The Commonwealth and Restoration (1649-1713)
Essay by: Lilibeth Orozco Cerpa.
Let's talk a little about the historical and cultural background, we have the king
against the parliament, many years of difficult relations, the knights (followers of the
king) against the puritans (roundheads) went to war in the 1640's. Also, the puritan
revolution; the Puritans won the war so King Charles I was executed; Oliver
Cromwell became Lord Protector and leader of the Commonwealth period (16491660) which ended with Oliver's son, who was not as successful.
On the other hand, King Charles II was called by Parliament in 1660 to return from
France; although the monarchy was restored, Parliament held most of the power,
the two parties were Whigs vs. Tories, and the prime minister ruled the country; on
the death of Carlos II, his brother took over: the Catholic restoration of King Jaime
II, but his reign ended with the Glorious Bloodless Revolution; (sister of Carlos and
Jaime) new king and queen, María and Guillermo de Orange, her husband, from
Holland. The main concern at the time was to prevent another revolution. However,
the spirit of reason; the new middle classes had more influence as their wealth grew
and they wanted stability above all else; it was a time of commercial growth; scientific
discoveries:
The Royal Society, 1662 Natural knowledge; The Bank of England, 1694. − The
main philosophical text and social theory: Leviathan by Thomas Hobbe, written in
exile in France 1651, is an allegory: Leviathan is a huge animal, the community, and
the individual man is controlled by the Condition. Indeed, self-interest is the main
motivation of man, a strong state is necessary. To keep the peace. This reflects
society in Britain after the Restoration: a strong government to prevent the risk of
another revolution, and self-interest as the driving force behind the individual and the
new middle classes.- European dimension: War of the Spanish Succession, 1700 to
the Treaty of Utrecht, in 1713. The birth of the United Kingdom: Union of Parliaments
of England and Scotland, 1707; Ireland was still a problem. Let's also mention, the
Battle of the Boyne 1660 gave victory to the Protestants although the majority of the
population remained Catholic. Restoration Poetry: The Greatest Political Poem,
Andrew Marvell and his Ode by Horace on Cromwell's Return from Ireland1650 The
Crownwell leader of the Roundheads was appointed Lord Protector, he is the nations
hero.
On the other hand, the theme of the poem is strength and strong government.
Marvell also contrasted the world of politics and city life with the quiet life of the
country. He sometimes found politics corrupt. In The Garden he praises nature and
the innocence of country life. In a constantly changing world he seeks peace and
tranquility, stable values, society was not interested in new values or new worlds as
before in the Renaissance. The Search for stability in all areas. John Milton,
1608−1674: from the Renaissance to the Restoration. Classic poet and Christian
influences: On the morning of the Nativity of Christ. Prose pamphlets on divorce,
politics, education, freedom of the press, and religion. He became Oliver Cromwell's
Latin secretary. Paradise Lost, 1667 in twelve books at that stage was blind of course
a great epic poem in English. Creation Myth, God and Satan; Adam and Eve, the
theme is the fall of humanity. Satan was seen as a hero by the public, it was the last
great text of the Renaissance. Interpretation: critical controversies. Paradise
Regained and Samson Agonistes written about superhuman heroes. In Paradise
Regained, Jesus becomes an example of how to live by resisting temptation.
Prose from the second half of the 17th century: John Bunyan: The Pilgrim's Progress
is an allegory, 1678−1684, the best-known prose text of the time. Return to the
medieval allegory. Dream-vision. Graphic. Question the false values of the world. It
establishes the social values of Spanish society for more than two centuries:
Christianity, faith and stability, it is possibly the most widely read book in English
literature.
The Authorized Version of the Bible. The Book of Common Prayer (1662) Augustans
and Satires Augustans: admiration for the classical age of Augustus (+14 AD). The
rational basis of thought vs. Emotion (emotion comes second). Social satire. The
Poetry of John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester: Wit and Satire on Humanity His life
became a kind of symbol of the Restoration: a libertine, a man who gave his life to
sexual pleasure and alcohol. His poetry of him by him is often witty and rude. In
some ways Milton is the last metaphysical lyric poet, with complex poems about love
and life, but in others he is the first of the new age of Augustus. Samuel Butler's
hudibras (completed 1678); his popularity; the influence of Cervantes' Quixote;
mockery, long satirical poem. His satirical comments are directed at all religious,
academic and political issues of the time. John Dryden: Poet Laureate, playwright,
translator and essayist. Heroic stanzas praised Cromwell for his death in 1658, To
His Holy Majesty welcomed the king's return in 1660. Absalom and Architophel
(1681): satire on particular people and situations. Essay on dramatic poetry (1668)
and the beginnings of literary criticism. He made his career as a professional author
Restoration drama Restoration drama vs. Elizabethan drama. Only two public
theaters and upper/upper middle class audiences. The works reflect the manners
and morals of the court returned from France. Restoration Comedy = Comedy of
manners.
The Authorized Version of the Bible.The Book of Common Prayer (1662)Augustans
and SatiresAugustans: admiration of the classical age of Augustus (+A.D.14). The
rational basis of thought vs. Emotion(emotion takes second place). Social satire.The
poetry of John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester: wit and satire on humankind his life
became a kind ofsymbol of the Restoration: a rake, a man who gave his life to
pleasure sex and alcohol. His poetry is oftenwitty and rude. In some ways Milton is
the last metaphysical lyric poet, with complex poems about love andlife, but in others
he is the first of the new Augustan age.Samuel Butler´s Hudibras (finished in 1678);
its popularity; the influence of Cervante´s Don Quixote; mockromance, long satirical
poem. It´s satirical comments are aimed at every religious, academic and
politicalsubject of the age.John Dryden: Poet Laureate, playwright, translator and
essayist. Heroic Stanzas praised Cromwell onhis death in 1658, To His Sacred
Majesty welcoming the return of the king in 1660. Absalom andArchitophel (1681):
satire of particular people and situations. Essay of Dramatic Poesy (1668) and
thebeginnings of literary criticism. He made his career as a professional
authorRestoration DramaRestoration drama vs. Elizabethan drama. Only two public
theatres and upper/upper−middle classaudience. Plays reflect manners and morals
of the court returned from France. Restoration comedy =Comedy of Manners.The
main subject of these plays was love (older men of women looking for younger
lovers, upper classmanners contrasting with middle−class values, country life vs.
City life, sex was a major subject, with comictreatment to sexual themes.Comedy. J.
Dryden´s tragi−comedy: Marriage−á−la−Mode and All for love (tragedy which return
to thecharacters of Antony & Cleopatra). George Country Etherege´s She Wou´d if
She Cou´d and The Man ofMode are the most successful of the genre. William
Wycherley´s The Country Wife [read excerpt]. Thequestion of immorality: Jeremy
Collier´s reaction against the theatre and the issue of censorship.William Congreve´s
comedy of manners: The Way of the World (1700).
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