The History of Neo-Classical Age

The following blog is about The History of The Neo-Classical Age. I am mentioning a few prominent poets and some famous works of the particular age. This task is in response to the activity given by Kavisha Ma'am.

What is Neo-Classical Age in English Literature?

The Neo-Classical age started in 1660when Stuarts returned to the throne when enlightenment was flourishing. Writers of this age tried to imitate the style of Romans and Greeks. This era was mainly divided into three parts;

1. The Restoration Age

2. The Augustan Age

3. The Age of Johnson/ The Age of Transition.

During this time period, artists like Daniel Defoe and Samuel Johnson flourished. However, this age came to an end after The Lyricall Ballads were published by Williams Wordsworth in the year 1798. In this time period, the rise of many political parties was witnessed, clubs like Kitkat and Scriblerus were established, Licensing act was passed which affected the literature of the particular time period.

Q1. Compare and contrast the condition of women during the neo-classical age with contemporary time.

Women i general have been under estimated throughout the history and even modern times, they suffered relentlessly for their survival and existence. During this time The Blue Stockings Society was established by women in England. Through this society, women and intellectual people stimulated their intellect. Elizabeth Montagu was anomaly of this society as she took posssesion of her husband's property after his death which resulted in addition to power in her world.  Women writers were never admired or had been given place equivalent to that of male writers in English Literaure. The derogatory term like female quill-drivers was so uncommon. Women from well-to-do families were expected to get married and devote their efforts into it. Despite of all the odds few female poets upsurged with their works. even in the contemporary times many of the writers hide their identity under a pen name as they feel that there is lesser space for female writers in the society. in the earlier times, females never recieved the hierarchy from their fathers or husband and eventually they were dependent on the person who became the heir later on. nowadays, it is not so common but such practices still exist, many of the womens are dependent. Women were looked upon as marriage materials and it was believed that their only goal should be to find a suitable groom and get married. Dring that time society was patriarchal and even today patriarchy is witnessed almost worldwide. Women were neglected and hence had lack of opportunities, undoubtedly they have more opportunities these days, but we can't overlook the fact that women still experience negligence.

Q2. Write in brief about your favorite major/minor - writer/poet of the age.

Neoclassicism was the era when all the writers imitated writing style of Romans and Greeks. Revival of classical and insistence on English values happened, appropriateness was brought in plot, characterization, meter, language. This was the time of literary excellence. Many writers flourished during this time but my favorite is Dr. Samuel Johnson. Dr Samuel Johnson was born on 18 September 1709 and died on 13 December 1784. He was a English critic, writer, biographer, essayist, poet, lexicographer, regarded as the finest figure of English Literature in the 18th century. He is also famous for his criticism on the works of William Shakespeare which he studied for 9 years. In the year 1738, he began his association with The Gentleman's Magazine, considered to be the first modern magazine. In 1738-39 he publlished his satirical works and attacked on the government of Sir Robert Walpole. Some of hid major works even include the dictionary, even though he wrote only one literary dictionary ,it is considered to be the base foundation for genres of other dictionaries as he introduced the genres. Overall, one can say that his contribution towards English Literature is impeccable and note worthy. 

Among all his works, The Dictionary of English Language, also sometimes called as Samuel's Dictionary is considered significant and noteworthy. It was published in 1755, and it's principles of lexicography dominanted English language for more than 100 years. These 2 volumes of dictionaries surpassed all others in terms of precision of defination. It's strength lays in 2 features; the original carefully divided and ordered elegantly formulated definations of the words of the language. Also the copious citation of quotations from the entire range of English Literature , which served in support and illustration, resulting in exemplified and different meanings of the words of the language. It also represented the history and the grammar of the word which made it more prominent as compared to the other dictionaries. The abbreviation of the dictionary was released a year later, which is referred to even in the modern times. Johnson's accomplishment was to provide for the English language a dictionary that incorporated the skills and intellectual powers with the prevailing ideas and resources and the best available techniques until the standard English dictionary by Noah Webster was introduced in the year 1828.

Q3.Moll Flanders as picaresque novel.

Picaresque novel is a genre of prose fiction. It depicts the adventures of roughish but appealing hero generally of low class who lives by his wits in a corrupt society. These novels typically adopt the realistic style, often in satirical or comical manner. This kind of narrative is generally written in first person or autobiography format. There is little or no plot in such novels. The story is described in loose episodes or adventures. Moll Flanders is a picaresque novel by Daniel Defoe published in 1722. This novel depicts the Adventures of strong willed, lusty woman, who is compelled since childhood to make her way in the 17th century. The plot is summed up in the novel's full title: The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders, &c. Who was born in Newgate, during a life of continued variety for threescore years, besides her childhood, was 12 years a whore, 5 times a wife, once to her brother, 12 years a thief,8 years a transported felon in Virginia, at last grew rich, lived an honest life, died a penitent, written from her own ,memorandums. These described characteristics, almost follow all the characteristics of a picaresque novel and hence is considered one. it has a loose plot, and the hero is of low social class as she has been a whore for years and a thief too, also the end says lived an honestly which contradicts the deeds, and a satirical element cane be seen here. 

We can also relate the movie Gangubai Khatiyawadi starring Alia Bhatt which was released in the year 2022. It revolves around a girl who accepted prostitution as her boyfriend sold her to a pimp in exchange of some money. And throughout the movie she along with her other friends try to gain respect in the society and she argues in a public speaking that as everyone else has a profession, this is her's and she does it with utmost honesty. She constantly seeks respect from society and somewhat accomplishes it to an extent. Even this story can be related to that of Moll Flanders as even she is said to have lived an honest life.