Twin Likeness and imitatio in Ruggle's Ignoramus and Hausted's Senile Odium

Abstract

Neo-Latin drama largely functioned as a supplement to university education in early modern England, proving an ideal medium to articulate humanistic principles. However, during the reign of James I, these plays began engaging with less strictly academic ideas. This article examines how George Ruggle's Ignoramus (1615) and Peter Hausted's Senile Odium (1631) promote the humanistic principle of imitatio and, so doing, comment on broader cultural issues. While in many ways typical academic dramas, these plays feature twin characters, linking them to imitatio. This article argues that in celebrating imitatio, these plays also elevate and promote the twin condition, shunning stereotypes.