Jacobean Drama: Themes, Playwrights, and Legacy
Jacobean Drama: An Introduction
Jacobean drama refers to the theatrical works produced during the reign of King James I of England (1603-1625), which followed the Elizabethan era. This period was marked by a continuation and expansion of the themes, styles, and dramatic conventions that flourished under the earlier reign of Queen Elizabeth I, but it also introduced new elements that reflected the changing societal and political landscapes.
Key Characteristics of Jacobean Drama
- Dark and Complex Themes:
Reason and Order: The Enlightenment and Neoclassicism
The Enlightenment (c. 1720-1770)
The Enlightenment was a European cultural movement spanning roughly from 1720 to 1770. Its roots lie in the empiricism and rationalism of 17th-century philosophers, subsequently spreading to France and Germany.
The Enlightenment was based on a strong belief in the power of reason to enable progress. It implied a strong critical spirit: everything was analyzed and discussed. Belief in the natural liberty of humankind also grew: the idea that all are born equal and free
Read MoreNature’s Reflection: Pike’s Predator Instinct vs. Tintern Abbey’s Devotion
In “Pike,” Hughes employs a deep metaphor for the predator instinct, building upon Darwin’s theory of evolution. Conversely, Wordsworth, in “Tintern Abbey,” demonstrates a traditional devotion to nature, emphasizing its power to guide our inner selves. Both authors, therefore, connect their natural subjects with human consciousness and humanity’s raw connection with the universe.
The words “tigering,” “gold,” “grandeur,” and “emerald” in the description of the fish and its natural habitat imbue the
Read MoreUtopian Works and Aestheticism in 19th Century Literature
Fin de Siècle: Utopian Works – News from Nowhere (1893)
The Origins of the 20th Century (1888-1901)
Fin de Siècle: Mechanical. Social: class shift, money is important, religion is important, and good manners are extremely important as evidence of new status and respect for laws. Art is an imitation of artistic works. The artist is a special individual; the work of art is an elitist product. There is a rejection of the middle and working classes.
Utopian Works: What is utopia? It is a concept with
Read MoreModernist Narrative and Catalan Literature Evolution
Modernist Narrative
Modernist authors crafted expressive prose, rich in poetic and linguistic devices. Key figures include:
- Santiago Rusiñol: Organized the Cau Ferrat celebrations, a modernist festival in Sitges (1892).
- Total Art: The concept that an artist should master various disciplines (writing, painting, music, etc.).
- Advance Magazine: A central publication for Modernist cohesion.
- Raimon Casellas (1855-1910): Art critic and theorist for La Vanguardia. His work, The Wild Assistant (1901), depicts
Meditations on Didactic Literature: XVI, XVII, and XVIII Centuries
Meditations on the XVI, XVII, and XVIII Centuries
The Didactic Genre
The didactic is a literary genre that presents scientific truths, doctrines, or knowledge in order to teach or explain them simply.
Dialogue or Philosophical Doctrine
The dialogue, cultivated by classical Greek philosophers like Plato and Socrates, and the Latin writer Cicero, is a frequently used didactic subgenre. It mimics a conversation between several characters, one of whom exposes their thesis and responds to others. This subgenre
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