âFor I Will Consider My Cat Jeoffryâ: Cats and Creativity in Eighteenth-Century Britain

Penelope J. Corfield

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Chapter 12 âFor I Will Consider My Cat Jeoffryâ: Cats and Creativity in Eighteenth-Century Britain

In: Human-Animal Interactions in the Eighteenth Century

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Penelope J. Corfield

Penelope J. Corfield
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Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 165â188

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004495395_013

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RÃ©sumÃ©

Les chats deviennent au cours du dix-huitiÃ¨me siÃ¨cle des animaux domestiques trÃ¨s populaires, surtout dans les villes, alors que la Grande-Bretagne passe progressivement dâune sociÃ©tÃ© majoritairement agraire Ã une sociÃ©tÃ© plus urbaine. Pourtant, au cours de ces changements sociÃ©taux, les chats ne perdent pas leurs pouvoirs magiques, comme le rappelle un cÃ©lÃ¨bre folklore. Ils sont des amis familiers de lâhomme, ronronnant au coin du feu, tout en gardant une forme dâÃ©trangetÃ© animale. Cette alliance de contraires est la source dâun grand Ã©lan de crÃ©ativitÃ© littÃ©raire et intellectuelle. Les chats semblent transmettre des messages dâaventure et de solidaritÃ© entre les espÃ¨ces.

Abstract

Cats became very popular pets during the eighteenth century, especially in the cities, as Britain gradually moved from being a predominantly agrarian society to an increasingly urbanised world. Yet during these social changes, cats did not lose their magical powers, as many popular folklore tales bore witness. Cats, purring by the fireside, were familiar domestic friends, whilst retaining their relative feline aloofness and âstrangenessâ. Their alliance of opposing characteristics was a source of great literary and intellectual creativity. Thus cats conveyed âelectricâ messages both of adventure and of solidarity between humans and felines.

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Human-Animal Interactions in the Eighteenth Century

From Pests and Predators to Pets, Poems and Philosophy

Series:Â Internationale Forschungen zur Allgemeinen und Vergleichenden Literaturwissenschaft Online, Volume: 207Â andÂ Internationale Forschungen zur Allgemeinen und Vergleichenden Literaturwissenschaft, Volume: 207

Cover Human-Animal Interactions in the Eighteenth Century

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004495395

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 02 Dec 2021

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Chapter 12 âFor I Will Consider My Cat Jeoffryâ: Cats and Creativity in Eighteenth-Century Britain

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Human-Animal Interactions in the Eighteenth Century

From Pests and Predators to Pets, Poems and Philosophy

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Chapter 12 âFor I Will Consider My Cat Jeoffryâ: Cats and Creativity in Eighteenth-Century Britain