Restoration EnglandRestoration England

(1660-1800)(1660-1800)

““The Enlightenment” The Enlightenment”

““The Augustan Age” The Augustan Age”

““The Neoclassical Period” The Neoclassical Period”

““The Age of Reason”The Age of Reason”

Brought out of Civil WarBrought out of Civil War

• After ten years and After ten years and multiple Civil Wars (1641-multiple Civil Wars (1641-1651), 1651), Charles IICharles II united united England, Scotland, and England, Scotland, and Ireland. Ireland.

• Theater reappeared and Theater reappeared and censorship of the arts censorship of the arts vanished.vanished.

• Religious persecution Religious persecution

Changes and TitlesChanges and Titles• In this time period England went In this time period England went

through a plague, a massive fire through a plague, a massive fire across London, colonialism, the across London, colonialism, the creation and loss of the American creation and loss of the American colonies, and a growing middle class.colonies, and a growing middle class.

• “ “The Augustan Age” – like Emperor The Augustan Age” – like Emperor Augustus of Rome, the Stuart kings Augustus of Rome, the Stuart kings brought peace to their country tired brought peace to their country tired from warfare. Tired of revolutionaries from warfare. Tired of revolutionaries and fighting, thus elevating a and fighting, thus elevating a monarch to a savior – Oliver Cromwellmonarch to a savior – Oliver Cromwell

• ““The Neoclassical Period” – emphasis The Neoclassical Period” – emphasis on Latin classics and emulating Latin on Latin classics and emulating Latin works to bring around a “new works to bring around a “new classical” period.classical” period.

Titles Cont.Titles Cont.• ““The Age of Reason” and “The Enlightenment” – The Age of Reason” and “The Enlightenment” –

asking “how” instead of “why.” More science and less asking “how” instead of “why.” More science and less superstition. superstition.

Enlightened progress and attitudes:Enlightened progress and attitudes:• The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method• AstronomyAstronomy• Hooke and NewtonHooke and Newton• Philosophy Philosophy RationalismRationalism – reason is the only proper basis for – reason is the only proper basis for

decisionsdecisions

MaterialismMaterialism – everything is a state of matter – everything is a state of matter DeismDeism – the “clockmaker” view of religion – the “clockmaker” view of religion

The Bloodless RevolutionThe Bloodless Revolution

• Charles II died heirless. His brother James II, a Roman Catholic, took the throne. Charles II died heirless. His brother James II, a Roman Catholic, took the throne.

• When James had a son, a Catholic heir, the English political leaders transferred When James had a son, a Catholic heir, the English political leaders transferred power to his daughter Mary II.power to his daughter Mary II.

• Her husband, the Dutch king William III, attacked England for power in the Her husband, the Dutch king William III, attacked England for power in the Glorious (Bloodless) revolution. He and Mary jointly ruled.Glorious (Bloodless) revolution. He and Mary jointly ruled.

• Factions divided over Catholic James and Protestant William can still be found Factions divided over Catholic James and Protestant William can still be found today in Northern Ireland.today in Northern Ireland.

TheaterTheater• After the ban on theaters during Puritan rule, major After the ban on theaters during Puritan rule, major

changes took place since Shakespeare’s time:changes took place since Shakespeare’s time:

• Royal patronage for acting companiesRoyal patronage for acting companies

• Women playing female rolesWomen playing female roles

• Unsentimental, unromantic Unsentimental, unromantic

• Witty comedies Witty comedies

• Plays for the pampered class and for the ordinary Plays for the pampered class and for the ordinary manman

Changes in LiteratureChanges in Literature• SatireSatire: Authors like Pope and Swift wrote to the privileged : Authors like Pope and Swift wrote to the privileged

class and criticized their lifestyles, using wit as a means of class and criticized their lifestyles, using wit as a means of venting over materialism and corruption. They did not venting over materialism and corruption. They did not share the common attitude of the time – smugness and share the common attitude of the time – smugness and satisfaction satisfaction

• JournalismJournalism: As Pope spoke to the wealthy, journalism : As Pope spoke to the wealthy, journalism spoke to the middle-class. Not only commenting on society, spoke to the middle-class. Not only commenting on society, also attempting to reform it.also attempting to reform it.

• PoetryPoetry: Poetry was not about conveying the soul, it was a : Poetry was not about conveying the soul, it was a public tool. Elegies and odes served a specific function in public tool. Elegies and odes served a specific function in society. Poetry as a matter of precision and wit and nothing society. Poetry as a matter of precision and wit and nothing else.else.

• NovelsNovels: The development of the true English novel came : The development of the true English novel came from this period. Women became a large reading market. from this period. Women became a large reading market. Most novels were adventurous with numerous spirited Most novels were adventurous with numerous spirited “episodes” – such as in “episodes” – such as in Robinson CrusoeRobinson Crusoe and and Tom JonesTom Jones. .

Alexander PopeAlexander Pope• (1688-1744)(1688-1744)

• He “lisped in numbers” He “lisped in numbers” as a childas a child

• Denied education, Denied education, deformed, but the deformed, but the greatest poet of his greatest poet of his ageage

• Early success in essays Early success in essays and epic poetryand epic poetry

• Satire used for revengeSatire used for revenge

Jonathan SwiftJonathan Swift• Born in Ireland in 1667 – Death Born in Ireland in 1667 – Death

17451745

• Suffered from Ménière's diseaseSuffered from Ménière's disease

• MA from Oxford in 1692MA from Oxford in 1692

• Became an Anglican priest in 1695Became an Anglican priest in 1695

• He was active in the early debates He was active in the early debates of the political parties in England—of the political parties in England—WhigsWhigs and Toriesand Tories

• Swift is most famous for his satires,Swift is most famous for his satires, He wanted to make people think He wanted to make people think by using humor. by using humor.

Swift has sailed into his rest.Savage indignation therecannot lacerate his breast.Imitate him if you dare,world-besotted traveler.He served human liberty.

-Yeats’ translation of Swift’s epitaph

Gulliver’s TravelsGulliver’s Travels and Satire and Satire*Gulliver’s Travels*Gulliver’s Travels is a parody of the genre of “travel narrative” is a parody of the genre of “travel narrative”

*During the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, *During the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, these tales of voyages of exploration and colonial adventure these tales of voyages of exploration and colonial adventure were extremely popular:were extremely popular:Christopher ColumbusChristopher ColumbusAmerigo Vespucci Amerigo Vespucci Sir Walter RaleighSir Walter RaleighCaptain John SmithCaptain John Smith

*More’s *More’s Utopia Utopia also parodies the genre, Shakespeare’s also parodies the genre, Shakespeare’s The The TempestTempest invokes the genre, and invokes the genre, and CandideCandide serves as serves as Gulliver’s Gulliver’s French brother French brother

*Travel narratives are often sometimes “utopian”—Book IV of *Travel narratives are often sometimes “utopian”—Book IV of Gulliver’s Travels also parodies More’s Gulliver’s Travels also parodies More’s Utopia Utopia

Gulliver’s TravelsGulliver’s Travels and Satire and SatireLemuel Gulliver’s four voyages can be seen as a criticism of key European issues. Lemuel Gulliver’s four voyages can be seen as a criticism of key European issues.

But just as importantly, it serves as a satirical exploration of But just as importantly, it serves as a satirical exploration of the human condition: the human condition: What does it mean to be a human being?What does it mean to be a human being?

The name “Gulliver” suggests that he is “gullible”The name “Gulliver” suggests that he is “gullible”

Gulliver’s first voyage, to Lilliput:Gulliver’s first voyage, to Lilliput:The diminutive citizens of Lilliput represent human small-mindedness The diminutive citizens of Lilliput represent human small-mindedness and petty ambitions. and petty ambitions. Filled with self-Filled with self-importance, the importance, the Lilliputians areLilliputians arecruel, treacherous, cruel, treacherous, malicious, & destructive.malicious, & destructive.

VoltaireVoltaire• (1694-1778)(1694-1778)• Real name was François-Marie Arouet Real name was François-Marie Arouet (used at least 178 pen names)(used at least 178 pen names)• Wrote poetry, polemic fiction, essays,Wrote poetry, polemic fiction, essays, plays, histories, and over 20,000 letters.plays, histories, and over 20,000 letters.• Imprisoned and exiled many timesImprisoned and exiled many times for his attacks on the government, the for his attacks on the government, the aristocracy, and the Catholic Church.aristocracy, and the Catholic Church.• While exiled to England, Voltaire was While exiled to England, Voltaire was impressed by England’s constitutional monarchy and impressed by England’s constitutional monarchy and

freedom of speech. He returned to France, spoke out, freedom of speech. He returned to France, spoke out, and was exiled again.and was exiled again.

• Along with Emilie du Chatelet, studied all the great Along with Emilie du Chatelet, studied all the great advances of the Enlightenment.advances of the Enlightenment.

• A freemason buddy of Ben FranklinA freemason buddy of Ben Franklin

Place these locations in order Place these locations in order based on when Candide arrives based on when Candide arrives at them. at them. (You can all work as a group)(You can all work as a group)

• ParisParis• ConstantinopleConstantinople• LisbonLisbon• BulgariaBulgaria• Buenos AiresBuenos Aires• GermanyGermany• HollandHolland• ParaguayParaguay• VeniceVenice• El DoradoEl Dorado• Home of the BiglugsHome of the Biglugs• SurinamSurinam

Candide sequence Candide sequence of eventsof events

Germany Bulgaria Holland

Lisbon, Portugal Buenos Aires Paraguay

Candide is caught kissing & gets kicked

out by the Baron

Recruited into theBulgarian army,

Candide runs away

Saved from hungerby Jacques.

Pangloss appears.

Shipwreck, earthquake, Pangloss

hung, Cunegondefound, escape!

Gov. Don Fernandoproposes to Cunegonde.

Candide flees theauthorities.

Jesuit colonel and Cunegonde’s brokilled by Candide,

Escape again

Candide sequence Candide sequence of eventsof events

Home of the Biglugs El Dorado Surinam

Paris Venice Constantinople

Candide and Cacombocaptured, then celebrated for killing a Jesuit

Find a utopia,leave with richesintending to buyback Cunegonde

Cacombo leaves,sheep stolen by

captain, Candide books passage to France,

meets Martin.

Candide sick andswindled of his

riches many times,framed by Abbe,flees to England.

Paquette’s story, meeting the

pleasure-less count,& the dethroned kings,

Old friends savedfrom servitude,

Cunegonde ugly andwed, the dervish,

“garden cultivating”

Essay TopicsEssay Topics• 1) Voltaire subtly attacks the theory of progress. What is that 1) Voltaire subtly attacks the theory of progress. What is that

theory, and do we still believe in it? Is it a good belief? Use theory, and do we still believe in it? Is it a good belief? Use evidence from evidence from CandideCandide to show Voltaire’s attitude towards the to show Voltaire’s attitude towards the concept.concept.

• 2) To what extent does an optimistic outlook improve or impair 2) To what extent does an optimistic outlook improve or impair society? To what extent does a pessimistic outlook improve or society? To what extent does a pessimistic outlook improve or impair society? (MUST reference impair society? (MUST reference Candide Candide and have a good grasp of and have a good grasp of history)history)

• 3) Voltaire was a deist. In a comparison/contrast essay, explain how 3) Voltaire was a deist. In a comparison/contrast essay, explain how we see Voltaire’s deism in we see Voltaire’s deism in CandideCandide and how it differs from the and how it differs from the traditional Catholic/Protestant views depicted in the novel. How traditional Catholic/Protestant views depicted in the novel. How does Voltaire use his belief and satire to criticize the Church?does Voltaire use his belief and satire to criticize the Church?

• 4) Martin claims that people “live either in convulsions of misery or 4) Martin claims that people “live either in convulsions of misery or in the lethargy of boredom.” Do the events of the novel support in the lethargy of boredom.” Do the events of the novel support that statement? Is one of the two options worse than the other? If that statement? Is one of the two options worse than the other? If what Martin says is true, what does it imply about the value of what Martin says is true, what does it imply about the value of social change and political activism?social change and political activism?