Paper No:105 History of English Literature – From 1350 to 1900

This blog is part of an assignment for Sem 1 Paper No.105(A) History of English Literature – From 1350 to 1900 assigned by Dilip Barad sir, Department of English, MKBU.

Personal Information :-

Name: Khushi Rajeshbhai Rathod

Batch: M.A. (2023 - 2025)

Roll No: 18

Enrollment No: 5108230039

E-mail: khushirathod1863@gmail.com

Assignment Details :-

Semester: 1st 

Paper No:105(A)

Paper Code: 22396

Paper Name: History of English Literature – From 1350 to 1900

Topic: Characteristics of 'Neo-classical Age'

Submitted to: Smt.S.B.Gardi, Department of English,MKBU

Que :- Characteristics of 'Neo Classical Age'.

Ans.

Table of Contents :-

- Introduction

- Information about the Neoclassical Age(1700 - 1800)

- Characteristics of Neo Classical Age:-

• Influence of Materialism
• Imitation of Classics
• Concept of Nature
• Concept of Man
• Literary Forms
• Neoclassical Drama
• The New Restraint
• Rationalism
• Age of Prose
• Age of Satire
• The age of Reason

- Conclusion

- Reference

🌺 Introduction :-

Neoclassical literature has been written in a period where social order was undergoing a tremendous change. In the so-called Enlightenment Period, people believed that natural passions aren’t necessarily good; natural passions must be subordinated to social needs and be strictly controlled.

Authors believed that reason was the primary basis of authority. They believed that social needs are more important than individual needs. It is quite contrary to its preceding age, in which emphasis was laid on individualism rather than socialism.

🌺 Information of Neo Classical Age ( 1700 - 1800) :-

The Neoclassical period is the time when people began to see the world in a different way. Rational thought and reason were introduced into religion, and were held in higher regard than earlier principles. The public started to reject the monarchy and turned to an elected government. It also introduced higher ideas in the arts, economics and literature. The first newspaper was born, (The Daily Courant – 1702) and literature in its widest sense, including the books, the newspaper and the magazine became the chief instruments of a nation’s progress. 

- Neoclassical literature was written during 1660-1798.

- Time of Formality and Artificially.

- This is also known as The Enlightenment Period.

- Neoclassical writers tried to imitate the style of the Roman and Greek.

- This age contains three parts.

- The Restoration Age (1660 - 1700)

- The Augustan Age (1700 - 1750)

- The Age of Johnson or The Transition Period (1750 - 1790)

🌺 Characteristics of Neo Classical Age :-

Neo-classical literature has been written in a period where social order was undergoing a tremendous change. In the so-called Enlightenment period people believed that natural passions are not necessarily good. They must be subordinated to social needs and be strictly controlled.The Enlightenment philosophers believed that there were natural laws to the universe and these laws could be discovered through rational thought.

-Neo classical literature is characterized by order, accuracy and structure

-Concerned with human nature and Supremacy of reason

 -Imitated the style of the Romans and Greeks and classics.

1) Influence of Materialism:-

When Pope declares the limits of man, he also sets, by implications, the limits for the artist:

“Know then thyself, presume not God to scan

The proper study of mankind is man!”

But the Pope echoes only dominant philosophical thoughts here. After the Renaissance, Platonism and Christian Humanism, we find in the Neoclassical age, the dominance of Materialism and Empirical Science.

The ruling thought of the age is shaped by philosophers like Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Joseph Butler. The philosophical empiricism of the age propagated through the writings of Bacon, Hobbes and Locke were supported and strengthened by the advancement of empirical science.

Under the influence of empirical philosophy and experimental science, writers of the age narrowed both their vision of man and view of life. The affairs of men, their politics, their morals, and manners became the chief concern.

Although the concern with politics was present in the time of Shakespeare also, his and his contemporaries’ treatment was ideal and utopian. But the treatment of Neoclassical writers was practical rather than utopian.

2) Imitation of Classics

One of the most important features of Neoclassical literature is the imitation of the classics of ancient Greek and Roman literature.

Although the Renaissance writers had imitated the classics, whereas Renaissance writers merely derived inspirations from the classics rather than copying the models of the past, the Neoclassical writers strictly adhered to the authority of their models. Thus Neoclassical literature can be called as ‘Traditional’.

The Neoclassical writers like Dryden, Pope, Swift, and Johnson were convinced that excellence and perfection in the literary art have been attained by the Roman writers of antiquity, thus they can only copy the models of perfection and excellence.

3) Concept of Nature

The concept of nature was also an important characteristic of the neoclassical age. For them nature meant the general human nature. 

The general human nature was not what the ordinary men and women felt and thought but the standard view of human nature as held by Homer and Horace.

The neoclassical writers thought of human nature as static and standard.Like their static view of the world, the Neoclassical writers thought of human nature also as something static and standard, which is the same in all men and remains the same at all times. Thus their view of nature as well as of man, world, and genre was static and standard.

4) Concept of Man

The Neoclassical literature considers man as a limited being, having limited power. A large number of satires and works of the period attack the man for his pride and advise him to remain content with his limited power of knowledge. Thus man in Neoclassical literature remains a being of limited means and power.

5) Literary Forms

Among the Neoclassical forms of literature, the most famous were the essays, both in verse and prose. While drama declined and almost disappeared during the later part of the period, Novel made its beginnings. The literature of the age was mostly comic and satiric. An important failure of the age was to produce tragedy.

6) Neoclassical Drama

Neoclassical drama falls into two phases-

- Restoration Drama (later 17th century)

- Sentimental Drama (18th century)

In the Restoration Age, drama arose in the form of Comedy of Manners. But in the second phase, it declined as the Elizabethan dramas like those of Shakespeare were reproduced and age itself did not produce drama. Thus the decline of drama happened.

7) The New Restraint

Writers started inventing new words and regularizing vocabulary and grammar. Complex bodily metaphysical language such as Shakespeare used in his major tragedies was clarified and simplified.

Moreover, the plays of Neoclassical age compared to those of Shakespeare plays are of single plot-line and are strictly limited in time and place.

8) Rationalism

Rationalism, stressing out the importance of reason and observation, started the beginning of scientific thought and freed man from ignorance. Rationalism was the most essential feature of neoclassical poetry. Neoclassical poetry is a reaction against the Renaissance style of poetry and it is a unique outcome of intellect not of fancy or imagination.The neoclassical poets made an effort to disregard emotion, feeling and imagination and made reaction and intellect dominant in their poetry.

9) Age of Prose

It was an age of prose, reason and good sense. A large number of practical interests arising from the new social and political conditions demanded expression not simply in books but in pamphlets, magazines and newspapers. Poetry was inadequate for such a task. Hence prose developed rapidly and excellently. The variety and excellence of prose works and the development of prose style served to express clearly every human interest and emotion. These Are the chief literary glories of the 18th century.

10) Age of Satire

The predominance of satire is an important literary characteristic of this age. Satire is a literary work which searches out the faults of men and institutions in order to hold them up to ridicule – kind of criticism. A satirist is like a laborer who clears ruins and rubbish of an old house before an architect begins on a new and beautiful structure. The work may sometimes be necessary but it really arouses enthusiasm. Satires of the Pope were always constructive in spirit.

11) The age of Reason

This age stresses the rational trend of the period according to which reason and judgment should be the guiding principles for human activities. It saw the birth of a new literary movement : Neoclassicism or Rationalism.

It was believed that science and reason would have improved man’s condition, turning him into a social being, who would conform to the rules of civilized life. The most important ability of man is ‘Reason',which enables him not only to think but also to act correctly. Man is the only living creature who has the power of observation more than the power of feelings.Reason became the Criterion of everything. What could be justified by the reason was right and what could not be justified by reason was false and rejected.

Everything was regulated by reason and nature too. People were attracted by a“reasoned nature”. To follow nature meant to represent the world as it was or to obey the reason. The importance of reason influenced the literature of the time and English literary standards were formed. The artistic creation like science had to follow exact roles and was to be based on reason.

🌺 Conclusion :-

The Neoclassical Period in literature brought a sense of decorum and stability to writers. There were rules to be carefully followed. It was a time of careful moral appearance, though appearances were more valued than honesty. However, some of England’s most brilliant literature can be credited to this era.

Reference :-

Characteristics of Neo Classical Age | PDF | Satire | Reason.” Scribd, https://www.scribd.com/document/515717501/Characteristics-of-Neo-Classical-Age. Accessed 25 November 2023.

“Neoclassical Period In English Literature: Characteristics & Themes • English Summary.” English Summary, https://englishsummary.com/lesson/neoclassical-period-in-english-literature/. Accessed 25 November 2023.

Words :- 1605

Images :- 4

Paper No:103 Literature of the Romantics

This blog is part of an assignment for Sem 1 Paper No.103 Literature of the Romantics  assigned by Dilip Barad sir, Department of English, MKBU.

Personal Information 

Name: Khushi Rajeshbhai Rathod

Batch:- M.A. (2023-2025)

Roll No: 18

Enrollment No: 5108230039

Semester: 1st 

E-mail: khushirathod1863@gmail.com

Assignment Details 

Paper No:103

Paper Code: 22394

Paper Name: Literature of the Romantics 

Topic: Exploring the Character of 'Pride and Prejudice'

Submitted to: Smt.S.B.Gardi, Department of English,MKBU

Que :- Exploring the Characters of 'Pride and Prejudice'.

Ans.

Table of Contents :-

- About the Jane Austen

- Brief information about the Novel

- Characters of Pride and Prejudice

- Reference

🌺 Jane Austen :-

Jane Austen (16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist known primarily for her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment upon the British landed gentry at the end of the 18th century. Austen's plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage for the pursuit of favorable social standing and economic security. Her works are an implicit critique of the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century literary realism. Her deft use of social commentary, realism and biting irony have earned her acclaim among critics and scholars.

Her Works :-

• Sense and Sensibility (1811)
• Pride and Prejudice (1813)
• Mansfield Park (1814)
• Emma (1816)
• Northanger Abbey (1818, posthumous)
• Persuasion (1818, posthumous)
• Lady Susan (1871, posthumous)

🌺 Pride and Prejudice :-

Pride and Prejudice is an 1813 novel of manners by English author Jane Austen. The novel follows the character development of Elizabeth Bennet, the protagonist of the book, who learns about the repercussions of hasty judgments and comes to appreciate the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness.

🌺  Exploring the Characters of 'Pride and Prejudice'.

1) Elizabeth :-

The heroine and protagonist of Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth is the most loveable character among the five sisters. Lizzy or Eliza as she is lovingly called is considered the most loveable of Austen’s all female protagonists. She is the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet who owns the Long bourn Estate. Although she is to be married to Mr. William Collins, her quick thinking and acutely conscious mind warn her against it. Even though she is not in favor of Mr. Darcy in the beginning as the story progresses, she chides herself for not recognizing his balanced personality. She sheds her prejudice against him and later becomes his beloved who also likes her playfulness and loving nature. At the end of the novel, she accepts Darcy’s proposal and marries him.

2) Mr. Darcy :-

An aristocrat and seemingly very arrogant, Mr. Darcy is the second best character in Pride and Prejudice. He is not only class-conscious but also somewhat demanding and meticulous in his manners. He possesses a strong sense of respect and honor of his family lineage and holds high self-esteem. At first, he does not give any attention to Elizabeth, which she considers his arrogance. However, later when offers help to find Lydia, he displays a different side of his personality. Thus, wins Elizabeth’s heart. She then accepts his proposal when she understands his role in the affair of Lydia. It is Darcy who pursues Wickham and forces him to marry Lydia. This makes Elizabeth accept him as her soulmate.

3) Jane Bennet :-

Jane Bennet is the eldest of the Bennet sisters. Later, she becomes Mrs. Bingley when she marries Charles Bingley. She is also a prominent character after Elizabeth. Although acknowledged as the most beautiful, she does not attract Mr. Darcy. Instead, she is pulled toward Mr. Bingley who falls in love with her too. She is quite close to Elizabeth and keeps her honor very dear to her. That is why she confides in her about Mr. Bingley and develops a traditional romance to marry him later. Although she has the upper hand over Elizabeth, her old-fashioned marrying does not impact readers as much as Elizabeth’s first rejection and then later attraction toward Mr. Darcy.

4) Mr. Charles Bingley :-

Mr. Charles Bingley is another important character in Pride and Prejudice whose role wins great admiration from the readers. He marries the most beautiful Bennet sisters, Jane Bennet. Brother of Louisa and Caroline, he is the most lovable male character after Darcy. Darcy is from the elite class, while Mr. Bingley can mix up with any class. He occasionally visits the Bennets and finds Jane very attractive and pliable. He is a modest person but not as clever and wise as Darcy, which makes him seem his second foil. Mr. Darcy has easily persuaded him at times. He is also not a strong-minded person and snob but very likable and easy going. Hence, Jane was attracted to his down to earth personality. After marrying Jane, he purchases an estate near Pemberley to live closer to Darcy and Elizabeth.

5) George Wickham :-

A man of charming demeanor, George Wickham is a military officer. He lives in Pemberley. He receives good attention from Elizabeth in the beginning. However, they eventually fall out of love, as Mr. Darcy’s arrival saves Elizabeth from this mismatch. Darcy’s father has raised Wickham as his own and has left some inheritance for him. However, his gambling addiction has left him at the mercy of Darcy. True to this reputation, he tries his hands at Mr. Darcy’s sister. However, he meets failure and woos Lydia instead. Darcy intervenes and helps him get married to Lydia. Thus, saving Wickham’s relationship and life.

6) Mrs. Bennet :-

A highly tiring character, Mrs. Bennet is the wife of Mr. Bennet and mother of five grown-up daughters. She sees her satisfaction in marrying off her daughters in good families. She is short of temper and has strange habits. She also has little information about worldly wisdom and almost no understanding of human relations. Due to the limited means of her husband, she has become sad and short tempered. By the end of the novel, she seems happy that all of her daughters have married and the rest will marry at the right time.

7) Mr. Bennet :-

Working as an attorney, Mr. Bennet is full of worldly wisdom. He is the father of five Bennet sisters and works tirelessly for their good upbringing. He is on good terms with Elizabeth who is also his favorite daughter. However, his relationship with his wife, Mrs. Bennet is not very mutual. He is often fond of making fun of Mrs. Bennet, and Elizabeth joins him too. He seems to be a good father but feels depressed and dishonored due to Lydia’s idiocy of eloping. By the end of the story, he is thankful to Mr. Darcy for saving him and his family from disgrace.

8) Lydia Bennet :-

A young girl with an immature mind, Lydia displays flamboyant nature like any other teenager. She is not only stupid but also very flirtatious. She is after her desires and gratifications and elopes with Mr. Wickham after developing a very short affair. She does not anticipate any consequences of her actions. It is very strange that Mrs. Bennet likes her very much, while Mr. Bennet is unhappy about her. In the end, Mr. Darcy gets Lydia married to Wickham to save the family’s honor.

9) Catherine Bennet :-

Known as Kitty, Catherine is the fourth daughter in the family. She is older than Lydia. She is not influenced by any of her sisters. However, Catherine does look up to Jane and Elizabeth in many situations. She carries on visiting both her sisters even after their marriage to improve her own prospects.

10) Mary Bennet :-

Marry Bennet is a highly obscure but very serious character in Pride and Prejudice. She hates being social with others and tries to spend most of her time reading books. However, despite her bookish nature, she is not a good observer of her surroundings and human relationships. She wins her mother’s attention after her sisters marry.

11) Mr. Collins :-

The Bennets’ estate is subject to an entail that means it will be inherited by the nearest male relative: their cousin, Mr. Collins. A self-important, deeply ridiculous person, Collins is an awkward and mildly irritating man who believes himself to be deeply charming and clever. He intends to make up for the inheritance situation by marrying the eldest Bennet daughter, but upon learning that Jane is likely to become engaged, he turns his attention instead to Elizabeth. It takes a remarkable amount of convincing to persuade him that she is uninterested in him, and he soon marries her friend Charlotte instead. Mr. Collins takes great pride in the patronage of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and his sycophantic nature and pompous attention to rigid social constructs means he gets along with her quite well.

12) Charlotte Lucas :-

A close friend of Elizabeth Bennet, Charlotte Lucas serves as something of a foil to her. Early in the novel, Charlotte and Elizabeth compare notes about marriage. Charlotte believes that happiness in marriage is basically a matter of luck, whereas Elizabeth believes in marriage for love. Charlotte's attitude toward love becomes a reality when she marries the ridiculous Mr. Collins.

13) Lady Catherine de Bourgh :-

The imperious mistress of the Rosings estate, Lady Catherine is the only character in the novel who is aristocratic (as opposed to landed gentry). Demanding and arrogant, Lady Catherine expects to get her way at all times, which is why Elizabeth’s self-assured nature irritates her from their first meeting. Lady Catherine likes to brag about how she “would have been” accomplished, but she is not actually accomplished or talented. Her greatest scheme is to marry her sickly daughter Anne to her nephew Darcy, and when she hears a rumor that he is to marry Elizabeth instead, she rushes to find Elizabeth and demand that such a marriage never take place.

She is dismissed by Elizabeth and, instead of her visit severing any ties between the couple, it actually serves to confirm to both Elizabeth and Darcy that the other is still very much interested. 

14) Caroline Bingley :-

A vain social-climber, Caroline is well-off and ambitious to be even more so. She’s calculating and, though capable of being charming, very status-conscious and judgmental. Although she takes Jane under her wing at first, her tone quickly changes upon realizing her brother Charles is serious about Jane, and she manipulates her brother to believe Jane is disinterested. Caroline also views Elizabeth as a rival for Darcy and frequently attempts to one-up her, both to impress Darcy and to matchmake between her brother and Darcy’s sister Georgiana.In the end, she’s unsuccessful on all fronts.

Reference :-

Prahl, Amanda. “'Pride and Prejudice' Characters: Descriptions and Significance.” ThoughtCo, 11 December 2018, https://www.thoughtco.com/pride-and-prejudice-characters-4178369. Accessed 25 November 2023.

“Pride and Prejudice Characters with Analysis.” Literary Devices, https://literarydevices.net/pride-and-prejudice-characters/. Accessed 25 November 2023.

Southam, Brian C. “Jane Austen | Biography, Books, Movies, & Facts.” Britannica, 22 November 2023, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jane-Austen. Accessed 25 November 2023.

Words :- 1787

Images :- 16

Paper No:104 Literature of the Victorians

This blog is part of an assignment for Sem 1 Paper No.104 Literature of the Victorians assigned by Dilip Barad sir, Department of English, MKBU.

Personal Information :-

Name: Khushi Rajeshbhai Rathod

Batch:- M.A. (2023-2025)

Roll No: 18

Enrollment No: 5108230039

Semester: 1st 

E-mail: khushirathod1863@gmail.com

Assignment Details :-

Paper No:104

Paper Code: 22395

Paper Name: Literature of the Victorians

Topic: Thematic Study of 'Hard Times'

Submitted to: Smt.S.B.Gardi, Department of English,MKBU

Que :- Thematic Study of 'Hard Times'.

Ans.

Table of Contents :-

• Introduction
• About the Charles Dickens
• About the Novel 'Hard Times'
• Thematic Study of 'Hard Times :-

1. The Mechanization of Human Beings
2. The Opposition between Fact and Fancy
3. The Importance of Femininity
4. Education
5. Love and Marriage
6. Morality and Ethics
7. Dehumanizing effects of industrialisation

• Conclusion
• Reference

🌺 Introduction :-

Hard Times: For These Times (commonly known as Hard Times) is the tenth novel by Charles Dickens, first published in 1854. The book surveys English society and satirizes the social and economic conditions of the era.

🌺 Charles Dickens :-

Charles John Huffam Dickens (7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English novelist and social critic who created some of the world's best-known fictional characters, and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime and, by the 20th century, critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories are widely read today.

His Works :-

• A Tale of Two Cities
• David Copperfield
• Oliver Twist
• Bleak House

🌺 Hard Times :-

In Charles Dickens's novel "Hard Times," set in the industrial town of Coketown, the narrative revolves around a group of individuals whose lives are intertwined amidst the harsh realities of the era. Thomas Gradgrind, a staunch advocate of utilitarianism, believes in facts and logic, suppressing imagination and emotion in his educational philosophy. His children, Tom and Louisa, are raised under this rigid system, shaping their perspectives and influencing their future.Josiah Bounderby, a wealthy factory owner, embodies the self-made man archetype, boasting about his humble origins while exploiting his workers. His marriage to Louisa, a union driven by practicality rather than love, proves to be a source of unhappiness for both.

Stephen Blackpool, a factory worker, struggles with his unfaithful wife and his inability to escape his matrimonial obligations, seeking solace in the companionship of Rachael, a compassionate and understanding woman. The novel explores the themes of utilitarianism's limitations, the dehumanizing effects of industrialization, and the importance of human connection and compassion. As the characters grapple with their choices and face the consequences, they discover the value of empathy, imagination, and the power of love.

🌺 Thematic Study of Hard Times :-

Some Major Themes :-

• The Mechanization of Human Beings
• The Opposition between Fact and Fancy
• The Importance of Femininity
• Education
• Love and Marriage
• Morality and Ethics
• Dehumanizing effects of industrialisation

Let's see in details :-

1) The Mechanization of Human Beings :-

Hard Times suggests that nineteenth-century England’s overzealous adoption of industrialization threatens to turn human beings into machines by thwarting the development of their emotions and imaginations. This suggestion comes forth largely through the actions of Gradgrind and his follower, Bounderby: as the former educates the young children of his family and his school in the ways of fact, the latter treats the workers in his factory as emotionless objects that are easily exploited for his own self-interest. Both lead monotonous, uniform existences, untouched by pleasure. Consequently, their fantasies and feelings are dulled, and they become almost mechanical themselves. Mr. Gradgrind believes that human nature can be measured, quantified, and governed entirely by rational rules.

Dickens’s primary goal in Hard Times is to illustrate the dangers of allowing humans to become like machines, suggesting that without compassion and imagination, life would be unbearable.

2) The Opposition between Fact and Fancy :-

While Mr. Gradgrind insists that his children should always stick to the facts,Hard Times not only suggests that fancy is as important as fact, but it continually calls into question the difference between fact and fancy. Dickens Suggests that what constitutes so-called fact is a matter of perspective or opinion.These sets of facts cannot be reconciled because they depend upon perspective.While Bounderby declares that “Taste is only another name for Fact,”Dickens

implies that fact is a question of taste or personal belief. As a novelist, Dickens is naturally interested in illustrating that fiction cannot be excluded from fact-filled,mechanical society. Gradgrind’s children, however, grew up in an environment where all flights of fancy are discouraged, and they end up with serious social dysfunctions as a result. Tom becomes a hedonist who has little regard for others, while Louisa remains unable to connect with others even though she has the desire to do so. On the other hand, Sissy, who grew up with the circus, constantly indulges in the fancy. Just as fiction cannot be excluded from fact, fact is also necessary for a balanced life.

3) The Importance of Femininity :-

During the Victorian era, women were commonly associated with supposedly feminine traits like compassion, moral purity, and emotional sensitivity. Hard Times suggests that because they possess these traits, women can counteract the mechanizing effects of industrialization. For instance, when Stephen feels depressed about the monotony of his life as a factory worker, Rachael’s gentle fortitude

inspires him to keep going. He sums up her virtues by referring to her as his guiding angel. Similarly, Sissy introduces love into the Gradgrind household,ultimately teaching Louisa how to recognize her emotions. Indeed, Dickens suggests

that Mr. Gradgrind’s philosophy of self -interesting and calculating rationality has prevented Louisa from developing her natural feminine traits. Perhaps Mrs.Gradgrind’s inability to exercise her femininity allows Gradgrind to over emphasize the importance of fact in the rearing of his children. Through the various female characters in the novel, Dickens suggests that feminine compassion is necessary to restore social harmony.

 4) Education :-

There is a strong case made in Hard Times that education is not simply the classroom experience of memorizing facts. The novel expresses the view that having an emotional component to our education is crucial. It's also shown in the novel that this kind of learning can happen at any time in life. Learning about the way other people live is the groundwork for valuing them as fellow creatures; learning about them only in terms of their productivity is a recipe for class warfare. If this proper ground work is not laid, then a perverted kind of learning can take its place, full of cynicism and misanthropy. In the novel, learning is not a lifelong process. Whatever You don't master at a young age can never be taught in adulthood.

5) Love and Marriage :-

In Hard Times, love itself can be a positive or negative emotion, regardless of whether it occurs between romantic partners or parents and children. There are examples of socially sanctioned and nurturing domestic love. There's also spiritually uplifting love that inspires better behavior and the improvement of the self. And finally there's disturbed love that overreaches the normal boundaries of the relationship. In Hard Times , the lower classes are emotionally more capable of loving and being loved, because they do not have the same kinds of distractions and opportunities that the upper classes enjoy.

There are no happy marriages in Hard Times . In Stephen's case, it focuses instead on a missed opportunity for true companionship. In the case of the Gradgrinds, you've got an entirely intellectually unequal match where spouses are indifferent to each other. Then there's a loveless disaster where husband and wife grow to hate each other in the case of Louisa and Bounderby. The novel demonstrates the conflict between two ways of thinking about marriage: as aromantic partnership versus as primarily financial arrangement. It argues that it isa relationship that is meant to last forever.

6) Morality and Ethics :-

In Hard Times , the key moral attributes that the villains lack are empathy,generosity, and altruism. For Dickens, these are the foundation of human relationships. There is no getting around them with any other quality, however positive. Those who possess these qualities are much better equipped to handle the world, however hostile it may be. Those who lack these basic ways to connect to other people are doomed to a lonely and miserable existence.In the novel, the propensity toward moral behavior is inborn. It can neither be taught to someone who was not born with it, nor can it be untaught if it is already present in a person.

7) Dehumanizing effects of industrialisation :-

Charles Dickens' novel warns that the rapid rise of the Industrial Revolution would have an adverse effect on society. In Hard Times, industrialisation threatens to dehumanize the community, from the laborers in the factory to the industrialists themselves.

This theme is exemplified in the actions and philosophy of Thomas Gradgrind. Gradgrind believes in rationality and facts, and he raises his children with little frivolity or joy. This causes the Gradgrind children to grow incapable of feeling for and with their fellow humans. Louisa feels her life is hollow, and she marries Bounderby without any romantic feelings towards him. Tom is emotionally detached and robs Bounderby's bank, framing Stephen Blackpool while doing so.

Josiah Bounderby, a disciple of Thomas Gradgrind and factory owner, further illustrates these fears. Bounderby regards his workers much like the machines in his factory and exploits them as such. The workers in Bounderby's factory lead dull lives with little joy, their existence almost resembling a production line.

Gradgrind's school follows his own thoughts on education, preferring reason to imaginative thought. Gradgrind has an unerring belief in fact, and he wishes to instill this in the pupils of his school, making it resemble Bounderby's factory as a result. The only character not to be affected by the rise of industrialisation is Sissy Jupe, who was raised by circus performers.

🌺 Conclusion :-

"Hard Times" presents a scathing critique of the dehumanizing effects of industrialization and the narrow-minded utilitarian philosophy that dominated the Victorian era. The novel highlights the importance of imagination, compassion, and emotional connection, while simultaneously exposing the dangers of suppressing these qualities in the pursuit of profit and efficiency. Through its compelling characters and thought-provoking themes, "Hard Times" serves as a timeless reminder of the need for balance and empathy in a world driven by material progress and rigid ideology.

Reference :-

Collins, Philip. “Charles Dickens | Biography, Books, Characters, Facts, & Analysis.” Britannica, 20 November 2023, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Dickens-British-novelist. Accessed 25 November 2023.

“Hard Times: Charles Dickens, Novel & Characters.” StudySmarter, https://www.studysmarter.co.uk/explanations/english-literature/novelists/hard-times/. Accessed 25 November 2023.

“Themes in Hard Times | PDF | Human Nature | Psychological Concepts.” Scribd, https://www.scribd.com/document/517649074/Themes-in-Hard-Times. Accessed 25 November 2023.

Words :- 1757

Images :- 8

Paper No:102 Literature of the Neo-classical Period

This blog is part of an assignment for Sem 1 Paper No.102 Literature of the Neo-classical Period assigned by Dilip Barad sir, Department of English, MKBU.

 Personal Information :-

Name: Khushi Rajeshbhai Rathod

Batch: M.A.(2023 - 2025)

Roll No: 18 

Enrollment No: 5108230039

Semester: 1st 

E-mail: khushirathod1863@gmail.com

Assignment Details :-

Paper No:102

Paper Code:22393

Paper Name: Literature of the Neo-classical Period

Topic: The Rape of the Lock as a social satire

Submitted to:Smt.S.B.Gardi, Department of English,MKBU

Que :- The Rape of the Lock as a social satire.

Ans.

Table of Contents :-

• Introduction
• About the Alexander Pope
• Information about the Poem 'The Rape of the Lock'
• What is Satire?
• Satire in 18th Century 
• The Rape of the Lock as a social satire :-

1. Satire on Males and Females
2. Satire in 18th Century England society
3. Satire on Materialistic Relationship

• Conclusion
• Reference

🌸 Introduction :-

The Rape of the Lock is not only a mock epic poem that explores 18th century England society but also a social satire. Alexander Pope made it clear that initially he did not write the poem for this specific purpose. Nonetheless, directly or indirectly it is an absurd misrepresentation of aristocratic class; it is an imitation of the routine life of people who belonged to feudalism. Aristotle mentions two types of poetry in his book “Poetics”: tragedy and comedy. In his eyes, tragedy is better than comedy; however, we cannot underestimate the powers of a comedy, the primary purpose of which is to satirise the society to make reformations.

🌸 Alexander Pope :-

Alexander Pope (21 May 1688 – 30 May 1744) was an English poet, translator, and satirist of the Enlightenment era who is considered one of the most prominent English poets of the early 18th century. An exponent of Augustan literature,Pope is best known for his satirical and discursive poetry including The Rape of the Lock, The Dunciad, and An Essay on Criticism, and for his translations of Homer.

Pope is often quoted in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, some of his verses having entered common parlance (e.g. "damning with faint praise" or "to err is human; to forgive, divine").

🌸 The Rape of the Lock :-

Written by :- Alexander Pope

Poem :- mock- heroic narrative Poem

Published :-May 1712

∆ Characters :-

1) Belinda :- The character of Belinda is the heroine of The Rape of the Lock. Pope bases her character on the historical Arabella Fermor, the daughter of an aristocratic Catholic family. Robert, Lord Petre, a family friend, snipped a lock of her hair without permission, thereby causing a rift between their two families. The Pope depicts this incident in the poem.

2) The Baron :-The Baron is an admirer of Belinda’s, and he enacts the “rape of the lock” by cutting off one of the curls of hair that hung down her neck. He is based on the historical Robert, Lord Petre.

3) Caryll :- Though Caryll is not so much a character in the poem (he is mentioned only in line 3), he is the dedicatee of the poem. “Caryll” is John Caryll, a friend of Pope’s who witnessed the incident between Arabella Fermor and Lord Petre. He commissioned the Pope to turn the incident into a jest in the hope that it would encourage reconciliation between the two families.

4) Clarissa :- Clarissa is one of the women in attendance at the Hampton Court party. She is complicit in the severing of Belinda’s hair, lending her sewing scissors to the Baron. She later delivers a moralizing sermon on the ephemeral nature of beauty and the importance of good sense once a woman’s looks have faded.

5) Umbriel :- Umbriel is a mischievous Gnome, who travels to the Cave of Spleen and returns with a bag of sighs and a vial of tears which he uses to intensify Belinda’s despair at the loss of her hair.

6) Thalestris :- Thalestris is Belinda’s friend. She tries to convince Belinda to avenge the Baron’s affront to her honor and is the most vicious aggressor in the battle over the lock. Appropriately, Pope takes her name from an Amazonian Queen of Greek mythology

∆ What is Satire?

Aristotle says that when a poet imitates nature, he presents it either good or worse; from worse he means that a poet shows mirror to the society by revealing their absurd behaviors and follies. It means that the Greeks knew about the satire; however, the word “satire” was unknown to them. It has been derived from the Latin word “satira” which means “medley”. A writer uses this technique to show people their shortcomings so that they can make improvements. It is very wrong to understand satire merely as a synonym for humor. Humor may have many purposes; laughing, excitement, interest of audience etc; satire on the other hand is purely for the purpose of reformations. 

∆ Satire in 18th Century :-

In English literature, the technique of satire was much improved by the end of the 17th century. Almost every poet of that era wrote at least one satirical poem. In fact, the trend increased day by day and literature based on this technique engaged more and more audiences. Clark Lecturer James Sutherland expresses his views on usage of satire in 18th century and says:-

"By the middle of the eighteenth century satire had become a literary habit".

In those days, a war between the witts was started. They attacked each other in writing. Resultantly, literature was published a lot and satire became common for everyone. Alexander Pope is also one of them who gained fame in those days and made his name in witty satires. 

🌺 The Rape Of The Lock As Social Satire :-

The Rape of the Lock can be called a social satire is given Below points:

• Satire on Males and Females 
• Satire in 18th Century England society
• Satire on Materialistic Relationship

Let's see the points to in details:-

1) Satire on Males and Females :-

In the poem, the poet creates a female character named Belinda. Although in the complete poem, he talks only about her yet he means to say every single female of that era who belonged to the aristocratic class. On the opposite, he creates a male character named Baron. He uses him to show the routine life of gentlemen. England has been known for the people with heroic deeds for many years, however, the lifestyle that the gentlemen adopt in this poem is entirely opposite of heroism. In the very beginning of the poem, the poet starts showing the laziness of the upper class.

Behind wakes up from sleep and sleeps again. It means that she has nothing to worry about. She prepares herself for a party just like a soldier prepares for a battle. Thus, it is a social satire on noble ladies of that century in The Rape of the Lock.

There is no denying the fact that women were busy impressing men and men were trying their best to make good impressions in front of the ladies. Women’s curiosity has been shown towards puffing, makeup, using cosmetics, drying hair, petting, etc. Whereas men on the other hand are shown as useless, idle, lazy, unwise, foolish, and hollow-minded who think flirting with ladies as their primary moto.

2) Satire on Vanity of 18th Century England Society :-

In The Rape of the Lock the poet explores the vanity of english aristocratic society; he exposes their excessive beliefs in their own abilities and attractiveness to others. On one hand, he talks about fashionable men whereas on the other hand he also mentions that ladies were not different from men in this regard. He creates war-like scenes in the poem to ridicule the society and to show them they make preparations for useless activities as they are going to war. He does not target a single person nor does he talks about any specific profession but as a whole; it is the beauty of The Rape of the Lock that it is a complete social satire due to which it has a universal appeal.

All the ladies of that era were fond of gilded chariots. The poet shows their vanities. They considered themselves superior to others in beauty. Although the poem has not been ever judged from psychological perspectives yet it is a matter of fact that the poet shows mental psyche of those people through social satire in his poem The Rape of the Lock. He writes:

“With varying Vanities, from ev'ry Part,

They shift the moving Toyshop of their Heart"

3) Satire on Materialistic Relationship :-

Relationships between men and women were not real at all. The poet sheds light on this issue too. Romeo and Juliet once lived there, however, the poet does not portray any such relationship between anyone. He shows that the people were busy in making affairs and they were pathetic to a real relationship.

The Rape of the Lock in actuality is the Rape Of Honour and a social satire that honor had no value in the eyes of those ladies. It seems that the poet was living in the 21st century. These days people are living in Living Relationships without marrying, however, that was started many years ago though it was not usual for everyone. The poet has shown this in his poem if we deeply study it with symbolic meaning.

The poet targets every relationship. People do not like the friendship of those people who are inferior to them. When Belinda’s lock was cut, her friends left her alone, the incident is a social satire on the emptiness in relationships between the people of that era.

🌸Conclusion :-

Thus, we can say that the poet does not directly uses any word against the standards of 18th-century England society; rather he used the technique of social satire in his poem The Rape of The Lock to spread awareness about the follies of their people. He covers almost everything in the poem. From every angle, The Rape of The Lock seems a poem that best defines the technique of Social Satire.

Reference :-

Ahmed, Anwaar. “The Rape of the Lock as A Social Satire.” ask literature, 24 January 2022, https://askliterature.com/poetry/the-rape-of-the-lock-as-a-social-satire/. Accessed 25 November 2023.

Butt, John Everett. “Alexander Pope | English Poet, Satirist & Essayist.” Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-Pope-English-author. Accessed 25 November 2023.

Pope, Alexander. “Pope's Poems and Prose Characters.” GradeSaver, 17 November 2023, https://www.gradesaver.com/popes-poems-and-prose/study-guide/character-list. Accessed 25 November 2023.

“rape of the lock as a social satire Archives | English Literature.” English Literature Zone, https://englishliteraturezone.com/tag/rape-of-the-lock-as-a-social-satire/. Accessed 25 November 2023.

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