The Good Imperialists: Empire, National Identity, and Gender in British Theater, 1660-1790 (original) (raw)

This study examines how British theater from 1660 to 1790 intertwined imperial politics, national identity, and gender, presenting imperialism as vital to British identity. Through representations on stage, theater engaged audiences in debates about imperial citizenship, framing imperialism in a light that justified Britain's expansion and connected it to concepts of humanitarianism and patriotism. By analyzing the evolution of these representations, the research highlights the shifting perceptions of empire in relation to British national values, ultimately portraying Britishness as a performance shaped by social values and its imperial endeavors.