Restoration & Enlightenment Reflects Britain’s efforts in the 18 th century to re-establish a sense of order and security after the great political, religious, and social upheavals of the previous era Restoration of monarchy in England under King Charles II After the English Civil War Began in 1660

Restoration & Enlightenment Views of Society Reflect the social and cultural concerns of the late 17 th and early 18 th centuries Alexander Pope The literature presents a revealing look at the manners and attitudes of the time Joseph Addison Mary Astell French humorous moral tales Jean de La Fontaine Fontaine

Restoration & Enlightenment Arguments 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 Travels A Modest Proposal Satire Horatian – 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 & Enlightenment Revelations 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 strife And watch the busy scenes of crowded life.” Samuel Johnson critic 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 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 religion Monarchs 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 founded In 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 I Charles' 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 disastrous He antagonized the government by suspending the anti Catholic laws, then arresting 6 bishops Finally 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 The rise of the middle class produced a demand for newspapers, magazines, and books Writers began to get paid by booksellers who published their works Copyrights 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 – Enlightenment A philosophical movement inspired by works of John Locke and scientist, Sir Isaac Newton Advances and Changes – medicine, technology, agriculture

Restoration & Enlightenment Literary History – Neoclassicism Writers modeled their works after ancient Greece and Rome Stressed balance, order, logic, sophisticated wit and emotional restraint Focused on society, human intellect, and avoiding personal feelings Three periods of neoclassical era: Restoration – drama, comedy of manners, satirized upper class society and Stuart court, heroic drama Augustan Age – aka Age of Pope, birth of novels Age of Johnson – tribute to Samuel Johnson