Cult of sensibility

Definition

The cult of sensibility refers to a cultural movement in the 18th century that emphasized the importance of emotion and feeling in human experience, particularly in literature and art. This movement marked a shift away from the strict rationalism of earlier Enlightenment thought, celebrating personal feelings and emotional responses as a pathway to understanding oneself and others. It fostered a belief in the moral significance of sensitivity, compassion, and empathy towards others.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The cult of sensibility emerged as a reaction against the Enlightenment's focus on reason, highlighting instead the significance of emotional experience.
2. It played a crucial role in shaping literature during the 18th century, influencing writers to incorporate deeper emotional content in their works.
3. Key figures associated with this movement include authors like Laurence Sterne and Samuel Richardson, who used emotionally charged narratives to engage readers.
4. The cult of sensibility encouraged social reform by advocating for compassion towards the suffering, especially in regards to issues like poverty and slavery.
5. This movement laid the groundwork for later Romantic ideas by promoting individual emotional expression as vital to human experience.

Review Questions

• How did the cult of sensibility reflect a shift from earlier Enlightenment thought?
  • The cult of sensibility marked a significant departure from Enlightenment ideals by prioritizing emotion over reason. While Enlightenment thinkers celebrated logic and rationality as pathways to knowledge, the cult of sensibility embraced personal feelings and emotional experiences as equally valid sources of understanding. This shift allowed for more intimate storytelling in literature, where characters' emotional journeys became central to engaging readers.
• Discuss the impact of the cult of sensibility on literature and its representation of characters' emotional experiences.
  • The cult of sensibility had a profound impact on literature by encouraging authors to create characters whose emotional experiences took center stage. This resulted in more relatable narratives where readers could connect with characters on a deeper level, experiencing their joys, sorrows, and moral dilemmas. Writers began to explore complex emotions like grief and love, allowing literature to become a reflection of human feelings rather than just an exploration of rational ideas.
• Evaluate how the values of the cult of sensibility contributed to social change in the 18th century.
  • The values of the cult of sensibility significantly contributed to social change by fostering a sense of compassion and empathy towards others. By highlighting emotional responses to suffering, writers inspired readers to consider social issues such as poverty and injustice more deeply. This emotional engagement led to movements advocating for social reforms, as individuals began to recognize their moral responsibilities towards one another, promoting a culture that valued kindness and humanitarianism.

Related terms

Sentimentalism: A literary and philosophical movement that focuses on emotions and the value of human feelings, often highlighting themes of love, loss, and morality.

Romanticism: An artistic and intellectual movement that originated in the late 18th century, emphasizing individualism, emotion, and nature over rationalism and classical ideals.

Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another, which became a central aspect of the cult of sensibility's emphasis on emotional connection.