Masculinity, Space, and late Seventeenth-Century Alchemical Practices

Building on contemporary research in alchemy and gender, I engage themedium of space, examining the connections between the identity of the
philosopher-alchemist and the composition of a masculine domestic space. I
show that the private, enclosed nature of alchemical experimentation
enabled the free exploration of masculinity. The private and semi-private
nature of alchemical practices in England challenges the easy alignment of
gentlemanly sociability and public display that have long dominated
discussions of Restoration science. Natural philosophy and a traditional
heterosexual marriage were often considered incompatible during the time of
Galileo and Descartes. The pursuit of alchemy, a private interest that
required domestic space and secrecy, was likewise incompatible with
marriage. During the Restoration, scientists were encouraged to be
sociable, but they were also participating in a tradition that excluded
such parts of social life as marriage. In private, alchemists could
manipulate substances with names like “the Doves of Diana” and “spiritual
semen,” changing substances’ genders or fusing them together. In this way,
alchemy offered a contained space for the natural philosopher to think
about gender and a metaphorical space for him to think about sexuality
while still remaining celibate.

Sponsored by the IHC’s Reserach Fellows program.

hm 5/23/11