NeoClassica

By the 18 th century Britain was the Empire in which, "the sun never set" and so much information  was available from all parts of the world that it is no wonder journalism experienced a rise in popularity.  What aided the popularization of newspaper was the increase in literacy in the population as the middle class was expanding and flourishing with commerce and trade.  Magazines were made for all audiences such as The Lady's Magazine or Entertaining Companion for the Fair Sex, Appropriated Solely to Their Amusement, Which covered women's fashions and happenings and  The Gentleman's Magazine which was in print for near 200 years from 1731 to 1922, and where Samuel Johnson was first regularly employed as a writer as a parliamentary reporter.  Richard Steele and Joseph Addison wrote about cultural matters in their journalistic print titled The Spectator . I find that there are similarities between The Spectator and modern day publications like ...

I was astonished to see how sexually liberated some of the authors from the mid-seventeenth century were. By then, unlike one hundred years earlier, sex outside of marriage was no longer being punished, and people were taking advantage. Rochester  According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the term Libertine, which authors like Aphra Behn and John Wilmot of Rochester identified, as was a person who felt morally liberated, especially concerning sex. Both Behn and Rochester wrote poems about a subject that is to this day, one that is discussed with discretion and in private. ..a man’s mishap in the boudoir. Rochester’s poem “The Imperfect Enjoyment” discusses a man who finds himself in a romantic situation and proceeds to experience an early release leaving his lover disappointed. Rochester’s poem is comedic because he never outright says what happened, but delivers the message quite clearly; "In liquid raptures I dissolved all o’er"  Behn wrote, “The Disappoint...

Locke's Lasting Influence In this week’s reading, the focus was on John Locke, and an excerpt from his Essay Concerning Human Understanding, primarily the Epistle to the Reader. In his introduction, the author explains that his essay came about through lengthy discussions with friends. He initially thought that one piece of paper would contain all he had to say about the idea, but as time went by, he found himself coming back to the subject matter and expanding what he had to say. Locke comes off as apologetic when he tells the reader that he or she may find the essay redundant or repetitive, but admits that he was not going to edit any of the content. Ultimately, Locke's Essay is a labor of love of which Locke spent many hours working on and off on over an extended period and is the result of a very personal project for the author. The author presents the idea that thoughts are all for all humans, not just those enlightened by divinity. Thoughts, ideas, concepts, and...

Is Not Disagreeing Agreeing? Aphra Behn's Unbiased Treatment of Slavery in Oroonoko In Warren Chernaik article “Captains and Slaves: Aphra Behn and the Rhetoric of Republicanism Criticism,” the author points out, through a Post Colonial aspect, that it is surprising how little discussion there is in regards to how the text presents slavery. A Post Colonial criticism of literature, according to Perdue Owl Writing Lab, aims to look at a piece of literature that deals with people who have been or are colonized, and its colonizers. “Post-colonial theory looks at issues of power, economics, politics, religion, and culture and how these elements work in relation to colonial hegemony.” (Perdue) The author presents that Behn’s story has been argued to show support of colonization as a whole, which would by default support slavery. Slavery, I feel, is the most severe of the consequences of colonization. I do agree with the article in that it appears that Behn may take slavery fo...

Dryden's Mock Heroic Verse John Dryden was an incredibly well-educated and brilliant author and critic who was able to unite  all his talents and fathered a genre of literature that we enjoy to this day. You might say that it all began with his famed mock-epic poem “Mac Flecknoe.” The poem, I believe, was intended for a particular audience, much like today’s political satire is most effectively enjoyed by those who keep up with politics. That is why it is important to familiarize yourself with the historical context of when literature was written to appreciate the overall meaning and be able to walk away with more than just a personal interpretation. In Mac Flecknoe, Dryden presents a writer who can’t quite deliver. Mac Flecknoe will do anything to try and come across as funny, but his wit falls short.  It is common that the author Dryden was talking about was Thomas Shadwell. What Dryden does in his mock-epic is to attack all the elements that Shadwell was ai...

Science and Religion This week we read and discussed issues that have always affected the human mind and our existence: Politics and Science. “The Pilgrim’s Progress” by John Bunyan.  Bunyan was a very religious and political man as is evident in this particular text about a man named “Christian” and the journey he must endure. It is important to remember that in the 17th century, religion and politics were synonymous. John Bunyan was himself a Protestant, had had a modest education and went to jail about twelve times as a result of his beliefs. It’s believed that it was during his time in prison that Bunyan began to write “ The Pilgrim’s Progress.” Bunya’s story is presented as a dream where the main character, Christian, journeys to find salvation and encounters many obstacles and characters that either aid or disrupt his trip. The characters are appropriately named after their function in Christian’s journey. They have names such as “Evangelist,” “Faithful,...

My immediate response to Neo-Classical/Restoration literature is one of great curiosity because of the circumstances that fueled the writers associated with this time period. Neo-Classical literature was a response to the major social and political changes England was experiencing. In the writings is the evidence of an artistic and intellectual release that could be expressed after the restoration of the English Monarchy with Charles II, which also lends the name to the literary period. Various types of literature emerged from the Restoration period of literature ranging from religious, risque, and my personal favorite, satirical.  Authors such as John Dryden expressed their opinions with satires such as Mac Flecknoe in which he targets his once friend Thomas Shadwell. A master of wit, Dryden mixes crude "fat jokes" with allusions to classic literature such as the Aenid, to insult his once friend. Nor let thy mountain belly make pretence Of likene...