II. Literature of the renaissance

(From the end of the 15th to the beginning of the 17th century)

In the 15th- 16th centuries capitalist relations began to develop in Europe. The former townspeople becilme the bourgeoisie. The bourgeoisie fought against feudalism because it held back the development of capitalism.

The dec<!y of feudalism and the development of capi­ talist relations was followed by a g-reat rise in the cultural life of Europe. There was an attempt at creating a new culture free from the limitationsoT1Fle· feudal world of the Middle Ages. The epoch was characterized by a ihirst for knowledge and discoveries, by a powerful development of individuality

It was then thilt great geographical discoveries by Columbus, Magellan and other explorers were made, as well as astronomical discoveries by Copernicus, Bruno,

Gali)eo. The invention and use of the printing press by

Guttenberg (1399-1468) in Germany, Caxton (1422-

1491) in England, Skaryna (1490-1541) in Belarus, Fyodo­

row ( 1510-1583) in Russia contributed to the development

of culture in all European countries. Universities stopped

being citadels of religious learning and turned into centres

of humanishc studies.

There was· a revival of Interest in the ancient culture of

Greece and Rome ("Renaissance" is the French for "re­ birth"). The study of the works of ancient philosophers, writers, and artists helped the people to widen their out­ look, to know the world and man's nature. On the basis of both ancient culture and the most progressive elements of the culture of the Middle Ages the fine arts, literature and science of the Renaissance began to develop. The culture of the Renaissance was, in fact, the first stage of bourgeois culture. The bourgeoisie as a class was being born and, as Engels said, the men who founded the modern rule of the bourgeoisie, had anythjng but bourgeois limitations.

The progressive ideology of the Renaissance was hu­ manism. Human life, the happiness of people and the belief in man's abilities became the main subjects in fine arts and literature. The works of humanists proclaimed equality of people regardless of their social origin, race and re­ ligion. Humanism did away with the dark scholastic teach­ ing of the Middle Ages. The development of a new social order presented great possibilites for man's creative powers. That is why the humanist outlook was marked with bright optimism, with belief in man's great abilities and

his high mission. It was opposed to medieval ideology and, especially, that of the Catholic Church. People with a pro­ gressive outlook contributed to the development of the world's art, culture and science. According to Engels, the Renaissance was the greatest progressive revolution that mankind had so far experienced, a time which called for giants and produced giants of thought, passion and cha­ racter, men of universal learning. The Renaissance pro­ duced such great men as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, Petrarch and Durer, Cervantes and Shakes­

peare.

In the 16th century capitalism began to develop in England, as well as in other European countries. However, it had some peculiarities. Wbol production became the leading manufacture in England. Landowners drove thou­ sands of peasants off their lands, turning these lands into

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pastures, or "enclosures" for sheep.* There _was no work for the peasants and many of them became homeless beg­ gars. Lust for riches was typical of the new class of the bourgeoisie. The most progressive people of the country could not help seeing the growing power of money, and the injustice it caused. English humanists dreamed of social changes that would do away with the vices of society and establish equality among people. English humanism was both anti-feudal and anti-bourgeois. It was directed against the ignorance and oppression of the··feudal lords, against the greed and self-interest of the bourgeoisie. It was the ideology of the most progressive people of the time.

These ideas were best expressed by the first English humanist Thomas More (1478-1535) in his book Uto­ pia. Utopia, which is the Greek for ''nn.}Yhe.Ie", is a story about an imaginary island where all people are equal and free. Private property here has been replaced by public ownership. Physical labour is combined with intellectual work. There is no money on the island, because all the people work and get equal pay for their labour. Utopia had

a great influence on the development of humanist ideas in England as well as in the whole of Europe. It was the first literary work that conveyed the ideas of communism.

More's Utopia marked the first period of English humanist literature. The second period which lasted from the middle of the 16th century up to the beginning of the

17th century, saw the flourishing of the English drama. The theatre became a favourite amusement of people, especially in towns. Theatres sprang up one after another At the end of the century there were about 10 theatres in London. The theatres performed the plays written by the English dra­

matists of the time. Among the playwrights of the period were John Lyly, Robert GreeQe, Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson and others. The most outstanding dramatist of the time and of all times, was William Shakespeare.

I. What was the progressive ideology o[ the Renaissance? 2. Who was the representative of the first period of English humanist literature? What did he write? 3. When did drama begin to flourish in England? What were the names of the outstanding English playwrights of the Renaissance?

* This was. the beginning of the process which by the end of the

18th century brought about the elimination of the peasantry as a class.