ThAct: Puritan & Restoration Age
Krishna Baraiya's blog
The puritan & Restoration Age
The puritan Age
introduction :
The puritan age started from 1620to 1660. There were many upheavals during that period. King james 1 was the ruler at that time. 1660 marks as the beginning of the restoration era. In the Puritan movement may be regarded as a second and greater Renaissance, a rebirth of the moral nature of man following the intellectual awakening of Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Charles II after death of the king james 1 then struggle was started in England. Puritans emphasized strict moral conduct, simplicity in worship, and a personal relationship with god. This era, also known as the Commonwealth Period, was dominated by political and religious turmoil, including the English Civil War (1642-1651) and the eventual establishment of Oliver Cromwell’s Commonwealth.
Historical background :
- Queen Elizabeth was the last queen of Tudor dynasty who ruled England for 45 years. During the period she reformed England church and also opened Aglican church.
- Puritans were a group of English protestants who weren't satisfied with the religious reformations carried out during the rule of queen Elizabeth.
- Puritans wanted to purify the church of England and also wanted to remove the association of rome with English church as well as remove all the practices such as their leadership, clerical vestment and various rituals of the church.
- Puritans believed in 'pure christianity' and so the age was named as 'Puritan Age'.
- During the reign of charles 1, puritans emerged as a strong political force during the English civil war (1642-1651).
- The English civil war was a series of conflicts between 'cavaliers and Roundheads'.
- Those people who were supporting charles 1 were named as cavaliers (Royalists) while those who were on the side of puritans were named as Roundheads or Parliamentarians.
- This war ended in 1651 with the victory of Parliamentarians while Charles I was beheaded and his son, Charles II fled to France.
- After this 'Commonwealth' in England was announced and monarchy was demolished. Oliver Cromwell became the ruler of England.
- Puritan Age ended in 1660 with the arrival of Charles II in England and monarchy is restored in
- England again
Characteristics of the puritan Age.
Want of the Spirit of Unity :
Despite diversity, the Elizabethan literature was marked by the spirit of unity, which resulted from the intense patriotism and nationalism of all classes, and their devotion and loyalty to the Queen who had a singleminded mission to seek the nation's welfare. During this period James I and Charles II were hostile to the interests of the people. The country was divided by the struggle for political and religious liberty; and the literature was as divided in spirit as were the struggling parties
Dominance of Critical and Intellectual Spirit:
The critical and intellectual spirit, instead of the romantic spirit which prevailed on Elizabethan literature, dominates the literature of this period.
W. J. Long writes: "In the literature of the Puritan period one looks in vain for romantic ardour.
Even in the lyrics and love poems a critical, intellectual spirit takes its place, and whatever romance asserts itself is in form rather than in feeling, a fantastic and artificial adornment of speech rather than the natural utterance of a heart in which sentiment is so strong and true that poetry is its only expression."
Decay of Drama :
This period is remarkable for the decay of drama. The civil disturbances and the strong opposition of the Puritans was the main cause of the collapse of drama. The actual dramatic work of the period was small and unimportant. The closing of the theatres in 1642 gave a final jolt to the development of drama.
Influence of civil war on literature in England :
Regionalism was the most significant literary mode after the Civil War, fueled by an explosion in magazine publication, postwar curiosity about the different parts of the United States, and a sense of nostalgia for a rural past that always already seemed to be slipping away. In regionalist texts, setting is central.
Regionalist narratives document the unique ways of life of rural communities, offering readers distinctive visions of life in the South, New England, the Midwest, and the West.
prominent writers :
John milton :(1608-1674)
Milton is the one figure that tower conspicuously above the goodly fellowship of men who have made our literature famous.He gave main contribution in this age. His famous work(epic poem) 'paradise lost'(1667) is the monumental work of the English literature.Then Milton's prose work, Areopagitica (1644), is one of the earliest and most influential defenses of free speech and press.His works like 'The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates' (1649) is turned towards Political Writings and Republicanism.Milton's works, blending theology, politics, and literature, provided intellectual and spiritual support to the Puritan cause, contributing to both its cultural and ideological legacy.
John Bunyan :(1628-1688)
Jhon bunyan gave main contribution also in the Puritan era by his famous work "The Pilgrim's Progress" (1678),Which deeply reflected Puritan spirituality and moral values. His works also Promoting Puritan Theology which from "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners" (1666), highlight Puritan themes of spiritual introspection.Through his literature and his life, Bunyan contributed to the shaping of Puritan religious thought, particularly through his emphasis on personal faith, perseverance, and the journey toward eternal salvation.
The Restoration Period : (1660-1700)
History Background :
This era is known as restoration era because all thing were astarted to reopened in the time. When Charles II was returned at England so that time modern era was binging. Because Charles II was returned so he totaly influenced from french culture and revolution, so he believed in life of fun. So he reopened the theaters and all entertainment's things. He also founded the coffee shops and all people also started to pass the time on shop and enjoyed his life. But due to that process people's caste was mixed each other. But drama and other literary form was flourished very well. In the restoration era political parties also devided in two party 1.Whigs and 2.Tory.
Many events also made in this era :like a
- Perfometive arts
- Theaters opened
- Woman was coming up in the drama stage
- Civil war
- The king was come back from France and he followed the France thoughts in England (Charles II).
- Monarchy of that period
- Flourished of literature
- Literature backing the rule of literature.
Features of the restoration era :(1660-1700)
Restoration : Political and Social
- Monarchy Restored
- Church of England Reinstated
- Court Culture
Cultural and Artistic Flourishing
1.Reopening of Theaters:
Theaters, closed during the Puritan era, were reopened, and a new form of Restoration comedy emerged, known for its wit, sexual innuendos, and satire of manners. Key playwrights include William Congreve and Aphra Behn.
2.Influence of French Culture:
Having lived in exile in France, Charles II brought a taste for French art, fashion, and manners, influencing English court culture and fashion.
Literature of the Period :
- Restoration comady
- Emergence of Satire
- Heroic Drama
Scientific Advancements :
- Rise of Empiricism
- Exploration of Natural Philosophy
the Restoration era was a time of political realignment, artistic revival, scientific progress, and literary experimentation, with a marked shift away from the strict religious and moral controls of the Puritan Commonwealth toward a more liberal and cosmopolitan culture.
Emergence of comady and satire :
The Restoration period in English history (1660-1710) saw the emergence of a new genre of comedy known as Restoration comedy. These plays were known for their racy depictions of sex and affairs, and their focus on the amorous adventures of the English elite. Some of the most notable Restoration comedies include:
- The Country Wife: By William Wycherley
- The Man of Mode: By George Etherege
- The Way of the World: By William Congreve
- The Rover: By Aphra Behn
Satire :
Writers like John Dryden and Andrew Marvell used satire to comment on political rivalries, corruption in the court, and the monarch's relationship with Parliament. Dryden's Absalom and Achitophel (1681) is a famous political satire, life in England was rife with intrigue, corruption, and factionalism. Satire became a tool to criticize political figures and institutions.
Satire thrived as writers mocked the extravagant behavior, sexual licentiousness, and hypocrisy of the aristocracy. Samuel Butler’s Hudibras (1663), for example, satirized the religious and political extremes of the Puritans
Satire was used to highlight the vanities, pretensions, and moral failings of both the upper and middle classes.
The religious conflict of the period, especially between Anglicans, Catholics, and Protestant dissenters, also fueled the rise of satire.
Samuel Butler’s Hudibras is one of the most famous satirical works of the era.
Restoration writers were heavily influenced by classical models, particularly the Roman satirists Horace and Juvenal, whose works provided a framework for ridiculing vice and folly.
Writers of the restoration era :
John drydon :(1631-1700).
He was the father of English criticism, and he was a central figure in Restoration literature also.After Shakespeare, he wrote the greatest heroic drama of the century, The Conquest of Granada (1670). The greatest tragedy, Marriage à la Mode (1671). That great tragedy, the greatest tragedy of 1671.The Greatest Comitragedy, Don Sebastian (1689).A great comedy, Amphitryon (1690).
Dryden the poet is best known today as a satirist, although he wrote only two great original satires, Mac Flaknoe (1682) and The Medal (1682).
His most famous poem, (masterpiece) Absalom and Achitophel (1681)Dryden's other great poems - Anus Mirabilis (1667), Religio Lycee (1682), The Hind and the Panther (1687), Anne Killigrew (1686), Alexander's Feast (1697), Kumaro and "70"His first play, The Wild Gallant (1663).
William Congreve :(1670-1729)
William Congreve (1670-1729) emerged as one of the most significant playwrights of the Restoration period. William Congreve's main contribution to the Restoration era was his mastery of comedy of manners, particularly through his plays that satirized the social behavior, hypocrisy, and relationships of the upper class. His sharp wit, elegant dialogue, and keen social observations are best exemplified in his plays like "The Way of the World" (1700), which is considered one of the greatest comedies in English literature. Congreve's works critiqued the moral and social values of Restoration society, while also showcasing the complexity of love, marriage, and individual freedom.
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