“The Master-Key of Our Theme”: Master Betty and the Politics of Theatricality in Herman Melville's “The Fiddler”

What is it about?

This article explores Herman Melville's engagement with British theatre culture in the context of the Astor Place Riot and his own changing politics during the 1850s. The essay is also interested in the history of the short story form and its relation to the cultural politics of the novel.

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Why is it important?

The essay is useful for readers interested in Herman Melville's work after the publication of Moby Dick. It also explores the important place of the idea of "Britishness" in his imagination, as well as excavating the history of the nineteenth century theatre.