch after the half-beings describe the religious undertones to monarchal leadership. According to the half-beings, “Monarchy is a divine form of government, and agrees most with [their] religion: For as there is but one God, … we are resolved to have but one Emperor” (Cavendish 18). Over time, the Lady Empress accepts the role of being a divine monarch. This type of leadership defines what Cavendish believes to be the idealistic form of power: to be an autonomous political leader and to be worshiped by your people as if you were appointed by