The Puritan Age was a period of great social and religious change in Britain. The Puritans were a Protestant group who sought to purify the Church of England of its remaining Catholic practices. They were also strong believers in personal piety and social reform.
The Puritan Age began in the late 16th century and lasted until the mid-17th century. During this time, the Puritans faced a number of challenges, including religious persecution from the English government. Despite these challenges, the Puritan movement grew in popularity, and Puritan ideas had a profound impact on British society.
One of the most important events of the Puritan Age was the English Civil War (1642-1651). The English Civil War was a conflict between the Parliamentarians (who supported the Puritans) and the Royalists (who supported King Charles I). The war ended with the defeat of the Royalists and the execution of King Charles I.
After the English Civil War, England was ruled as a Commonwealth under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell. The Commonwealth was a period of great social and religious reform. Cromwell’s government implemented a number of reforms, including the abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of a Puritan-dominated Parliament.
The Puritan movement came to an end in 1660 with the Restoration of King Charles II. However, the Puritan movement had a lasting impact on British society. Puritan ideas about personal piety, social reform, and religious liberty continue to shape British culture today.
- Religion: The Puritans were deeply religious people. They believed that the Bible was the literal word of God, and they lived their lives according to its teachings. The Puritans were also strong believers in predestination, the doctrine that God has already chosen who will be saved and who will be damned.
- Education: The Puritans placed a high value on education. They believed that everyone should be able to read the Bible for themselves. The Puritans established a number of schools and colleges, including Harvard University.
- Family: The Puritans believed that the family was the most important social unit. They placed a high value on marriage and child-rearing.
- Community: The Puritans believed that it was important to live in close-knit communities. They established a number of settlements in New England, where they could live according to their religious beliefs.
- Government: The Puritans believed in limited government. They believed that the government should be subject to the law of God.
The Puritan Age was a time of great social change in Britain. The Puritans challenged traditional authority and social order, and their ideas had a profound impact on British society. Some of the major social events of the Puritan Age include:
The English Civil War (1642-1651): The English Civil War was a conflict between the Parliamentarians (who supported the Puritans) and the Royalists (who supported King Charles I). The war ended with the defeat of the Royalists and the execution of King Charles I (Hill 2010).
The rise of the Commonwealth (1649-1660): After the English Civil War, England was ruled as a Commonwealth under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell. The Commonwealth was a period of great social and religious reform (Worden 2007).
The Restoration (1660): In 1660, King Charles II was restored to the throne. The Restoration marked a return to traditional authority and social order. However, the Puritan movement continued to have a significant influence on British society (O’Gorman 2011).
Other important social events of the Puritan Age include:
The Great Migration (1620-1640): During the Great Migration, thousands of Puritans left England for the New World in search of religious freedom (Morgan 2018).
The Salem witch trials (1692): The Salem witch trials were a series of trials in which over 200 people were accused of witchcraft. The trials were a result of religious extremism and hysteria (Boyer and Nissenbaum 1972).
The founding of the Society of Friends (also known as Quakers): The Quakers were a religious group that was founded in the 17th century. They were known for their pacifism and their belief in direct revelation from God (Woolman 1775).
The Puritan Age was a time of great social and religious change in Britain. The Puritans challenged traditional authority and social order, and their ideas had a profound impact on British society. The Puritan movement also had a significant influence on the development of the United States.
Literature in the Puritan Age
Puritan literature is a body of writing that was produced in England and New England during the Puritan Age (1620-1750). Puritan literature is characterized by its focus on religious themes, its plain style, and its use of allegory and symbolism (Parker 1986).
Some of the most famous Puritan writers include:
- John Bunyan (1628-1688): Bunyan is best known for his allegorical novel The Pilgrim’s Progress, which tells the story of a Christian pilgrim’s journey to heaven (Bunyan 1678).
- Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672): Bradstreet was the first published female poet in the American colonies. Her poetry often explores themes of religion, family, and nature (Bradstreet 1967).
- Edward Taylor (1642-1729): Taylor was a Puritan minister who wrote over 1,700 poems on religious themes. His poetry is known for its complex imagery and its use of Puritan theology (Taylor 1960).
Other notable Puritan writers include:
- Michael Wigglesworth
- Nathaniel Ward
- Roger Williams
- John Cotton
- Thomas Hooker
- Increase Mather
- Cotton Mather
Puritan literature played an important role in shaping the culture and values of the Puritan communities. It also had a significant influence on the development of American literature (Miller 1982).
Here are some of the common themes found in Puritan literature:
- Religion: Puritan literature is deeply religious in nature. It often explores themes such as salvation, predestination, and the nature of God (Parker 1986).
- Morality: Puritan literature is also concerned with morality. It teaches lessons about right and wrong, and it encourages readers to live a virtuous life (Parker 1986).
- Community: Puritan literature emphasizes the importance of community. It often depicts the Puritans as a close-knit group of people who are united by their shared religious beliefs (Parker 1986).
- Wilderness: Puritan literature often features the wilderness as a setting. The wilderness can be seen as a place of danger and temptation, but it can also be seen as a place of opportunity and renewal (Parker 1986).
Puritan literature is a rich and diverse body of writing that offers insights into the religious, social, and cultural values of the Puritan communities. It also provides a valuable window into the early development of American literature.
Works Cited
Boyer, Paul, and Stephen Nissenbaum. Salem Possessed: The Social Origins of Witchcraft. Harvard University Press, 1972.
Hill, Christopher. The English Revolution: 1642-1651. Penguin Books, 2010.
Morgan, Edmund S. The Puritan Dilemma: The Story of John Winthrop. Oxford University Press, 2018.
O’Gorman, Frank. The Restoration: England, 1660-1714. Oxford University Press, 2011.
Woolman, John. Some Considerations on the Keeping of Negroes. James Phillips, 1775.
Worden, Blair. The Rump Parliament: 1648-1653. Cambridge University Press, 2007.
Bradstreet, Anne. The Complete Works of Anne Bradstreet. Edited by Joseph R. McElrath and Allan P. Robbinson. Harvard University Press, 1967.
Bunyan, John. The Pilgrim’s Progress. Clarendon Press, 1678.
Miller, Perry. The New England Mind: From Colony to Province. Harvard University Press, 1982.
Parker, Patricia. Literary Fat Ladies: Rhetoric, Gender, and the Development of Narrative Prose. Methuen, 1986.
Taylor, Edward. The Poems of Edward Taylor. Edited by Donald E. Stanford. Yale University Press, 1960.tunesharemore_vertadd_photo_alternatemicsend_spark
