📘English Literature – 1670 to 1850 Unit 1 – Restoration Era: Context & Literature

Historical Context

• The Restoration period in English literature spans from 1660 to 1700, marking the restoration of the monarchy under King Charles II following the Interregnum period
• Characterized by a shift from Puritan austerity to a more libertine and hedonistic society, reflected in the literature of the time
• The reopening of theaters in 1660 led to a resurgence of dramatic works, particularly comedies of manners (The Country Wife by William Wycherley)
  • These plays often satirized the aristocracy and their libertine behavior
• The Royal Society, founded in 1660, promoted scientific inquiry and empiricism, influencing the rational and skeptical tone of Restoration literature
• The Great Plague of London (1665) and the Great Fire of London (1666) had significant impacts on the social and literary landscape
• The Glorious Revolution of 1688 saw the overthrow of James II and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy under William and Mary, leading to a more stable political environment
• The rise of coffee houses as centers of intellectual discourse and political debate shaped the development of journalism and essay writing (The Tatler and The Spectator by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele)

Key Literary Figures

• John Dryden, the leading literary figure of the Restoration era, known for his satirical poetry (Mac Flecknoe), drama (All for Love), and critical essays (An Essay of Dramatic Poesy)
• Aphra Behn, one of the first professional female writers in England, renowned for her plays (The Rover) and novels (Oroonoko)
• William Wycherley, a prominent playwright known for his comedies of manners (The Country Wife, The Plain Dealer)
• William Congreve, another notable playwright famous for his witty and sophisticated comedies (The Way of the World, Love for Love)
• John Bunyan, a Puritan writer best known for his allegorical novel The Pilgrim's Progress
• Samuel Pepys, whose detailed diary provides a valuable account of life in Restoration London
• John Locke, a philosopher whose works (Two Treatises of Government, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding) had a significant influence on Enlightenment thought
• Jonathan Swift, a satirist famous for his prose works such as Gulliver's Travels and A Modest Proposal

Major Works and Genres

• Comedy of manners, a satirical form of drama that mocked the behavior and customs of the upper classes (The Country Wife by William Wycherley, The Way of the World by William Congreve)
• Heroic drama, a genre characterized by grandiose themes, elevated language, and idealized characters (The Conquest of Granada by John Dryden)
• Restoration tragedy, which often focused on themes of honor, love, and betrayal (All for Love by John Dryden, Venice Preserved by Thomas Otway)
• Satirical poetry, used to criticize political figures, social norms, and literary rivals (Absalom and Achitophel by John Dryden, Mac Flecknoe by John Dryden)
• The novel, which emerged as a new literary form during this period (Oroonoko by Aphra Behn, The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan)
• Diaries and journals, which provided insight into the daily lives and thoughts of individuals (The Diary of Samuel Pepys)
• Philosophical and political treatises (Two Treatises of Government by John Locke, Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes)

Themes and Motifs

• The conflict between reason and passion, often explored through the lens of love and relationships
• The tension between public and private life, as characters navigate the complexities of social norms and personal desires
• The use of wit and clever dialogue as a means of social currency and power
• The theme of appearance versus reality, with characters often hiding their true intentions behind a facade of politeness and decorum
  • This is particularly evident in the comedies of manners, where characters engage in elaborate social rituals and deceptions
• The exploration of gender roles and the position of women in society (The Rover by Aphra Behn, The Way of the World by William Congreve)
• The impact of political and religious upheaval on individuals and society
• The celebration of libertinism and sexual freedom, often in contrast to the more conservative values of the previous era
• The examination of the nature of power and authority, both political and personal

Literary Techniques

• Satire, used to criticize and mock social norms, political figures, and literary rivals through exaggeration, irony, and wit
• Irony, both verbal and situational, employed to highlight the discrepancies between appearance and reality
• Wit and wordplay, used to demonstrate characters' intelligence and social adeptness
  • The use of clever dialogue and repartee is a hallmark of Restoration comedy
• Heroic couplets, a poetic form consisting of rhyming pairs of iambic pentameter lines, often used in satirical and narrative poetry (Mac Flecknoe by John Dryden)
• Allegory, used to convey moral or political messages through symbolic characters and events (The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan)
• Play-within-a-play, a metatheatrical device used to comment on the nature of theater and the relationship between art and life (The Rover by Aphra Behn)
• Prologues and epilogues, used to address the audience directly and comment on the play's themes and reception
• Restoration poets' use of allusions to classical literature and mythology to elevate their subject matter and demonstrate their learning

Social and Cultural Impact

• The Restoration era marked a significant shift in the relationship between literature and society, as writers began to address more secular and worldly concerns
• The rise of the middle class and the increasing importance of public opinion led to the development of new literary forms, such as the periodical essay (The Tatler and The Spectator by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele)
• The Restoration's libertine attitudes towards sexuality and morality were reflected in the literature of the time, challenging traditional social norms
• The increasing popularity of coffee houses as centers of intellectual and political discourse helped to shape public opinion and foster a culture of debate and criticism
• The Restoration's emphasis on wit, refinement, and social etiquette had a lasting impact on English culture and manners
• The era's scientific advancements, exemplified by the founding of the Royal Society, influenced the rational and empirical tone of Restoration literature
• The political upheavals of the period, including the Glorious Revolution of 1688, found expression in the works of writers such as John Locke and Jonathan Swift
• The Restoration's theatrical culture, with its focus on elaborate stagecraft and spectacle, set the stage for the development of modern theater

Critical Reception and Analysis

• Restoration literature has been praised for its wit, sophistication, and innovative forms, but also criticized for its licentiousness and moral ambiguity
• The comedies of manners have been interpreted as both celebrations of aristocratic libertinism and critiques of the era's social and moral excesses
• The works of Aphra Behn have been studied for their groundbreaking depictions of female agency and sexuality, as well as their critique of colonial power structures (Oroonoko)
• John Dryden's works have been analyzed for their masterful use of satire, their engagement with political and religious controversies, and their influence on the development of English verse
• The philosophical works of John Locke have been recognized as foundational texts of Enlightenment thought, influencing political and social theory for centuries
• The Restoration era has been studied as a period of transition, marking the shift from the religious and political upheavals of the 17th century to the more stable and secular society of the 18th century
• Critics have also examined the Restoration's legacy in shaping the development of English literature, particularly in the areas of drama, poetry, and prose fiction
• Recent scholarship has focused on the Restoration's complex relationship with issues of gender, sexuality, race, and colonialism, as reflected in the works of writers such as Aphra Behn and John Dryden

Legacy and Influence

• The Restoration era's emphasis on wit, satire, and social commentary had a lasting impact on English literature, influencing writers such as Alexander Pope, Henry Fielding, and Richard Brinsley Sheridan
• The comedies of manners developed during the Restoration period set the stage for the "comedy of manners" tradition in English drama, which continued into the 18th and 19th centuries (The School for Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde)
• The works of John Dryden, particularly his satirical poetry and critical essays, helped to establish the heroic couplet as a dominant poetic form and influenced the development of English verse satire
• Aphra Behn's pioneering role as a professional female writer paved the way for later women authors, such as Eliza Haywood and Fanny Burney
• The philosophical works of John Locke, particularly his emphasis on individual rights and the social contract, had a profound influence on Enlightenment thought and the development of modern political theory
• The Restoration's libertine attitudes towards sexuality and morality, as reflected in its literature, anticipated the more open and secular society of the 18th century
• The era's focus on reason, empiricism, and scientific inquiry, exemplified by the founding of the Royal Society, helped to shape the intellectual climate of the Enlightenment
• The Restoration's legacy can be seen in the enduring popularity of its literary forms and themes, from the wit and sophistication of the comedy of manners to the satirical bite of Dryden's poetry