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Literature and Society
Literature is said to be a reflection of the society in which it was born. Different periods and styles of literature reflect the changes that took place in that particular society at various points in time. Political and economic changes affect the psychology of the people and since literature is created by human beings, it cannot help being influenced by such changes. European literature over the past 500 years since The Renaissance, offers a fine concrete example of this phenomenon. During the European Middle Ages, most of the literature was in Latin and usually dealt with religious themes. The first sign of nationalism in Europe was the advent of Joan of Arc in France during the Hundred Years’ War which, for the French, was a struggle for independence. Once the Renaissance had begun, this idea began to spread and people started to question things which were unthinkable in the Middle Ages when religion held full sway. Writers in various European nations began writing in their own native languages. No longer were religious topics the only subjects for writers. It was also seen in the explorers from various countries going to Asia and Africa to found colonies for their respective nations. But even in the materialism of the Renaissance, there was a feeling that that there was something beyond. Patriotism was an important motivation for all the explorers of the period. The literature of this age had a positive and optimistic attitude which reflected the growing self-confidence among the people. This spirit reached its height in the mid-sixteenth century. In the latter half of the century the decadence began and greater emphasis began to be placed spectacle and melodrama in literature. The seventeenth century in Europe saw the birth of modern European science. The desire to know about Nature and the universe began to grow among men and this can be seen in the fact that the literature of this period used greater restraint in language as compared to that of the Renaissance and there was a rational outlook among the people, a desire to understand things scientifically. The seventeenth century was almost an age of transition from the age of the Renaissance to the Age of Reason. The seventeenth century, also called the Age of Reason, was when the rationalistic attitude of the previous century started to become a materialistic one. The literature of this period dealt with society, politics, and topics of the cities in general. European colonisation had properly begun and by the end of the century the English and the French were the main colonial powers. The French Revolution of 1789 was one of the most important events in world history. It was the inevitable result of the rationalism of the age. The literature of the age was characterised by a simpler way of expression without any extravagance or the use of too many metaphors. It was also the period when prose began to gain an important place in literature along with poetry. The late seventeenth century also was a period of transition. The most important political events of the century were the French Revolution followed by the Napoleonic Wars. Both of these had a profound impact upon the European psyche, and in many ways modern Europe would have been very different without Napoleon. The Romantic Movement began towards the end of this century, especially in Britain and in Germany. In politics the materialism of the previous age began to give way to idealism. In English literature this was the period of the greatest English poets Shelley, Keats, Byron, Wordsworth, Blake, and Coleridge. The British had won India by now and had driven out the French. Ancient Indian literature began to be translated and studied in Britain and Europe and their influence, though indirect, can be seen in the works of poets like Shelley, Blake and Emily Bronte. Romanticism came to an end by the third decade of the nineteenth century. In politics the British Empire was beginning to rise as Queen Victoria ascended the throne. A new age had begun. Utilitarianism was the prominent movement of this period which became, naturally enough, materialism by the end of the century. In literature it was the age of the novel and the prominent themes of the novelists of the period are social ones. A concern for social improvement can be seen in these novels. Towards the end of the century, a note of pessimism began to show itself. On the continent, a new power was rising in the form of a united Germany. The pessimism of the period can be seen in various literary works of the period, especially in Britain. This tendency lasted until the First World War after which it increased and became even more pronounced after the Second World War and the disintegration of the British Empire. The colonies of the various European nations began to obtain their freedom after the independence of India. In the literature of the period the psychological effect of the loss of Empire can be seen in the form of extreme pessimism and materialism and a greater emphasis on sensual things. The nihilism which began in the late nineteenth century continued in the twentieth. In general, a trend can be observed throughout the history of literature and of society. A creative age is always followed by an analytic one. If the first creates the next analyses and criticises which is again followed by another creative age. Periods of peace and anarchy also alternately appear in human history. Creation is followed by a period of preservation and finally there is destruction, which in turn is followed by a new period of creation, since without destruction there can be no creation. Anything which is born must die. Nothing lasts forever.
Editor's note: Most articles submitted to Chillibreeze go through a selection process. Only 30 percent of submitted articles are accepted for publication on the Chillibreeze.com featured article list. All accepted articles are edited and proofread for glaring errors of punctuation and grammar. Sentence structure is changed in certain cases and sometimes, entire sections are rewritten. If you notice any errors that have slipped through the cracks, do let us know! (Email us at info at chillibreeze dot com). Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in June, 2010. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.
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