Event Title
Remember, Remember, the Fifth of November - A Look into the Failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605
Location
Diamond 344
Start Date
30-4-2015 2:00 PM
End Date
30-4-2015 2:55 PM
Project Type
Presentation
Description
Every November 5, my friends fill up my Facebook news feed with the same childhood phrase: Remember, remember the 5th of November. We all know it relates to something, but upon asking, very few seem capable of providing an explanation as to why we annually honor this date. Historians have numerous names for the date in question, ranging from Guy Fawkes Day to Bonfire Night to Firework Night to The Gunpowder Plot Day. All refer to the foiled bombing of Protestant King James I of England, which a group of Catholics attempted. Some basic, ground level research has led me to the conclusion that there exist many elements of fear in this historical event. I would need to complete more research to formulate a strong thesis for this project, but I expect it to revolve around the presence and use of fear in terms of the relationship between a government and its subjects. I will seek to answer questions such as: How does a government use fear against its enemies? Against its subjects? How do citizens scare the government? Why does either party seek to inspire fear in the other? What would Catholics have feared from a foreign King? How did the London public perceive torture and punishment of Guy Fawkes? Did his fate excite or terrify crowds? There are some religious elements in this story as well, so it is possible my thesis will expand or shift to focus on the use of fear by religious institutions. After some preliminary research, this thesis will become clearer.
Faculty Sponsor
Larissa Taylor
Sponsoring Department
Colby College. History Dept.
CLAS Field of Study
Social Sciences
Event Website
http://www.colby.edu/clas
ID
1008
Remember, Remember, the Fifth of November - A Look into the Failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605
Diamond 344
Every November 5, my friends fill up my Facebook news feed with the same childhood phrase: Remember, remember the 5th of November. We all know it relates to something, but upon asking, very few seem capable of providing an explanation as to why we annually honor this date. Historians have numerous names for the date in question, ranging from Guy Fawkes Day to Bonfire Night to Firework Night to The Gunpowder Plot Day. All refer to the foiled bombing of Protestant King James I of England, which a group of Catholics attempted. Some basic, ground level research has led me to the conclusion that there exist many elements of fear in this historical event. I would need to complete more research to formulate a strong thesis for this project, but I expect it to revolve around the presence and use of fear in terms of the relationship between a government and its subjects. I will seek to answer questions such as: How does a government use fear against its enemies? Against its subjects? How do citizens scare the government? Why does either party seek to inspire fear in the other? What would Catholics have feared from a foreign King? How did the London public perceive torture and punishment of Guy Fawkes? Did his fate excite or terrify crowds? There are some religious elements in this story as well, so it is possible my thesis will expand or shift to focus on the use of fear by religious institutions. After some preliminary research, this thesis will become clearer.
https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/clas/2015/program/314