Restoration literature

Restoration Literature
Lecture One:
Introduction


Time of Enormous Change
 two revolutions,
 a religious revolt
 great strides in learning.


Great Writers Flourish
 Milton
 Pope
 Dryden
 Swift
 Behn


Where Does the Term “Restoration”
Come from?
 In 1649, King Charles I was executed by the

Parliament
 From 1649-1660 England was ruled by the Lord High

Protector, Oliver Cromwell and Parliament.
 This period is called the Interregnum


The Restoration

 For a number of reasons England wanted no more of

protectorates
 Asked Charles II, the executed king’s son, to come

back to England and rule.


First Stuart King
 James VI and I, King of Scotland and England.
 Came to the throne 1603 when his cousin, Elizabeth

I, the last Tudor monarch, died
 Died 1625


Martyred King
 Charles I
 married Henrietta Marie de Bourbon, daughter of the

King of France
 Executed January 30, 1649


Restored King
 Charles II
 only 19 when his father is executed
 restored to the throne May 1660
 died 1685

Exiled King
 James II, brother of Charles II
 Married first, Lady Anne Hyde
 Married second, Princess Maria de Modena
 Abdicated 1688
 Died in Paris, 1701


England’s Only Co-regnants
 Mary II and William III
 Mary is the daughter of James II and Lady Anne

Hyde, Duchess of York.
 William is the son of King Charles II and King

James’s sister Mary and her husband Willem II,
prince of Orange-Nassau
 Mary died 1694
 William died 1702


The Last Stuart Monarch
 Anne, younger daughter of James II and Lady Anne

Hyde, Duchess of York.
 Died childless in 1714
 Passed the throne on to her cousins in the House of

Orange

from Hanover.


Simplified Reasons for Civil War
 The economic interests of the urban middle class

coincided with religious (Puritan) ideology and this
conflicted with
 The traditional (agrarian) economic interests of the

Crown and the allied Anglican Church.


Confused by Christianity?
 If you are not up on the variations of Christianity, I

firmly suggest you look at
 Fu Jen English Dept’s World Religion pages


Who are the Puritans?
 A generalization, as there are wide variances in

this group.
 Included the Presbyterians, Independents,
Congregationalists, Baptists, Quakers. Most of
these religions are some form of Calvinism.
 Not only did the Puritans wish to “purify”
themselves, they also strove to "purify" both the

English church and society of the remnants of
"corrupt" and "unscriptural" "papist" ritual and
dogma.


What are Papists?
 Derogatory term!
 Papist refers to those who follow the Pope, in

other words, Roman Catholics.
 For the Puritans, Roman Catholics were worse

than unbelievers.
 Puritans believed that Roman Catholics were

actually following the Anti-Christ in the shape of
the Pope, and at heart, they were nothing more
than idol worshippers.


What does this mean for individuals?
 In a broad sense, Puritanism represented strict

obedience to the dictates of conscience and strong
emphasis on the virtue of self-denial.


Puritanism and Art
 It’s not that they didn’t like art, though they were

traditionally anti-theater (which for them represented
lying and immorality).
 But art should glorify God.
 One of England’s greatest poets, Milton, was a

staunch Puritan.


Puritanism and Wealth
 Puritanism encouraged an essentially practical

attitude to worldly affairs.
 success at business was a visible sign of God’s

blessing and approval.
 You might want to look at some of Max Weber’s

writings on Puritanism and the rise of capitalism, if
you like this stuff


Where Does that Leave Art?
 Art encourages contemplative virtues, which the

practical Puritan was inclined to view as unnecessary,
therefor frivolous, therefor “sinful”.


The “Inner Light”
 Puritans believed that the “good life” could only be

lived by the “inner light” - the voice of God in the
heart - and to “hear” this voice it was necessary to
conduct the most scrupulous self-inquiry.


Spiritual Auto-biography
 From this came a form of literature known as the

“spiritual autobiography,” which became very popular
during this period.
 John Bunyan’s Grace Abounding To The Chief Of

Sinners is one of the most famous examples. (can be
found in the Norton)


Two Consequences:
 Increased interest in, and understanding of, the

human heart in others as well as in the self (see
Pilgrim’s Progress)
 Encouraged the sense of loneliness of the individual -

a sense supported by the growing economic
individualism of the late 17th century


Puritan Values in England
 Puritanism’s influence in England peaked during

Cromwell’s rule, but it many of its principals had
become firmly entrenched in the middle class during
this period.
 As a result, English and Scottish culture are heavily

influenced by the Puritan ethic.


Cavaliers vs. Roundheads
 Cavaliers - nickname

 Roundheads -

for the Royalist side
 “Cavalier poetry” by
Lovelace and
Suckling among
others
 Cavaliers are seen
as brave, graceful
and witty

nickname of the
Puritans
 Seen as dull, boring
and religious
 Remember, they
ultimately “lost” the
battle, so our view is

colored.


The Royalists Loose
 King Charles I executed

Contemporary engraving of the
execution of Charles I. He is
already being seen as a martyr.