The Anatomy of Melancholy

The word. An anatomy can be an exposed or skeleton-like body, and figuratively a person wasted to extreme thinness. This bodily image differs from the analytical activity announced by the book’s title.

In Burton. Envy produces a living anatomy: a ghastly, emaciated person likened to a skeleton and a carcass animated by a fiend. The more general account of cares again turns sufferers into anatomies, immediately glossed by the image of skin and bones. The metaphors make mental distress visibly consume the body.

The places. Envy reduces a person to a living anatomical specimen. (p. 100; DJR-041-04.) Care makes bodies skeleton-like and wasted. (p. 111; DJR-043-11.)

In this edition. “living Anatomy” → “living anatomical specimen” (DJR-041-04); “Anatomies” → “skeletons” (DJR-043-11). The two renderings retain the corporeal image without confusing the people described with anatomical treatises.

See also. Organical parts; Melancholy.

Anchorite

Source forms: anachorites; Anachorites

The word. An anchorite is a religious recluse. Anachorite is a related spelling used in the selected passages.

In Burton. Burton’s treatment is not uniform. In discussing diet he praises the remarkable abstinence of hermits and anchorites. In the account of pride he accuses some ascetics of making contempt for worldly honour a new occasion of pride. In the discussion of solitude, prescribed withdrawal becomes a possible source of melancholy. The same way of life can therefore supply an example of temperance and an object of criticism.

The places. Ascetic temperance supplies an admired dietary example. (p. 236–237; DJR-071-23.) Contempt of worldly honour is accused of becoming pride. (p. 124; DJR-045-45.) Enforced solitude is discussed as a cause of distress. (p. 87–88; DJR-038-02.)

In this edition. “Anachorites” → “anchorites” (DJR-071-23); “Anachorites” → “anchorites” (DJR-045-45); “Anchorites” → “anchorites” (DJR-038-02). The modern spelling is consistent, while the article preserves the changing judgment in the surrounding prose.

See also. Solitude; Mortification.

Anger

Source forms: Anger

The word. In the selected classification, anger is defined by its object as a desire for revenge. Hatred is then characterized as anger that has become inveterate.

In Burton. Burton places anger among mixed affections and passions, alongside zeal, malicious joy, pride, rivalry, envy and shame. The sequence classifies emotions through their relations to desired or suffered goods and harms. The definition is narrower than every ordinary occurrence of anger: it explains the particular scheme being presented.

The places. Anger and hatred appear in a classification of mixed passions. (p. 25; DJR-025-29.)

In this edition. “Anger, which is a desire of revenge” → “anger, a desire for revenge” (DJR-025-29); “inveterate anger” → “inveterate anger” (DJR-025-29). The familiar word remains, together with Burton’s defining phrase, so that the classification can be followed on its own terms.

See also. Passion.

Animal and vegetal

Source forms: vegetals; vegetal

The word. Vegetals are plants; vegetal names the faculty associated with plant life. Animal in the article heading identifies the sensitive level of living creatures in the division Burton reports.

In Burton. The satire extends melancholy beyond humans to vegetals and sensibles, using transplanted plants as an example. The later account of soul orders the vegetative, sensitive and rational faculties: the higher includes the lower, though the lower may exist alone. Plants, other animals and humans are thus distinguished by capacities within a connected account of life.

The places. Plants and creatures with senses enter the extended account of melancholy. (p. 46; DJR-012-38.) The three faculties are ordered by inclusion. (p. 20; DJR-024-24.)