Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Puritan age & Restoration age

 

This blog is crafted in response to Dr. Dilip Sir Barad. It is a task given by him and focuses on the Puritan Age and the Restoration Age.

   

The puritan age :-


       The puritan age , also known as the commonwealth period. Puritan age was a time when strict religious rules dominated life in England. The puritans, a group of deeply religious people, were in control especially after the English civil war . They believed in living simple, moral lives according to the Bible. Theaters were banned and writing focused on religion and moral lessons. In puritan age famous authors like John Milton wrote epic poem paradise lost , which deal with religious themes .


Characteristics of puritan age ;-

 During the puritan age , religious and moral themes were important . Here are some of the main religious and moral them are included...


1) God's control over everything 

2) Fear of hell 

3) Living a simple and pure life 

4) Good vs Evil 

5) Obeying god's rules 

6) Dominance of religion


1) God's control over everything  :-

     The puritans believe that God controlled everything that happened in the world. If something bad or good happened, it was seen as part of god's plan. People had to accept whatever happened with faith, believing it was god's will.


2) Fear of hell :-

     The puritans were very worried about going to hell if they didn't live good moral lives. They often focused on themes of divine judgement, warning of the punishment those who led sinful lives .


3) Living a simple and pure life:-

    Puritans believed in living a life without distraction. They thought fun activities could lead people away from God . They focused on hard work, self - control and being very serious about their faith.


4) God's vs Evil :-

      Puritans saw life as a constant fight between good and evil, with every person needing to resist temptation and stay on the right path. The believed that satan was always trying to lead people astray, and it was up to them to stay strong in their fair.


5) Obeying god's rules :-

     Puritans thought the Bible and god's laws were the highest authority. If you broke these laws , it was considered a serious sin. Literature often showed the bad consequences of not living according to god's commands.


6) Dominance of religion :-

      Religion played a central role in society and literature. The puritans sought to purify the church of England and believed in living according to strict biblical principles. Much of the writing from this period focused on religious themes such as divine judgement and personal piety. 


English civil war ( 1642 - 1651 ) :-

    


        English civil war was a series of conflicts between king Charles -I and parliament. Over who should have more control in running the country. King charles wanted to rule alone , but parliament wanted more control, especially over taxes and the army . There were also disagreements about religion the war ended with Oliver Cromwell leading parliament's army to victory. After this, England briefly became a republic, but when Cromwell died , the monarchy was restored in 1660 with Charles - II as king. The war gave parliament more power and changed how england was governed.


Influences of the English civil war on the literature :-


          The English Civil War greatly affected the literature of the time, focusing on political and religious issues. Writers like John Milton supported Parliament and wrote about freedom of speech and against censorship. The war also gave rise to Puritan literature, which emphasized strict moral values, as seen in John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress. On the other hand, Royalist writers, like Richard Lovelace and Robert Herrick, wrote poems showing loyalty to the king and sadness over his defeat. Since theaters were closed during the Puritan rule, there was less entertainment, and many writers turned to writing pamphlets to express their political views. The war's themes of conflict, loss, and personal struggles were central to the literature, as writers dealt with the chaos and uncertainty of the time.


      Two prominent writers :-


       1)  John Milton 

       2) John Bunyan 


1) John Milton ( 1608 - 1674 ) :-


      John Milton(Milton and Hawkes) was a major english poet and writer, known for his profound poetry and politics writings. He was born and 9 December, 1608 in London. Milton was educated at Cambridge and became an ardent supporter of the parliamentarians during the civil war . His most famous work are Paradise lost , paradise regained, Samson Agonistes .


1)  Paradise lost :-


     Paradise lost is an epic poem that tells the story of the biblical fall of man focusing on Satan's rebellion against God , his temptation of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Leading them to disobey god and eat the forbidden fruit. As a result,they are expelled from paradise. The poem explores themes evil , the important of freedom to choose their path . Milton's language and style have made it a cornerstone of english literature.


2 ) Paradise regained :-



      Paradise regained is a poem by john Milton, published in 1671. Paradise regained is a poem that continues the story from paradise lost. It focuses on jusus Christ being tempted by Satan in the desert. Unlike Adam and Eve, who gave in to temptation, Jesus resists all of Satan’s offers and stays faithful to God. The poem shows how Jesus's victory over temptation helps to restore the good that was lost when Adam and Eve disobeyed God.

 

3) Samson agonistes :-


            Samson Agonistes is a poem by John Milton about Samson, a strong man from the Bible. After telling Delilah the secret of his strength, he is captured by his enemies, the Philistines. They make him blind and keep him in prison. Samson feels sad and guilty about what happened. As he prays and thinks about his life, he regains his faith and strength. In the end, he sacrifices himself by bringing down the Philistines' temple, killing many of them and himself. The poem talks about suffering, faith, and finding strength through belief in God.


2 John Bunyan ( 1628 - 1688) :-


          John Bunyan(Sharrock) was an English preacher and writer , best known for his classic Christian allegory, he grew up in a poor family and little formal education, but his strong faith led him to become a puritan preach, Bunyan was jailed for preaching without a license from the church of England. During his time in prison, he wrote his most famous work , the pilgrim's progress. His other famous works is The holy war .


1) Pilgrims progress:-


         The Pilgrim’s Progress is a story by John Bunyan , first published in 1678. About a man named Christian who travels from his home, which is in danger, to reach Heaven. On his way, he faces many challenges and meets people who help or hinder him. The story shows how Christian deals with problems and temptations and stays true to his faith. It’s a simple way of showing the journey of a Christian’s life, with its ups and downs, as they try to stay on the right path to salvation.


2)  The holy war :-


       The Holy War is a story by John Bunyan about a city called Mansoul, which stands for a person’s soul. The city is attacked by evil forces led by a villain named Diabolus. However, it is protected and eventually saved by good forces led by Prince Emmanuel, who represents Jesus. The story illustrates the fight between good and evil and the importance of staying faithful to keep one's soul safe.



     Restoration age (1660 - 1700 )

  


   The restoration age(Defoe began when king Charles - II to the English throne, following the puritan commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell. This period saw a revival of English drama, particularly restoration comedy, known for its wit, satire and exploration of libertine themes. Key playwright like William Congreve and Aphra Behn highlighted upper- class manners, while John Dryden was a central figure in poetry and criticism. Theatres reopened , and women were allowed to perform on stage for the first time.



Key features of restoration literature:-


1) Reaction to puritanism :-

       Restoration literature was writing after a period of strict puritan rule in England. The puritans had banned theatres and fun, but when King Charles II returned, things changed. Writers reacted by creating works that were more free-spirited, with humor and enjoyment replacing the strict, religious tone of the Puritan era.


2) Restoration Comedy:-

          One of the most famous types of writing during this time was Restoration Comedy, also called comedy of manners. These plays were full of wit and focused on the rich and their romantic lives.They made fun of how people behaved in high society, using sharp humor and sometimes rude jokes. William Congreve and Aphra Behn were famous writers of these plays.


3) Heroic Drama:-

       Another type of play that was popular during this time was heroic drama. These plays told serious stories about brave heroes, love, and honor.They were often grand and serious, using poetic language to explore big moral questions. John Dryden was a well-known writer of these types of plays.


4 )Women in Literature:-

        For the first time, women were allowed to act on stage, and female playwrights like Aphra Behn became important figures. Behn was one of the first women to earn a living as a writer, and her works often explored power and gender in interesting ways.


5) Poetry and Literary Criticism:-

         Poetry was important during this time, with John Dryden leading the way. He wrote about many topics, including politics and religion, and was known for using heroic couplets (two rhyming lines of poetry).Dryden also wrote about how to judge and understand literature, making him an early figure in literary criticism.


6) Realism and Social Commentary:-

       Restoration literature often showed real-life situations. It focused on the everyday behaviors of people, especially the rich and powerful. Writers liked to comment on how people acted, often pointing out flaws in society, relationships, and politics.This focus on realism meant that the characters were not perfect and had faults just like real people.


How monarchy influenced literary themes and style :-


1) More Freedom in Writing:-

        During the strict Puritan rule, many forms of entertainment, like theater, were banned. But after the monarchy was restored, writers had the freedom to express themselves again. This led to a lot of fun, lively writing that focused on humor and enjoyment.


2) Satire and Mockery:-

       A lot of writing from this time used satire, which means using humor to make fun of people or criticize society. Writers pointed out the flaws in society, politics, and even the king and his court, but they did it in a funny way.Authors like John Dryden used satire to cleverly talk about problems in society and make people think while being entertained.


3) More Realistic Characters:-

    Literature during this time became more realistic. Characters in plays and stories were often flawed, meaning they had human weaknesses, like greed or jealousy. Writers focused on real-life situations rather than idealized, perfect characters.


4) Influence from France:-

       When King Charles II was in exile in France, he brought back French influences. This affected English plays, especially with the introduction of more formal styles and heroic stories.


5) Return of Theater and Comedy:-

      Theaters, which had been closed during Puritan rule, were reopened. This led to the rise of Restoration comedies, which were funny plays about rich people and their relationships.These comedies made fun of how the upper class behaved, showing their affairs, lies, and social competition. The plays were full witty dialogue.


The emergence of satire and comedy :-


    1 ) Satire:-

      Satire is a way of using humor to  make fun of people or criticize society. Writers used satire to point out the flaws and problems in society, especially after the strict Puritan rule.Famous writers like John Dryden and Jonathan Swift used satire to joke about things like politics, religion, and the way the rich lived.


    2)  Restoration Comedy:-

        Theaters were reopened, and this led to the rise of Restoration comedies, which were funny plays about love, romance, and social manners. These plays often made fun of how the rich behaved in their personal lives.Writers like William Congreve and Aphra Behn wrote clever and funny plays where characters flirted, had love affairs, and tricked each other, all while making fun of society.

 

 Two prominent writers:-


 1)      John Dryden          

  2) William congreve     


1)  John Dryden (1631–1700)  :-

    


      John Dryden was one of the most important writers of the Restoration period in England. He was a poet, playwright, and literary critic and is often called the "father of English criticism." He wrote famous plays such as All for Love, a retelling of Antony and Cleopatra, and The Indian Queen, a heroic tragedy. His poetry, particularly Absalom and Achitophel and Mac Flecknoe, showcased his talent for satire.


1 ) Absalom and Achitophel :-


           "Absalom and Achitophel" is a poem by John Dryden from 1681. It uses a story from the Bible to talk about real politics in England. In the poem, Absalom is like the Duke of Monmouth, who wanted to become king instead of King Charles II. Achitophel represents the Earl of Shaftesbury, who was helping Monmouth. Dryden wrote this poem to support King Charles II and to criticize those trying to replace him. The poem is well-known for its smart and funny way of discussing political issues.


2) William Congreve (1670 - 1729 ):-


         William Congreve (1670–1729) was a famous playwright from the Restoration period. He wrote funny plays that showed the behaviors and manners of rich people. His well-known plays include "The Way of the World" and "Love for Love". Congreve's comedies are admired for their clever jokes and smart dialogue, and they often deal with themes like love and deception. His work was very popular then and is still enjoyed today for its humor and insight into how people act.


1) The way of the world:-


        "The Way of the World" is a comedy play by William Congreve, written in 1700. It’s about Mirabell and Millamant, who want to get married but face problems from tricky relatives and social issues. The play is full of funny dialogue and clever tricks as Mirabell tries to solve these problems and win Millamant’s love. It's famous for its sharp humor and smart take on relationships and society.


             Conclusion  :-


                The Puritan Age focused on religion and strict rules, with literature that was serious and moral, and theaters were closed. When the Restoration Age began, things changed. Theaters reopened, and people enjoyed funny plays and witty writing. Writers like William Congreve and John Dryden wrote about love and social life in a more lighthearted and entertaining way. This change from strictness to enjoyment marks a big shift in how literature was written and enjoyed.


Thank you...!!

Reference:-

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