illuminismo defoe e swift | Appunti di Inglese

THE ENLIGHTENMENT

(1660-1760)

The Enlightenment was a European intellectual movement that developed in the 17th and 18th centuries with

the aim of freeing mans mind from ignorance, superstition and obscurantism through knowledge and science.

It was generally agreed that ignorance and superstition were spread and maintained among the common

people by those who held power and wanted to keep them subjected.

Light is the reason and the man can do everything with reasons

Enlightenment was characterized by faith in reason in order to achieve happiness, if you use reason you can

be free but reason is useful to be happy

Reason questioned traditional doctrines, especially religious assumptions. Reason was developed by

education, and education became a catalyst of social and political change.

The movement was rooted in the 17th-century scientific revolution and the theories developed by John

Locke (1632-1704) and Isaac Newton

The critique of traditions and of historical institutions led to the creation of an alternative ideal: the state of

nature.

Locke insisted that the prime and fundamental source of human knowledge of the world outside was

individual experience, for Locke the more I experience the more I know, the

Isaac Newton published his laws of motion and universal gravitation in his work the Philosophies Naturalis

Principia Mathematics, he discovers the low of gravity

Enlightened thinkers aimed at discovering the original natural state, since what is natural is also rational and

common to every human being. The taste for nature and man's primary state were at the roots of the interest

in exotic and savage civilizations, in the figure of the noble savage.

The nature is perfect and people have to follow the model of nature

A golden age

The 18th century in England is generally regarded as a golden age or Augustan age, and it was called

Augustan after the period of Roman history which had achieved political stability and power as well as a

flourishing of the arts. (27b.c.-14a.d.)

Golden age was a particular rich age, about culture this age was managed about neoclassicism like harmony

and perfection, proportion, also in culture has to follow these 3 values, also if you live in a society you have

to be elegant and wit

Politics and conversation were more appreciate= people have to follow the new value of decor set of social

rules base on decency so no exaggeration be polite

At the time people meets at the café, a place to socialize and be witty thanks to reasons

IN ENGLAND

1) Spirit of rationalism had a particular expect = the power of reasons

They defeat the old puritan belief; they think man was born in a state of sin and man have to

suffering this state of sin as a guilt and his destiny was completely decided by god, he could decide

about human and destiny between good and evil

They change this view because introduce the freewheel = opposite of god decision, man thanks to

the use of reasons is free to choose his destiny

Man can control the economic and social condition thanks to the use of reason = if you born poor

you can change your state=optimism

Middle classes the support of this view aristocracy wasn’t apply for that because they were too rich,

they were having a social climb and they could take the political power

2) THE JOURNALISM

First newspaper born in 1660 in Lipsia and after arrived in England thanks to the improve in printed

technology because it becomes faster and cheaper (printed were born in 1445)

The rate of literacy is improving thanks to the circulating library (way to borrow freely books in

public place, in store of book but not only in it and the Sunday school

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THE ENLIGHTENMENT

The Enlightenment was a European intellectual movement that developed in the 17th and 18th centuries with the aim of freeing mans mind from ignorance, superstition and obscurantism through knowledge and science. It was generally agreed that ignorance and superstition were spread and maintained among the common people by those who held power and wanted to keep them subjected. Light is the reason and the man can do everything with reasons Enlightenment was characterized by faith in reason in order to achieve happiness, if you use reason you can be free but reason is useful to be happy Reason questioned traditional doctrines, especially religious assumptions. Reason was developed by education, and education became a catalyst of social and political change. The movement was rooted in the 17th-century scientific revolution and the theories developed by John Locke (1632-1704) and Isaac Newton The critique of traditions and of historical institutions led to the creation of an alternative ideal: the state of nature. Locke insisted that the prime and fundamental source of human knowledge of the world outside was individual experience, for Locke the more I experience the more I know, the Isaac Newton published his laws of motion and universal gravitation in his work the Philosophies Naturalis Principia Mathematics, he discovers the low of gravity Enlightened thinkers aimed at discovering the original natural state, since what is natural is also rational and common to every human being. The taste for nature and man's primary state were at the roots of the interest in exotic and savage civilizations, in the figure of the noble savage. The nature is perfect and people have to follow the model of nature A golden age The 18th century in England is generally regarded as a golden age or Augustan age, and it was called Augustan after the period of Roman history which had achieved political stability and power as well as a flourishing of the arts. (27b.c.-14a.d.) Golden age was a particular rich age, about culture this age was managed about neoclassicism like harmony and perfection, proportion, also in culture has to follow these 3 values, also if you live in a society you have to be elegant and wit Politics and conversation were more appreciate= people have to follow the new value of decor set of social rules base on decency so no exaggeration be polite At the time people meets at the café, a place to socialize and be witty thanks to reasons IN ENGLAND

Spirit of rationalism had a particular expect = the power of reasons They defeat the old puritan belief; they think man was born in a state of sin and man have to suffering this state of sin as a guilt and his destiny was completely decided by god, he could decide about human and destiny between good and evil They change this view because introduce the freewheel = opposite of god decision, man thanks to the use of reasons is free to choose his destiny Man can control the economic and social condition thanks to the use of reason = if you born poor you can change your state=optimism Middle classes the support of this view aristocracy wasn’t apply for that because they were too rich, they were having a social climb and they could take the political power
THE JOURNALISM First newspaper born in 1660 in Lipsia and after arrived in England thanks to the improve in printed technology because it becomes faster and cheaper (printed were born in 1445) The rate of literacy is improving thanks to the circulating library (way to borrow freely books in public place, in store of book but not only in it and the Sunday school

All these things influence the literary genre POETRY Poetry was the symbol of classicism, the spirit of formal perfection and emotional control with the aim to improve the technical skill In poetry was less followed the imagination, the m ore use reasons This type of poetry was for learned reader because it was erudite and extremely refined, also the values was the classical of bravery, heroic deeds etc. suitable to represent the value of aristocratic audience Poetry was two types

Heroic poetry
Satirical poetry (most appreciate) ESSAY Most suitable to reasons, this form was particularly experimented at the time and was suitable for periodic and magazine Purpose was to entertained and instruct combing elegance and knowledge There were two types of essays
Philosophical essay where you can find dissertation about religion, politics, moral and other aspect of life
Scientific treatises, they were about the limit of human knowledge and working o human mind to overcome the human limits SATIRE Was an old type of literature that was written in form of pamphlet (short satirical booklet) and satire and irony were the main ingredient These books treat topic like politic, fashion, everyday life aspect to entertained and educated people about morality criticizing thanks to irony NOVEL The growing important of middle classes both in the political and social field had a strong influence on literature, encouraging the rise of prose and the rise of novel Belief in the power of reasons and the individual trust in his own abilities were values of enlightenment middle classes and they found expression in the new literary genre of novel The fathers of the English novel Daniel Defoe is regarded as the fathers of the English novel, The 18th-century novelist was the spokesman of the middle class; the novel was primarily concerned with everything that could affect social status and it was mainly directed to a middle-class public. The writer’s aim The plots traditionally taken from history, legend and mythology were abandoned. The writer's primary aim was to write in a simple way in order to be understood even by less well-educated readers. It was read from woman because they have more free time The most common topics were about everyday life=realistic element The message of the novel The story was particularly interesting to the practical-minded tradesman, who was self-made and self-reliant. The middle class has to prove his skill working to show their enterprise The characters All the characters struggled either for survival or social success and they could be divided into two groups. The former was composed catch of people who believe in reason (they thought that you can survive if you use reason) the latter by those who cannot control their passions and subordinate reason to their desires, the fact that characters were given contemporary names and surnames was something new and served to reinforce the impression of realism. The setting In previous fiction the idea of place had been vague and fictional but in the new novels, specific references to names of streets and towns, together with detailed descriptions of interiors, helped render the narrative even more realistic.

Defoe shows that, though God is the prime cause of everything, the individual can shape his destiny through action. through his work, his skill, his reasons and the interpretation of his achievements in the light of the Bible and God's will (this is also why the bible is the only book that he saved) Robinson has a pragmatic and individualistic outlook. His objective and rational approach to reality is demonstrated by his journal-keeping. This is materialistic and he is also self-centered, he is the typical middle class man The action on the island arent’t give by instinct he understand that to survive he has to use reasons On the island all his action are a results of logical process following 4 steps

an acute observation
a list of possible solution
consideration of pro and cons 4)the choice for the best alternative So he used a deductive method Friday is the first native character to be portrayed in the English novel, he is attractive and lively, robinson imposed a name a language and a culture, he was a colonizer STYLE The novel shows an objective approach to the events through clear and precise details. Defoe concentrates his description on the primary • qualities of objects, especially their solidity, extension and number, rather than on the secondary ones (colour, texture, flavour). This is for a materialist and profits view, first is the objective things linked to utility and reasons, second the thing linked to instinct and pleasure=robinson values action in term of profit There is no psychological inside of the characters they lack in emotion and feeling, defoe only describe the effect of the action on the body and not on the soul A SPIRITUAL AUTOBIORGAPHY Robinson Crusoe is full of religious references to God, sin, Providence and salvation. The novel can be read as a spiritual autobiography where the hero reads the Bible to find comfort and guidance, experiences the constant conflict between good and evil, and keeps a diary to record events to see God's will in them. Robinson prays to God to be freed from sin rather than to be rescued from the island. What Defoe explores is the conflict between economic motivation and spiritual salvation. Is the concern with making money and dealing with worldly matters incompatible with religious faith and spiritual welfare? The Puritans found the answer to this question in doing their best to increase the gifts that God had given them as a sign of His grace. Robinson prays god to save him but it is not clear if it’s to be forgive by god or if he want to be save only to come back and keep on his business, he would be successful also in life

SWIFT

A controvertial writer Swift is without doubt one of the most controversial among great English writers. He has been labelled alternatively as a misanthrope, a man with a morbid attitude, a monster or a lover of mankind. What clearly emerges from his works is that he was seriously concerned with politics and society, and that his attitude was mainly conservative. It is also clear that he did not share the optimism of his age and the pride in England of his contemporaries. He defined himself as a hater of man, whom he described as an animal capable of reason. According to Swift, reason is an instrument that must be used properly; too intensive a use of reason is an error of judgement and therefore unreasonable. The extremely using of reasons was consider aberration (deviant) Thus he insisted on the need to take a common-sense view of life. Swift found in irony and satire the means that suited his temperament and his interests. He usually achieved the effect of parody combining ironic intent with the simplicity of his style and his diction, he use irony and criticize Swift criticize also the various form of knowledge in particular he insisted in limit of human knowledge, they want know too much, human mind has some natural limits Date and settings Gulliver's Travels was printed in London in 1726 The novel has four settings, each linked to one of Lemuel Gulliver's four voyages. When Gulliver's ship is wrecked during his first voyage, he reaches the land of Lilliput, a childhood fantasy world built for very small people, the tallest being only about six inches high. Here Gulliver plays the role of a benevolent giant for a little people who have exaggerated ideas about their self-importance. On his second voyage, Gulliver lands on the land of Brobdingnag, where he finds himself surrounded by a race of giants, making him feel like a Lilliputian. In both worlds, Gulliver finds that he must use his wits to survive. Gulliver's third voyage to the island of Laputa allows Swift to satire the scientific community in Great Britain. The fourth voyage to the land of the Houyhnhnms, a country governed by intellectual horses, gives Swift the opportunity to criticize humanity. These four settings provide Swift with the opportunity to discuss everything he feels is wrong with mankind in general and British society in particular. Also the scientific progress was criticize and the resilience oh scientific theories, swift a practical application of science not based on abstract but also the excess on practical application brings to nothing The happiness of man was given by a stative way and balance life, they have to use common sense, they have to use reasons and experience but in the right way The character Swift devotes a few pages to point out that Gulliver is a typical European. He is middle-aged, well-educated and sensible; he is a careful observer, he takes care of his family and runs his business prudently one of the practical seamen through whom England started to rule the seas. Gulliver comes from gullish so ingenious, he grow during the novel, at the beginning he believe in the European society even if he is not socialize. He decide to go by sea, The Paradox is doing the voyage he is anyway and outcast, he didn't socialize he is the first figure of alienation ( individual failure to be integrate in the society), end of the novel he turned into crazy, he completely take the distance from his family and he doesn't tolerate the human, he wants to become like the horse and this is a form of Madness. He has experience of the world and he fully supports the culture which has produced him. In this way Swift implies that the transformation which takes place in Gulliver through his voyages cannot be linked to any extravagance of his character. Only when circumstances force him to think, does Gulliver learn something and begin to develop a critical awareness of the limitations of European values. However, these first critical insights are only temporary because when he returns home after his first voyage, he quickly fits into European life. But in the second voyage the critical awareness becomes deeper, even if he does not question European values seriously and still defends the history of Europe. This time it takes him a while to re-adjust to European life after his return home. In the fourth voyage Gulliver's transformation becomes complete and when he returns home, he can no longer take part in European society, not even with his friends and family. Swift's originality lies in his presenting Gulliver always displaced - first in relation to little men and then to bigones - and finally and suddenly forced into comparison not with men but with animals. lilliput=They are people in miniature size come on they are present an aughty and vain attitude but also some values, they tends to excessive pride and they actually related a mean existence

relation between physical size and moral correspondence, Swift question about priority based on physical size and if it can justify the Dominion over the weakest
limit of human reasons and understanding reasons have some limits and men can understood everything so happiness can’t give by reason and science, they exaggeration leads to aberration and have your team that is extreme as to be correct so the answer was the common sense that balance the risk of being too rational
individual versus Society men has to be independent and keep his own identity but at the same time they live in our community and these can be as dangerous as living as a single individual he tried to live into society but he was rejected Because he was full of different, he was complicated and people live in a state of disharmony at the same time being alone brings to alienation so is difficult find a balance
Relation between truth and happiness the more I know the last I can be happy because if you know reality you know truth and not always it is a comfort

illuminismo defoe e swift, Appunti di Inglese

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THE ENLIGHTENMENT

SWIFT