Gerrard Winstanley Criticism
Gerrard Winstanley (1609-1676) was a visionary English political writer whose works emerged in the aftermath of the English Revolution. He proposed revolutionary ideas for governance in his seminal work, The Law of Freedom in a Platform (1652), envisioning a communist utopia grounded in communal ownership and equality. Winstanley's radical ideas, both political and theological, positioned him as a precursor to later socialist thinkers, as noted by Andrew Bradstock.
Born into a Puritan family, Winstanley initially worked in the clothing industry before the English Civil War devastated his business. This led him to the countryside, where he founded the "Digger" communities on the principle of land as a common resource. Though these communities, discussed in John Gurney's study, were short-lived due to local opposition, they informed his later writings.
His major works, including early pamphlets like The Mysterie of God (1648), reveal his rejection of traditional religious doctrines in favor of individual spiritual enlightenment. In The Law of Freedom, Winstanley proposed a society free from private property and money, emphasizing the role of the state in supporting a communal utopia, a shift in focus critiqued by Michael Rogers.
The critical reception of Winstanley's work often centers on his blend of theology and politics. While some critics, like George H. Sabine, argue that Winstanley’s language mirrored the radical tone of the Puritan Revolution, others suggest his ideas anticipated elements of liberation theology. Despite apparent shifts in his thought, as explored by Nicola Baxter, Winstanley maintained a consistent belief in moral and spiritual reformation through communal living, as emphasized by Christopher Hill.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Essays
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An Introduction to The Works of Gerrard Winstanley
(summary)
In the following excerpt, Sabine reviews Winstanley's evolving religious and political convictions and agenda.
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The True Levellers
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In the following essay, Brailsford traces possible influences on Winstanley's thought, discussing his religious ideas and his political philosophy.
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The Later Life of Gerrard Winstanley
(summary)
In the following essay, Vann reviews the scant evidence available regarding the later years of Winstanley's life, examining the way in which the few known facts may support or contradict the portrait of Winstanley painted by the pamphlets he wrote in the late 1640s and early 1650s.
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Technology in the Digger Utopia
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In the following essay, Farr studies the "problem of technology" in Winstanley's utopian political program. Farr demonstrates that Winstanley supported technological advancements, but only those determined to be responsible, humane, and beneficial to the utopian commonwealth.
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Winstanley and Freedom
(summary)
In the following essay, Hill argues that the freedom Winstanley sought for his countrymen included economic, social, and religious freedom. Hill examines the implications behind such beliefs and demonstrates that Winstanley attempted to appeal to the people of England through his use of the common vernacular in his writings.
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Gerrard Winstanley's Experimental Knowledge of God (The Perception of the Spirit and the Acting of Reason)
(summary)
In the following essay, Baxter examines Winstanley's religious pamphlets in a study of Winstanley's use of words, language, and concepts. This essay is an attempt to find out what Winstanley meant by certain terms, using close textual analysis.
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Sowing in Hope: The Relevance of Theology to Gerrard Winstanley's Political Programme
(summary)
In the following essay, Bradstock maintains that Winstanley's 'radically unorthodox' theology contributed significantly to the development of the Digger communist platform—contrary, Bradstock contends, to what many modern critics allow.
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Gerrard Winstanley and the Digger Movement in Walton and Cobham
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In the following essay, Gurney refers to Winstanley's pamphlets and other contemporary documents to discuss the levels of general societal acceptance received by the Digger communities Winstanley established in Surrey.
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Gerrard Winstanley on Crime and Punishment
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In the following essay, Rogers analyzes the emphasis of The Law of Freedom in a Platform (1652) on crime, law, and punishment. Rogers comments specifically on the apparent shift in Winstanley's thought from a belief in individual moral responsibility to a focus on the state's role in governing morality.
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An Introduction to The Works of Gerrard Winstanley
(summary)
- Further Reading