Restoration & Enlightenment

Reflects Britain’s efforts in the 18th century to re-establish a sense of order and security after the great political, religious, and social upheavals of the previous eraRestoration of monarchy in England under King Charles IIAfter the English Civil WarBegan in 1660

Restoration & Enlightenment

Views of SocietyReflect the social and cultural concerns of the late 17th and early 18th centuries

Alexander Pope

The literature presents a revealing look at the manners and attitudes of the time

Joseph AddisonMary Astell

French humorous moral talesJean de La Fontaine

Fontaine

Restoration & EnlightenmentArguments for Change

While arguing for social change, the writers of this period reveal their faith in reason as well as their intelligence, education, and sense of discipline.

Swift – social justice Gulliver’s TravelsA Modest Proposal

SatireHoratian – playfully amusing, seeks to

correct vice or foolishness with laughter and understanding (Pope)Juvenalian – provokes a darker kind of

laughter, often bitter, criticizes corruption or incompetence with scorn and outrage (Swift)

Swift

Restoration & EnlightenmentRevelations About Human Nature

The works in this unit tap the roots of the pre-Romantic movement. These writers herald the beginning of the reaction against the Enlightenment’s emphasis on reason and intellect.“On Idleness” by Samuel Johnson

“Let observation with extensive view,Survey mankind, from China to Peru;Remark each anxious toil, each eager strifeAnd watch the busy scenes of crowded

life.”Samuel Johnsoncritic and scholar

Restoration & Enlightenment

Cromwell's failure to put in place a workable alternative to the monarchy, resulted in the country bringing back from exile the monarchy in the form of Charles II, son of the beheaded Charles I.

Restoration & Enlightenment

Charles II, second son of Charles I and Henrietta Marie of France, was born in 1630. Spent his teenage years fighting Parliament's Roundhead forces until his father's execution in 1649, when he escaped to France, in exile.A return to Anglicanism as England’s state religionMonarchs shared authority with Parliament

Restoration & Enlightenment

One of Charles II’s first acts upon his Restoration in 1660 was to revive theatrical entertainment, which Puritan rule had banned. Theatre companies were foundedIn 1663 the Drury Lane Theatre opened for dramas and social satires. For the first time, actresses played female roles that had earlier been played by boys.

Restoration & Enlightenment

Charles II, son of the beheaded Charles ICharles' lasting place in posterity is due to his penchant for mistresses (right) and the resulting illegitimate children, many of whom received dukedoms which survive to this day.

Restoration & Enlightenment

Soon after Charles’ succession, Britain had two major catastrophes The Plague in 1665 (a doctor in protective gear) 70,000 died in London alone The Great Fire of London (right) the following year, 1666.

Restoration & Enlightenment

Charles II’s successor was James II, his Catholic brother, who

was determined to restore Roman Catholicism as the state’s religion.Parliament (Whigs & Tories) negotiated to replace James II with his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband, William of Orange.

James II

Restoration & Enlightenment

James II’s reign proved disastrousHe antagonized the government by suspending the anti Catholic laws, then arresting 6 bishopsFinally James’ second wife produced a male heir, (James, the old pretender).

Restoration & Enlightenment

Leading politicians turned to James II’s Protestant daughter, Mary and her husband, William of Orange, and offered them the throne.James fled to Ireland, where he was eventually defeated in battle by William.James II’s son, the old pretender and grandson, the young pretender, both tried to re-take the throne but failed.After Mary’s death, William ruled alone until his death, when Anne, Mary’s Protestant sister, became queen.

Restoration & Enlightenment

Queen Anne, the younger, Protestant daughter of James II (sister of Mary II, the other half of William and Mary, aka Mary Queen of Scots), succeeded to the throne in 1702. The rise of the middle class produced a demand for newspapers, magazines, and booksWriters began to get paid by booksellers who published their worksCopyrights and royalty fees emerged

Restoration & Enlightenment

The House of Hanover – George I (distant German cousin of Anne)

Four monarchs, all named George – aka Georgian Era

The Age of Reason – EnlightenmentA philosophical movement inspired by works of John Locke and scientist, Sir Isaac Newton

Advances and Changes – medicine, technology, agriculture

Restoration & Enlightenment

Literary History – NeoclassicismWriters modeled their works after ancient Greece and RomeStressed balance, order, logic, sophisticated wit and emotional restraintFocused on society, human intellect, and avoiding personal feelingsThree periods of neoclassical era:

Restoration – drama, comedy of manners, satirized upper class society and Stuart court, heroic dramaAugustan Age – aka Age of Pope, birth of novelsAge of Johnson – tribute to Samuel Johnson