Concetti Chiave
- The conflict between Anglicans and Puritans mirrored political shifts in England, with power moving from the House of Lords to the House of Commons.
- Puritanism appealed to the mercantile class due to its focus on austerity, work, and the belief in predestination, aligning with their commercial interests.
- The Restoration era aimed to establish common cultural values, with writers emerging as moral guides amidst events like the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London.
- Post-fire, London was rebuilt as a more beautiful and powerful cultural and political hub, symbolizing national resilience.
- The Restoration brought French influences in fashion and lifestyle, as the Stuart court returned from exile, setting a new cultural tone.
The struggle between Anglicans and Puritans reflected political changes in England since the 15th century,; infact the centre of power moved from The house of Lord to the house of Commons. Moreover the conflict was also religious because the mentality and the interests of the merchantile classes were better suited to puritanism.
THE PURITANS’ APPEAL.
The Puritans’appeal to the merchantile classes can be summed us as follows:
- austerity fitted in well with their life-style: work was their main occupation;
- predestination: to have god on one’s side meant success in one’s business;
- individualism in commercial matters: this was the basis of the industrial revolution in the 18th century.
NEW CUTURAL AND SOCIAL VLAUES AFTER RESTORATION.
Restoration wanted to recreate a common standard of values ; all people took part in this work of reconstruction. Writers, in particular, become the moral guides of the society. The fist years of the restoration were marked by two tragic events: in 1665 the great plague and in the following yars the great fire of London destroyed most of the city.
THE REBUILDING OF LONDON.
After the great fire London was rebuilt more beautiful and powerful than before.it was now the cutural and political centre of the country.
FRENCH INFLUENCE.
In the years of the Puritan regime the stuart court had gone to exile in France. When the monarchy had been restored the Stuart brought back to britain the frech tastes in fashion and manners and a great love of pleasure. The court set the tone of the age.
THE BRITISH CHARACTER.
During the restoration new feelings took root in British character: tolerance in religious matters, and good sense (well exemplified by the works of the philosopher Locke).
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