The Pursuit of Knowledge
The Blazing World significantly emphasizes the pursuit of knowledge and the transformative power it holds for individuals. The protagonist is depicted as a brilliant and ambitious woman who seeks to expand her understanding of the natural world. This quest for knowledge drives the novel's narrative, as the Lady is endlessly curious about how the social dynamics of the Blazing World work. As Empress, she makes it her mission to understand fully the role of each species in the Blazing World and to govern with this knowledge in mind.
Gender
The novel challenges traditional gender roles and expectations, presenting the Empress as a strong and independent female protagonist. In her world, the Lady faces restrictions on her intellectual pursuits due to her gender; she is also subject to men's whims, as she is kidnapped by a lusty merchant at the beginning of the story. However, as Empress of the Blazing World she is embraced as a respected leader. Through this narrative, Cavendish challenges the gender biases and limitations placed on women's intellectual potential, highlighting the arbitrary nature of these seventeenth-century societal constructs.
Imagination
Along with the quest for knowledge, the novel also emphasizes the importance and power of one's imagination. Throughout the narrative, the novel suggests that imagination has the potential to challenge societal norms and conventional boundaries. As the governor of the Blazing World, the Empress offers readers a glimpse into a utopian society where intellectual curiosity, gender equality, and diversity flourish. Moreover, Cavendish uses the theme of imagination to blur the boundaries between reality and fiction. The blending of the Duchess's world with the Blazing World emphasizes the malleability of reality and the subjective nature of human perception. The novel suggests that imagination can shape and redefine reality, challenging the notion of a fixed and objective truth.
Friendship
The Blazing World has two central protagonists: the Lady (who becomes the Empress), and the Duchess of Newcastle, the Empress's scribe (and the fictional counterpart of Cavendish herself). Over the course of the narrative, the two women develop a close friendship; their souls even mingle with one another in the platonic style, suggesting the extent to which they are entwined. This friendship is at once a dramatization of the blurred line between fiction and reality – the "real world" and the Blazing World collide through the figures of the two women – and a celebration of the power of female companionship, a theme that features heavily in Cavendish's work.
Government
The Blazing World is most often studied as an early example of science fiction, but it also offers its own look at politics and government. Specifically, The Blazing World celebrates the notion of concentrated power, such as a monarchy (Cavendish and her husband were known Royalists during the political upheaval in England during the seventeenth century). The Emperor of the Blazing World enjoys this absolute power, and the society thrives under this model. When the Empress assumes power (given by the Emperor) and starts to make changes, she realizes that the most successful government model is the one that was already in place – concentrating power in the hands of as few people as possible. As such, many interpret The Blazing World as a not-so-subtle endorsement of the Royalist agenda and the restoration of the English monarchy.
Love and Mutuality
Even though the novel offers readers a utopian vision and early glimpse into the genre of science fiction, it is not without its inclusion of intimate relationships. While the Empress governs the Blazing World, most of her joy derives from the time she spends with her friend, the Duchess. Indeed, the Duchess's relationship with the Empress appears to be as close as that she shares with her husband, the Duke. Both of these relationships are presented as examples of radical mutuality, in which both parties are fully committed to fostering one another's joy and success. That these intimate bonds are so central to the novel suggests that Cavendish's vision for an ideal society includes love, friendship, and equality as a foundational element.
Philosophy
While the Empress governs the Blazing World, she spends most of her time engaging with the different species of the society and joining in-depth dialogues about natural philosophy. Each species in the Blazing World occupies a specific role, and these roles are dedicated to the pursuit and acquisition of knowledge. Cavendish places profound importance on science, religion, and above all, natural philosophy, presenting the Blazing World as an emblem of cutting-edge discovery. As such, The Blazing World argues that growing understanding about the natural world is essential to humanity's prosperity.
