Devlopment of Drama

   Paper – 2 Neo –Classical Literature

Prepared by – Shubhda parmar

Roll no - 35

Sem - 1

Email id –shubhadaparmar10@gmail.com

Submitted by – Smt.S.B gardi

                          Department of English

                           Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji

                           Bhavnagar University

                           Gujarat

    Introduction:

                   18^th century is the major literary phenomena of the complex so called Classicism, the recovery of romantic poetry and the discovery of the modern novel. Away from the fact that the novel is the most modern and at present the mainly widely read and influential type of literature, we have a certain pride in regarding it as England’s original role to the world of letter. Further great types of literature, like the epic, the romance, and the drama, were first produced by other nations; however the idea of the modern novel seems to have been worked out basically on English soil.

      Precursors of the Novel:

                   Before the novel could reach its modern stage of a further or less sincere challenge to express human life and character it had to pass during several centuries of almost imperceptible development .with the early precursors of the novel we must place a collection of tales recognized as the Greek Romance, dating from the second to the sixth centuries. These are imaginative and pleasant stories of ideal love and marvelous adventure which profoundly precious romance writing for the next thousand year. Beside is establish in the Italian and Spanish pastoral romance which were encouraged by the Eclogues of Virgil. These were really popular in the 14^th and 15th centuries, and their influence is seen later in Sidnev’s Arcadia which is the best of this kind in English.

                    The mainly influential group of predecessors of the novel is made awake of the romances of chivalry, such as are establish in Malory’s Morte d’Arthur. It is perceptible, in reading these beautiful old romances in different languages, that every nation changes them somewhat, so as to make them more expressive of nation traits and ideals. In a word, the old romance tends certainly towards realism, especially in England, where the excessive thoughts is curbed and the heroes became more human. The Canterbury Tales with their story significance and their characters delightfully true to nature, have in them the suggestion, at least, of a associated story whose chief aim is to reflect life as it is.

                                   In the Elizabethan Age the thought of the novel grows more definite. In Sidney’s Arcadia, a romance of chivalry, the pastoral surroundings at least is generally true to nature. In Bacon’s The New Ailantis we have the story of the innovation by mariners of an unknown country, occupied by a superior had been used by more in his Utopian in 1516. These two books are neither romance nor novels in the harsh sense but studies of social institutions.

 The Discovery of the Modern Novel:

                                  In spite of this long history of fiction to which we have called attention, it is protect to say that until the publication of Richardson’s Pamela in 1740, no true novel had appeared in several literatures. By a true novel we mean simply a work of fiction which relates the story of a basic human life, under stress of emotion which depends for its interest not on occasion or adventure, but on its truth to nature. A number of English novelists — Goldsmith, Richardson , Fielding, Smollett , Sterne all seem to have seized upon the idea of dazzling life as it is in the form of a story , and to have developed in simultaneously . The cause was an extraordinary awakening of interest, particularly among people who had never before been greatly disturbed with literature. We are to remember that in previous periods the number of readers was relatively small and that with the exception of a few writers like Langland and Bunyan authors wrote largely for the upper classes.

         “though novels have been in existence a long time now, there is, in comparison with the traditional forms of literature, still a sort of upstart quality about them. There are people who, despite the high example set by Cervantes and Flaubert and Henry James, insist on regarding the novelist   as the lowest form of literary practitioner……. he doesn’t ennoble the world but presets it as it is ,with all its meanness ,dirt and sexuality…… he identifies himself with the men and women of ordinary homes, streets, pubs, school, prisons, using all kinds of languages, flinching at no situation”.

                                                                                          – Anthony Burgess

        

       

                         18^th century the increase of education and the appearance of newspapers and magazines led to an immense enlarge in the number of readers, and at the same time the middle class people unspecified a foremost place in English life and history. These new readers and this new, influential middle class had no classic tradition to hamper them. They cared little for the opinions of Dr. Johnson and at all, they apparently took modest interest in the exaggerated romances of impossible heroes and the picaresque stories of intrigue and villainy which had interested the upper classes. Some latest type of literature was demanded, and this latest type must express the new ideal of the 18^th century .so the novel was born, expressing, during in a different way exactly the same ideals of personality and of the dignity of common life which were later proclaimed in the American and in the French revolution , and were welcomed with satisfaction by the poets of the romantic revival.

                         The word ‘novel ’if it was at all destined a short story of the type written and collected by Boccaccio in his Decameron.

     

           The shorter Oxford Dictionary tells us, is

     ‘a fiction prose narrative of considerable length in Which characters and action representative of real life are  Portrayed in a plot of more or less complexity ’.

             In 18^th century that people starts to write and read the variety of books that call novels. In 1770 the reading of novel had become fashion generally shows with upper-class women .The novel had become in the 1920s and 1930s a gateway into the world of pleasant dreams. Then the demand of readers their growth of romantic novel .After than arise the level of novel.

             The novel in this normally accepted intellect was created and established in the middle time of the 18^th century by a group of four wheels of this period :

   1. Samuel Richardson

   2. Henry Fielding

   3. Smollett

   4. Sterne

        Samuel Richardson :

          In 1740 Richardson first tine published ‘Pamela ’. He was an expert letter writer who used to help ignorant people particularly of the fair sex, by writer their love letters. The story of ‘Pamela ’ is told in a series of letters written it  about Andrews , a young maidservant in the service of an aristocratic lady. The mistress has immediately died as soon as the story opens. Tired of pursuit and being very greatly in love with her he offers marriage and is accepted for Pamela has all along been secretly concerned to the squire while resisting his attempts on her honour. Richardson ’s aim was undoubtedly moral. The full title of the novel is ‘Pamela or Virtue Rewarded ’. The great combination of virtue and prudence in the heroine wins her a lover and an aristocratic condition. The culture of Richardson’s was not high, his narrow concept of virtue motivated several skits.

       In 1748 published his second novel ‘Clarissa ’ .In this novel also use of form of letters ,written by Clarissa to her friend Anna Howe with by Lovelace to his friend John Belford. Clarissa is very attractive, a young . She marry with ugly and stupid Mr Solmes whom she detests. The lesson planned in this novel is that even as childrean   must obey their parents the parents have to not force them into marriage. Clarissa is  Richardson ’s

undoubtedly masterpiece.

                Richardson had major authority on following novelists equally in England and in Europe. The letter technique afforded him unlimited variety for analysis of character and motives a feature. His plots are skillfully manipulated and his characters are sharply tired. His language and style are regular and unaffected.

              Henry Fielding :

              

          Henry Fielding is the 18^th century’s great novelist .He took to novelist writing behind a career as journalist, lawyer and dramatist. Provoked to write a parody of ‘Pamela’ he soon establish the story developing into an independent novel and threw satire and the outcome was

‘The History of the Adventures ‘. The story begins on lines parallel to individuals of Pamela. Joseph Andrew, the brother of Pamela Andrews, is employed as a service family of Sir Thomas Bobby. He is dismissed since service because he has repulsed Lady Bobby‘s attempts to seduce him. His novel is conceived in the true courage of comedy. Fielding‘s reason was to expose affectation humility and hypocrisy.

          

           Henry‘s second novel was the ‘History of the Late Mr. Jonathan Wild the Great ‘. The novel based on a infamous who had been hanged several years before. This is satire on the popular thoughts of greatness. Fielding shows that person who attract high positions in government, politics, and society is in no way differing from the greatness of his associates. The character is as vital as those of Joseph Andrews, reflection naturally less pleasing.

                 Fielding‘s third novel was his masterpiece. Tom is originate one night in the bed of the benevolent squire Allworthy who bring him up beside with nephew Bliff. Tom falls in love with the beautiful and virtuose Sophia, daughter of the peevish and imperious fox hunting squire Western, who desires to marry her to Bliff. At the end , Sophia  who loves Tom ,runs away from home to escape since marriage with the mean scoundrel Bliff and finds Shelter with cousin in London. So at last end of here Tom gets his Sophia, the latter forgiving his irregular love affairs. The features of novel that wants comment is that every of its 18 books are prefaced with an introduced essay in which the author deals with this or that aspect of his story in a style, which whether mock– heroic or serious , shows him a master of English prose.

         Last novel of Fielding was ‘Amelia’ less power but not lessCharm than his previous ones. The charm centre on the beautiful , good and gentle heroine Ameli. Whose sufferings under very trying conditions are described in a attitude of personal kindness and pathos by a softer and mellower Fielding. A good part of the book is faithful to various evils defects in the law connecting to debtors.

Smollet

    Smollett’s three well-known works are ‘Roderick Random ’,Peregrine Pickle ’ and ‘Humphrey Clinker ’. ‘Peregrine Pickle ’, Smollett‘s longest novel, has the universal character as Roderick Random. The chief attraction of the book, still is in its humorous characters. Here speaks only nautical language. ‘Humphrey Clinker ’ is the best novel and most interesting of Smollett. Here smollett gives us brilliance comedy in a sprit of genial sympathy.

 Laurence Sterne:

           

              Sterne wrote two novels ‘Tristram Shandy ’ full of clowning and ‘ A Sentimental Journey’ of sentimentality. In ‘Tristram Shandy ’ at this point the real hero is his uncle Toby one of the supreme characters of novel like brave, modest ,gentle and simple as a child who would not hurt a fly. There is no chronological classify. The style is regularly being distinguished by endless,  dashes, stars, blanks.

    

                  So, here we can find  Richardson , Fielding,  Smollett, Sterne,  the four wheels of the novel wain .          
 Other Prose Writers:

           

        Jonathan Swift:

               

                  Swift’s mastery of English prose, and he continue passion of excellent. His first novel was ‘The Battle of the Book’ it published in 1704. The theme of the novel is a famous one being the dispute between ancient and modern authors. He gives allegorical, mockheroic location in which the book in a library at length literary contead with one other. The famous passage where a bee, accidentally blundering keen on a spider ’s web is one of the happiest efforts.

                               ‘     A Tale of a Tub’ published in 1704.It is regarded by many as Swift’s greatest work. It is religious allegory, also suggested by work of Bunyan, on three men, Peter, who stands for the Roman Catholic Church, Jack, who represents the Dissenters, and Martin the personification of the Anglican and Lutheran Churches. The book was proposed as an attack on the enthusiasn of Roman Catholics. The style of Swift is brief and has a constant vigour, peace and colourfulness.

                  "" When he following his allegory in the satire and his redoubtable style,“To all mayors, sheriffs, jailors, constable , bailiffs, hangmen, etc. Whereas we are informed that A.B remains in the hands of you, or any of you under the Sentences of death. We will and command you, upon sight Here of to let the said prisoner depart to his own habitationWhether he stands condemned for murder, etc.”

                                                      – A Tale of a Tub

                                         

  Several of them he written for the other greatest work like, ‘ Gulliver’s Travels ’, ‘The Conduct of the Allies ’,  some Remarks on the Barrier Treaty ’, ‘The Spirit of the Whings ’.

                             Gulliver’s Travels resembles its equal allegory. This novel is dividing in four part, all parts are very interesting for readers. The two earlier stages of the Travels have an attraction and vivacity that delight old and young. The satire in the allegory ,other than it is so  delicately .His comments upon mankind are shrewd and arresting, with satirical and are so far not brutal not obscene.

                              Gulliver’s Travels first book tells us of his voyage and shipwreck on Lilliput. So the style is simple, the surprising and journey, here most interesting swift ’ s satire.

                               
In the second voyage Swift is abandoned in Broabdinag, where the population are giants, and everything is finished upon an huge scale. He also tells about greatness of these superior beings. Here Gulliver said,

   “The queen, who often used to hearme talk of my Seavoyages, and took all occasions to drive me when  I was melancholy, asked me whether I understood

            How to handle a sail or an oar, and whether a little    exercise Of rowing might not be convenient for my health. I answeredthat Iunderstood  both very well ,for although my properemployment had been to be surgeon or doctor to theship, yet often upon a pinch I was forced to work like a common mariner.but I could not see how this could be done in their country, where the smallest wherry was equal to a first rate man of war among us and such a boat as I could manage would contrive a boat, her own joiner should make it,and she would provide a place for me to sail in. ”

           In third voyage Gulliver continues his adventures in Laputa, and this is a satire leading all the scientist and philosophers. Laputa is flying island, delayed in air by a loadstone.

                    In the forth voyage the merciless satire conceded out to its logical conclusion .This bring us to the Houyhnms, in which horses, superior and intelligent creatures are the ruling animals,

  Daniel Defoe :

                     Defoe ’s work in fiction were all produced in the latter form of his life, at about absurd speed. His life ’s first work was ‘Robinson Crusoe ’, ‘ Duncan Campbell’, ‘Memoirs of  a Cavalier’ all these books published in 1720 and in 1722 appeared ‘Moll Flander’, ‘A New Voyage round the World’ and ‘Coionel Jacque’.

                                               Defoe ’s famous work Robinson Crusoe , wherever the incomparable outcome of the story of the island is marred by long and sometime tedious narrative of other lands. Then the style is unpolished, but has a vigorous ,homely raciness and a colloquial vocabulary which make it perfect for his purpose. The finest part of Robinson Crusoe, his realism that is rarely approached.

                           Completely unadorned style like,

    “I went to work upon this boat the most like  that ever man did who had any of his sense awake. I pleased myself with the design, without determining Whether I was able to undertake it ,not but that the   launching my boat came often into my head ,but I put a stop to my own inquiries into it, By this foolish answer, Let us first make it, I warrant I will find some way or other to get it along when it is done ”.

                                                                    – Robinson Crusoe       

      

Other minor Writers  :

                  John Arbuthnot  :

       

  John Arbuthnot mostly wrote on based on political. His works like, ‘Memoirs of Martinus ’, ‘The History of John Bull’ and‘ The Art of Political Lying’. Arbuthnot writes among wit and vivacity and with lots of pointed allusion.

Lord Bolingbroke :

                    

                Bolingbroke prided himself on being equally a patron of letters and a man of letters. In 1736 he produced ‘A Letter on the Spirit of Patriotism’ than in 1738 ‘The Idea of a Patriot King ’.These reflect the Tory sentiment of their author, with help of his work Bolingbroke is always differ to other author.

   Earl of Shaftesbury:

           

                          Shaftesbury   had insignificant feel for the politics of the time, and aspired to be famous as a great writer. He traveled a lot and always creates various version in his life. His books are written with grand care and exactitude, without being particular striking. His famous woks like, ‘His Characteristics of Men ’ ,and ‘Times’ .

    George Berkeley:

                          He was a man of noble and charitable mind, and interested himself in a lot of admirable schemes. He was a man of great and enterprising mind, and wrote among a lot charm on a diversity of science, philosophical, and metaphysical subjects.

       Beside his famous works, ‘The Principles of Human Knowledge’ a notable effort in the study of the mind that appeared , in 1710 , another his books  like, ‘Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous’  and‘ The Minute Philosopher’. He writes with charming relieve, disdaining of literary of exaggeration and his control of irony is capable and sure.

Conclusion:

                During in the 18th century humbly introduce a form of the novel. At that time views of watt‘s is that ‘Critical feature of the 18^th century novel is the creation of psychological realism. Later than readers are easily know about the form of novel. At that time Richardson present analysis of the human heart, Fielding gives it full of energy; Smollet introduced embroidered characters, Swift highly present his satire novels.

                So, finally help of all novelist here introduced innovative form of novel and readers are also appreciate this.