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Neoclassical Period 1660-1798

Neoclassical Period 1660-1798. emphasis: reason, logic, order, balance, individual (over group) Locke: social contract exists between the gov’t and people “natural rights” of life, liberty, property logical justification for Glorious Revolution Restoration

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Neoclassical Period 1660-1798

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  1. Neoclassical Period 1660-1798 • emphasis: reason, logic, order, balance, individual (over group) • Locke: social contract exists between the gov’t and people • “natural rights” of life, liberty, property • logical justification for Glorious Revolution • Restoration • belief that man is basically/innately evil • Industrial Revolution begins • Impoverished masses begin to grow (decline of farming, demise of traditional village life) • Poor living and working conditions; disagreement about reform efforts

  2. Neoclassical Period 1660-1798 • Enlightenment = Age of Reason • Tory & Whig parties • English Bill of Rights – limited royal authority • Glorious Revolution • Catholics excluded from serving in Parliament • James II overthrown; William & Mary (Protestants) become monarchs in 1689 • lots of unrest in Ireland as result of Glorious Revolution  corruption  Swift’s satire • Ireland declared inseparable from England (1719) • King George III lost control of American colonies (Rev. War)

  3. Neoclassical Period 1660-1798 • satire, poetry (heroic couplets, iambic pentameter), novels, letters/diaries • many writers modeled works on ancient Rome, “new classicism” • focus on grammar, spelling (Samuel Johnson – 1st dictionary) • dramatic rise in functional literacy among men (up to 50% of population)

  4. coffee houses • center of cultural, political life in London (1650-1860) • where educated men spent evenings dining & talking w/ literary friends, political associates • newspapers could be read there for no charge • Scriblerus Club – met in England (1714) • Assn. of writers, including Swift, Alexander Pope, John Gay, John Arbuthnot, who met to “satirise all the false tastes in learning”

  5. Jonathan SwiftNov. 30, 1667- Oct. 19, 1745 EARLY LIFE Born in Dublin to English parents (Anglo-Irish) Frequently moved between Ireland & England Graduated from Trinity college (Ireland) First job in Surrey, England Worked as secretary, Anglican priest, author 1st job: secretary for Sir William Temple, retired diplomat persuaded him to start writing Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin Formed the MartinusScriblerus Club – coffee house group

  6. SATIRE & POLITICS Clergyman & political writer for Whig party, wrote satires first two satires were published anonymously Conservative, strict moralist – politically & scientifically Believed in traditional scientific findings & lampooned “modern” thinkers (Locke, Newton) Satires focused on justice, order, moral rectitude, rational thought & against arrogance, shallowness Became part of Tories when Whigs lost power (1710) Left England in 1714 when Whigs returned to power

  7. IRISH PATRIOT Returned to Ireland in 1714; appointed dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral by Queen Anne (of England) Angered by tyranny of England Ireland dependent on England b/c of repressive politics, poverty, famine; barred from trading w/ American colonies Catholic majority in Ireland couldn’t vote, hold public office, buy land, receive an education The Drapier’s Letters (1724) – series of publications published anonymously, but easily recognized as Swift’s Rhetoric never before raised by Anglo-Irish voice vs. English became hero to Irish Catholics & Protestants

  8. Gulliver’s Travels1726 Had reputation for “fierce satire” as result of The Drapier’s letters in both Ireland & England Published anonymously in London Fictional voyage, increasingly pessimistic Allowed Swift to vent about political corruption, annoyance with humans’ worthlessness Goal: vent anger and rally others to get angry Result: people entertained by novel

  9. THE SATIRIST Misanthropy – hatred of humankind Swift hid deep rage with humor & sarcasm in satire Probably grew from religious conviction Humans = fallen victims of original sin Opposed ideas of most Enlightenment thinkers (humans = rational creatures) “A Modest Proposal” (1729) Last major work about Ireland Outrageous attack on those who mistreated Ireland’s poor Died in 1731 – epitaph shows satire, religiosity, misanthropy Left remaining fortune to go toward building a mental hospital Buried in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, next to friend Esther (Stella) Johnson

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