Tyler Justice
Mrs. Wilson
British Literature B
8 May 2013
Neoclassical
Period Essay
The Neoclassical
Literary period was a major turning point, for English Literature. This period
mark the end of the dictatorship of Oliver Cromwell, and the restoration of the
monarchy (history-timelines.org.uk). The period is also famous because the
intellectuals of the time, now wanted to focus on the educating the public, not
just the aristocracy like the decades before (559). Many writers of the time
wanted to look towards, their Roman contemporaries especially; during the
Augustan period for inspiration and thus, make the “new classics” (599).
Another difference
between the reign of Cromwell and the neoclassical era was the difference
between the social classes was more defined with the “Haves” and the “Have-Nots”
(566). The classes the embraced the vice and corruption of the new era were the
“Haves”. These people were the very ones that many writers satirized because;
this group actively participated in gambling, prostitution and other sins
(566). The neoclassical writers mainly focused on the morality of the “Haves”
and questioned how many could be obsessed with wealth and pleasure instead of
reason (566). The “Have-Nots” were the people that stressed reason and
knowledge above the ideals of sin and vice and often questioning the morality
and materialistic attitudes of their societies in their works (566).
One of the most common
literary devices they used was to educate the public at the time was satire.
Satire is the use of irony, sarcasm and ridicule to expose vice, corruption or folly.
Many writers during the neoclassical period condemned people of their times,
for living only on material possessions and not on the worth of the individual.
Under the rule of King Charles II the English citizens again found their voice
however, it came at a price being forced to convert from the Anglican Church
back to Catholicism (562-563). Being forced to convert their religion to
appease their sovereign didn’t go over well with Charles subjects, and
Catholicism is one of the most satirized subjects from the period.
A writer at the time,
who condemned the crown, was John Bunyan however, unlike his fellow writers
Bunyan was from the lower class. Bunyan felt that he had a right to educate his
fellow Baptist during his lifetime, his religious ideology being the subject of
many of his works. Bunyan was in fact arrested and jailed twice for attempting
to force subjects of Charles II to, not practice Catholicism. Arguably his most
famous work was The Pilgrim’s Progress, in
which, Bunyan uses various Biblical allusions and satire to condemn the world
of the neoclassical era, one filled with and corruption. Bunyan also uses his
work to condemn the various vices of humanity and question the morality, of their
actions. With this work he educated the public on the corruption of their
society, at a time when doing so was dangerous.
In The Pilgrim’s Progress Bunyan tells the story of two pilgrims
Christian and Faithful, as they travel to the Gates of the Celestial City or
Heaven. Along the way on their travels the pilgrims encounter the Fair at the
city of Vanity, which they pass through on their journey. The two pilgrims are
met with hostility upon, entering the town. They are looked at with suspicion
and hostility due to the fact that the pair dress and speak different from
those in Vanity. “Secondly, and as they wondered at their apparel so they did
likewise at their speech; for few could understand what they said; they
naturally spoke the language of Canaan; but they that kept the Fair, were the
men of this world: so that from one end of the Fair to the other, they seemed
barbarians each to the other” (Bunyan, 422). The townsfolk at Vanity, upon their suspicions
arrest Christian and Faithful. They are tried by people of the town, who
represent the various vices of humanity. “Then went the jury out, whose names
were Mr. Blind-man, Mr. No-good, Mr. Malice, Mr. Love-lust, Mr. Live-loose, Mr.
Heady, Mr. High-mind, Mr. Enmity, Mr. Liar, Mr. Cruelty, Mr. Hate-light, and
Mr. implacable, who every one
gave in his private verdict against him among themselves, and afterwards
unanimously concluded to bring him in guilty before the Judge” (Bunyan, 422). Bunyan
is satirizing Charles II, due to him allowing prostitution and other crimes to
run rampant, under the guise of theatre and the arts. Bunyan is grateful that
the King restored the arts but, he’s angry that a place of prostitution is,
also a place of art.
However,
the trial was a short lived affair with an immediate guilty verdict returned,
and Faithful was condemned to death. Faithful and Christian were separated and
Faithful was killed with all of the deaths that were punishable for heretics.
Faithful and Christian were persecuted against because they were different and
refused to buy wares at Vanity, due to they were just passing through. “They
therefore brought him out to do with him according to their law; and first they
scourged him, then they buffeted him, then they lanced his flesh with knives;
after that they stoned him with stones, then pricked him with their swords; and
last of all they burned him to ashes at the stake. Thus came Faithful to his
end” (Bunyan, 423). After Faithful’s death, Christian remained in jail for the
rest of his days and in the end of his life, he completed his journey. Before
the end of the tale, Christian encounters Hopeful and together they complete
their journey to the Celestial City. This parallels the events in Bunyan’s life;
he is hopeful, that one day he will not be persecuted for his religion. In the
end of tale, both Faithful and Christian, made the way to Celestial City and
were both, welcomed into the arms of God. “Now just as the Gates were opened to let in the men, I
looked in after them; and behold, the City shone like the sun, the streets also
were paved with gold, and in them walked many men with crowns on their heads,
palms in their hands, and golden harps to sing praises withal” (Bunyan, 423).
In the wake of this
piece and its overall impact gradually religious tolerance retuned once again
to England similar to, before the reign of Cromwell and Charles II (history-timelines.org.uk).
Finally, in 1688 the English subjects ruled by Charles’s brother James II had
enough, they allowed William of Orange to invade, and he was made England’s new
king. This time King William III allowed his people to practice what religion
they wanted because, he was a Protestant (562). King William III established
toleration of religion and did not force his subjects, to comply with
Christianity. Works after the reign of James II and into the reign of William
III practiced satire; however, unlike in James’s reign they didn’t have to fear
the crown (562).
Works
Cited:
Peer Edit:
ReplyDeleteI thought your article was great! You did a great job explaining what was going on historically during this era. I also really liked how you commented on the "haves" and the have nots". It was a really big difference on who Bunyan was satirizing, the upper class and the lower class. I thought it was good that you gave a little history of Bunyan as well.
A couple of things to keep in mind....
I don't know if you need that big of a historical summary in the beginning. You might just want to make a thesis statement, and jump right in with "The Pilgrim's Progress", and talk about the history throughout the paragraphs
I thought the Bunyan part may have been a little bit of a summary, but I could be wrong
General grammar: you have a lot of commas:)
All in all, great job! I think you will have a great essay!
Peer Edit:
ReplyDeleteYou have a lot of commas in places you don't need them, but need them in other spots. Don't foget, "The classes the embraced the vice and corruption..." needs commas becaus it is a list. And you just need to check your grammer. Shirnk your history. Good information, but there is to much. Maybe spread it out through the piece? Well done. Lots of good and useful information. I feel like some points in your paragragh need to be shortened or to the point.
CHANGE: Faithful and Christian were separated and Faithful was killed with all of the deaths that were punishable for heretics(in the second to last paragrah, to the list of all the tortures in the book. Use that quote.)