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of the 16
th
and the beginning of the 17
th
century and the role of William
Shakespeare in it
1.1. English literature in the 17
th
century
The 17th century is a period, which many English historians and literary
scholars prefer to any other. During most of it England had her own course both in
her political and literary
life.
After Queen Elizabeth's death James VI of Scotland became King James I of
England in J603 Like Elizabeth he tried to rule without parliament as much as
possible. He believed in the divine right of kings, that is the king was chosen by
God and only God could judge him. He expressed his opinion openly and that led
to
trouble
with Parliament.
In 1618 the Thirty Years War began, and Parliament wished to go to war against
the Catholics James I did not agree. Until his death in 1625 he was always
quarrelling with parliament over money and over its desire to play a part in his
foreign policy. His son, Charles I, quarrelled with the House of Commons even
more than his father. It was also over money. Finally Charles 1 dissolved
Parliament. After that he had to recall Parliament, because he needed money, but
each time he
did so, he
quarreled with it.
Charles I disliked Puritans. Puritans were serious Christian believers, who wanted
to purify their religion of the formal ceremonies of the Church of England They
wanted a democratic Church They condemned singing, dancing, going to the
theatre, all popular amusements and pastimes Many members of Parliament (MPs)
were either Puritans
or
sympathized
with them.
The Civil War between Charles I and his supporters (the Cavaliers) and the
Parliament forces (the Roundheads) began in 1642. Victory went to Parliament at
the end. Charles I was executed in 1649. Oliver Cromwell, a military leader,
became a dictator, calling himself the Protector. From 1649 to l660 Britain was a
republic.
When Cromwell died in 1658, the Protectorate collapsed. Richard Cromwell, his
5
son, was not a good leader. In 1660 Charles II was invited to return from France,
where he had escaped after his father's execution. The republic was over, the
monarchy was restored. The Restoration of Monarchy brought about many
changes. The greatest European power at that time was France. French influence in
manners, literature and arts was now irresistible. What was fashionable in Paris,
soon „ became fashionable in London. At that time two great disasters happened in
Great Britain: the Plague (1665) and the Great Fire of London (1666), which
devastated the old city. However, it was rebuilt under the direction of the famous
architect
Sir
Christopher Wren.
Literary forms were quick to change and develop during the 17th century. Prose
writing offers us a particularly good example of this change and development. It
moved in two different directions. The earliest development, which can be found in
John Milton's prose, gives us writing of increasing complexity Sentences in his
prose branch out into dozens of clauses. His prose is quite unlike ordinary speech
John Milton (1608 - 1674) is considered to be the most outstanding writer of the
17th century He is a representative of English Puritanism in English literature He
was brought up in the family where the culture of the Renaissance was combined
with the life of the Puritans. Following his mother's wish, John was preparing for
the religious career, and at the age of 16 he went to Cambridge His life seems to
have revolted
around
three great decisions.
At the University he gave up the idea of taking orders in the Anglican
Church. However, he always remained religious, and poetry was a sacred calling
for
him.
In 1640s Milton was forced to make a second decision - his role in the Civil
War He joined the Puritans in Parliament and began to write pamphlets on the
Church reform. He also became Oliver Cromwell's Latin Secretary.
He took his third decision when he was faced with the threat of blindness. If he had
given up his political work, he would not have lost his eyesight. But the call of
duty was powerful Thus, at the age of 44, he went completely blind.
It was during the last 10 years of his life that Milton, totally blind, completed his
6
great long poems – ―Paradise Lost" and " Paradise Regained". He often dictated
them to his daughters. "Paradise Lost‖ (completed in 1658, published in 1667) is
the most famous of his poems It consists of 10 000 lines of grand blank verse. This
poem is considered to be the finest artistic development of the Puritan Age in
England. The poem tells in 12 books the Biblical story of the temptation and fall of
Man in
the hands of
Satan
The later development (the last twenty years of the century) is quite
different: it begins to reproduce the manner and rhythm of the best talk of the
time. John Dryden (1631 - 1700), though he was primarily a poet, was an original
master of this new kind of prose. The poetry of the 17th century shows an
astonishing variety.
John Donne (1572 - 1631) was the greatest metaphysical poet. He was brought up
as a Roman Catholic, but later joined the Church of England and finally became
Dean of St Paul's Cathedral His sermons were very popular, but he had the
strongest influence as a poet, first in the 17th century, and then after World War I.
Modern poets turn to him because he was highly intellectual and impassioned, he
used imagery in modern manner His manner of writing is obscure and unmusical
Unlike poets of the Elizabethan Age, who praised faithfulness in-love and beauty
in life, he glorified inconstancy and explored the dark paths of the mind While they
depended on a regular rhythm in verse, he varied lines, metre and stress whenever
he
felt it
necessary.
The lighter side of literature in the 17th century is reflected in the lyrics
of the Cavalier poets. They sing of love, youth, happiness, they take life as they
find it- often with a mocking spirit. For example, Richard Lovelace (1618 - 1658),
one of the Cavaliers, who was a gallant and handsome gentleman, who spent his
fortune and much of his time in prison for his King. While there, he composed a
number of exquisite lyrics.
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