Thinking activity on Renaissance

Renaissance literature : thinking activity

• Historical context

            QUEEN ELIZABETH is reign. 1558-1603 that era is a exploration of the new world, national spirit and patriotism, religion tolerance and intellectual progress. There was half century between 1625 and 1675 it was a Religion reform movement , tremendous social conflict, moral and political revolution, corrupted monarchy.

              THE PURITAN ERA is a entire period covered by the effect of civil war. This movement regarded as a greater Renaissance, Rebirth of the moral nature of man and intellectual awakening. it is divided in to two parts THE AGE OF MILTON and  THE PURITAN AGE. further more divided in to the  JACOBEAN and CAROLINE  periods after the name of the rulers JAMES 1  and CHARLES 1 who ruled 1603 to 1625 and 1625 to 1649.

• Social context

         

  This era was fully corrupted by high monarchy ,in the social context is devotion to the queen, two major religion ; CATHOLICISM AND PROTESTANTISM,  the era of internal peace and the rapid increase of manufacturing gave employment, the increase of wealth, improvement in living, the opportunities for labor these all are factors which help to account for the new literary activity.

          In the puritan time the religious clash between puritans and Anglicans become a social and political conflict.  they are struggled for righteousness and liberty the reason pf their prevarication this age becomes the age of moral and political revolution.   Puritan age had to perspectives personal religiousness and civil and religious liberty, it aimed at making people free and honest in the puritan age John Milton and Thomas cromwell fought for the religious liberties of people                                                                                                                                                                                                             

• RELIGION CONTEXT                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                               
  religion tolerance is the most  the two major religion in Elizabethan era, the priests and the services practiced in the religious of Elizabeth England. 

• England in the 1500's. The Great Reformation. New Ideas. New Beliefs. New Religions.
• Queen Mary I (r.1553-1558), Elizabeth's sister, believed passionately in the Catholic religion and  Protestants who were burned alive for their beliefs ( hence her nickname Bloody Mary)
• Queen Elizabeth I (r.1558-1603)  changed the system of  Protestant religion and restored Protestantism as the official religion. She  however, firmly believe that people should be allowed to practice the Catholic religion without fear of recrimination so long as it presented no threat to peace in the realm and her rule over England.(Wikipedia) 
• • There were, however, many Catholic plots against Queen Elizabeth I - many Catholics wanted to replace Elizabeth with her cousin Mary Queen of Scots. These plots eventually led to the execution of Mary Queen of Scots

                 Puritan religion 

In the 1600’s, the Church of England was becoming increasingly corrupt, and when King Charles I ascended the throne, he started heading back towards Roman Catholicism. A protestant group called the Puritans would not have it, and moved to the new world in order to find religious freedom.

       A protestant group called the Puritans would not have it, and moved to the new world in order to find religious freedom.

• Literary context

       
          Elizabethan literature is generally inspiring the throbs with youth hope and vitality. elizabethan England show remarkable processing of arts and literature Renaissance humanism protestant and scientific Discovery all contributed to creative power. "Drama" was the dominant genre in elizabethan age William Shakespeare was the most significant period of the age Shakespeare included a wild variety of comedies,tragicomedies , poetry and sonnets.

        Elizabethan age also witnessed the establishment of the theatre in 1576 Elizabethan drama broke away from religious domination which was the major focus on  mediaeval mystery and morality plays . elizabethan drama often used political matter in his drama performance and ddialodi. Apart from drama elizabethan age also show flowering of "Poetry" the "Sonnet the "spenserian stanza" and inspired a wild variety of splendid prose by writer of such is Francis bacon.

       Literature of puritan age was characterized by the spirit of somberness and pensiveness. Keeping with the religious ideas and  romantic poetry. according to" John Richard"

    "Green a great moral change            come over the people of.                 England England

             become the.                     people of a book and the book.                        was the Bible" 

          The outbreak of the civil war it will close down under the influence of puritans the English Parliament issued and ordinance suppressing all stage plays in theatres. the strict religious views of the puritans spread in  many social activities within England.

            Author of Puritan literature was deeply religious and wrote in a such a way God make become  easier   everyone to understand and more relevant to in their day to day Life. Literature of Puritan
          All literature direct and focus on the offering instruction frombiblical point of view
          This literature firmly relied on  religion rather than a entertainment theme. And a first person narrative.

• Political context

  In the age of Elizabeth The new passion for classical learning,  in itself a rich and full of enthusiasm . The branches of literature Greek and literature usages began to force themselves upon English was not beneficial.  The political structure of Elizabeth era was a " Monarchy" . Here is some most important political issues of Elizabeth Era.

• The Queen's Safety 
• Glorification of Queen. 
• Religion 
• Matters of National tests
• Welfare of the  people 
• Miscellaneous laws

William Shakespeare and politics

      Shakespeare was very aware of Dengours of politics , many his plays specially written , performed and dedicated for the Queen Elizabeth. Those plays are  addressed to a Catholic religion's belief . Additionally we can say that Shakespeare was involved in chatolic  religion .

           Puritans were protestants they believed in “purifying”  English Church. They feel  stressed an individuals personal covenant with God, and with their community. Puritans also believed in predestination. This was the belief that God chose individuals  who would be spared from hell before they were born, and that their actions in life would not change this final outcome.

     The Puritans prefered a simple, plain form of religion, and used the Geneva Bible which did not have the exuberant wording of the"  King James" Version.  Lastly the Puritans had no tolerance for those with beliefs that differed from their own. People who did not keep to the Puritan creed could be hanged or exiled or hanged for heresy. These religious beliefs held all the people together in a strange new place. These religious practices also carried over to the Puritan political values.


Renaissance literature : Thinking activity

• Ben Johnson (1573-1637)

            Ben Johnson  was born in 1573 in "West minister" and educated Westminster School his father died before Johnson's birth he was adopted boy Ben Johnson's become a soldier serving in the low countries from this Turner to acting in writing plays engaging himself both as actor and play writer.

      At first he had little success . Johnson's numerous works comedies tragedies rescues and lyrics are of widely wearing married all of them as well his timber a kind of commonplace book. this book interest for its critical comments on literature show the University of aim in his writing.

     His works divide conveniently into comedies and tragedies for Johnson's true to his classic models did not combine the two in his comedies am to return to controlled, satirical realistic comedy of the classical dramatist and the introduction of the place make it clear that the hope to the reform the drama on this linesis mean concern was with the drawing of character in his creations are important because they introduced the comedy of humours.

• Comedies 
• "Every man in his humour " 1598 
• 
  
• "Every man out of his homework" 1599
•  "The poetaster" 1601 they are full of vivacity and fun.

The historical tragedies

• " sejanus his fall" 1603 and 
• "catiline his conspiracy " 1611         

  composed on classical models to liberated medically to be great tragedies. The lyrics of which appeared in underwoods reflect no deep surge of emotion, but are controlled, poised, urbane.

• Minor poets 

• George Chapman. 

1559 to 1634 . 

He Was born at Hitchin. Followed by many more both comical and tragical. He died in London. His historical place dealing with nearly contemporary with his own time. History and solution of Huma has something of the pace of music of the original.             

 Historical plays

" the blind beggar of Alexandria"  1596.

" Bussy d' Ambois" 1604. 

"Charles, Duke of Byron"1608 

comedies

 " all fools" 1605 " 

"Eastward Hoe!" 1605

• John Marston (c. 1575-1634)

He was born in conventry , educated in at Oxford university, he was a leterary figure in London and  died in London too. 

He was a member of senecan school, master of Melodramatic tragedies

1. Antonio and mellida (1599)

2. Antonio's Revenge (1602).

• Thomas Dekker 

(c. 1572 to 1632) 

     He Born in London,  he was a playwriter by occupation. His plays chiefly comedies , he has a intimate knowledge of a comman men and their sentiments. His plot are chaotic, his Best plays are 

1. Old fortunatus (1599)

2. The shoemaker's holiday (1599)

3. Satiromastix (1602)

• Thomas Middleton

 (c. 1570-1627) , 

         He was born in London, he was the most equable dramatists of the age .he was a writer of the Fanciful turn. His most powerful plays are , 

1. The changeling (1624)

2. Women beware woman (1622)

3. The witch (1623)

• Thomas Heywood

 (c.1575- 1650) ,

 he was born in Lincolnshire, aducated at Cambridge University, and becomes the author and dramatist in London. He wrote a two hundred and twenty plays of which twenty three survive.his best plays are 

1. A woman killed with kindnesse (1603)

2. The Royal King and loyall subjects ( 1602)

3. The captives (1624)

4. King Edward The Fourth (1594-95)

• John Webster

He was the greatest post-shakespearian dramatist. Webster have a deep and subtle analysis of character in his work, also including Horror eliments. He deals with a gloomy, supernatural themes, great crimes, turbulent emotions in a very artistic way. His famous tragedies are

1. The White devil (1609-12)

2. The duchess of malfi (1613-14)

3. The devil's law case (1623)

Art and politics

  "I don't think artists can avoid being political, artists are the proverbial canaries in the coal mine. when we stop singing, it's a sure sign of repressive times ahead."
                              -Theresa Bayer

   When art comments on social issues, it is political.  Personally I believe that art it an attempt to communicate thoughts and feelings that are beyond the reach of natural language. When we talk about politics ,I want to share this lines truly related with this thing by डो. भरतकुमर ओझा

   
  Briefly , politics is a social relations involving intrigue and to gain authority or power .(wordnet)
 
   " The world of politics is always twenty year behind the world of thoughts "
                    -John Jay Champman


   Art has been used, abused and banned by historical leaders of every age . It means every artistic work or every artist only reflecting and engaging with political matters ?
 
     Art is about being human and human beings are about much more than politics or pleasure . Art for pleasure and expression of the artist's inner world or a reflection on the outer world .For instance one book named " Understanding Islam through Hadis" that book faced the wrath of the Muslim community ,this one by "Ram Swarup" he tackled the issues of POLITICAL ISLAM, 

     Second one , The book named " Jinnah" by Jaswant Singh. It was banned because for portraying Jinnah in an objective manner rather than as a demonised nation breaker . It's a political criticism on policies of Nehru and Sardar Patel.

The most controversial book named " "LAZZA" by 

"Taslima nasrin"  a member of " fatwa caln" ,  This Bangladeshi author's book based on the demolition of  "BABARI MASJID" it is said to have been offensive to Muslim and insulting Islam. So in 1993 it was banned in India.

One more example of Bollywood.  yash Chopra's film "FANNA" directed by Kunal Kohli. This film never released in Gujrat and faced an unofficial ban because the protagonist Amir Khan raised his voice against the height of the " Sardar Samovar Dam" which did not go down well some political authorites.

Thus , the clash between Art and politics not only the  matters of India, it's a universal now ...I want to bshare one poster of " First World War "in US,  1917 .

"Pershing in France ,- Berlin pr bust "

This poster showing American soldiers ,alongside the French ,with an apocalyptic scene to the back. General Pershing who ,commanded the American expeditionary force on the western front ,and uncle Sam stand in foreground .(instagram) 

As we see how art convey the political matters and defining in a very artistic way .As per my thinking politics is a part of Art but Art never be the part of politics .I put some interesting things about this particular topic that how art presents a political  situation of certain country or nation. 

So the clash between Art and politics is endless game as well as universal too. It's hard to find equal opinion about both inter contrast things , but politics has a certain tribulations for instance the very controversial case of kulbhushan ,

So the image of politics in India is like a " Arena of Hungry Demons" Art is better than that .