The conscious lovers

Definition

The conscious lovers refers to a new type of character in literature, particularly in sentimental comedy, who embody awareness and sincerity in their romantic pursuits, contrasting with the more superficial and hedonistic characters of Restoration comedy. This shift emphasizes emotional depth, moral integrity, and mutual respect in relationships, reflecting broader societal changes toward personal feelings and rational thought during the early eighteenth century.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The conscious lovers emerged as a reaction against the libertinism and moral ambiguity found in Restoration comedies, focusing instead on genuine emotional connections.
2. Key playwrights like Richard Steele and George Lillo helped popularize the conscious lovers in their works, blending sentiment with morality to shape new social ideals.
3. These characters often experience internal conflicts that highlight their moral struggles, reinforcing the importance of virtue and personal responsibility in romantic relationships.
4. The shift to conscious lovers also reflects broader cultural changes during the Enlightenment, where human emotions became subjects worthy of exploration and understanding.
5. This new focus on emotional honesty paved the way for later literary movements that continued to emphasize character development and psychological depth in romance.

Review Questions

• How do the conscious lovers differ from the characters typically found in Restoration comedies?
  • The conscious lovers differ significantly from Restoration comedy characters primarily through their emotional depth and moral integrity. While Restoration comedies often featured superficial characters focused on seduction and pleasure, conscious lovers prioritize genuine feelings and ethical considerations in their relationships. This transition reflects a cultural shift towards valuing sincerity over hedonism, emphasizing that true love should be based on mutual respect and shared values.
• In what ways did playwrights like Richard Steele contribute to the development of the conscious lovers as a literary trope?
  • Playwrights like Richard Steele played a crucial role in shaping the conscious lovers trope by writing plays that emphasized emotional sincerity and moral dilemmas. Steele's works presented characters who grappled with their feelings and societal expectations, showcasing the importance of virtue and integrity in love. This approach not only entertained audiences but also encouraged them to reflect on their own relationships and values, further embedding the conscious lovers into the fabric of early eighteenth-century literature.
• Evaluate how the emergence of the conscious lovers aligns with Enlightenment ideals regarding emotion and reason.
  • The emergence of the conscious lovers aligns closely with Enlightenment ideals that championed reason, individualism, and emotional exploration. As thinkers of this era encouraged a balance between rational thought and personal feelings, literature began to reflect this dynamic by presenting characters who were not only aware of their emotions but also sought to act ethically within their romantic entanglements. This literary evolution demonstrates how enlightenment thinkers influenced cultural narratives surrounding love, promoting a deeper understanding of human nature that recognized both emotion and morality as essential elements of meaningful relationships.

Related terms

Sentimental Comedy: A genre that emerged as a response to Restoration comedy, focusing on moral themes, emotional sincerity, and the promotion of virtue through the portrayal of genuine love and moral dilemmas.

Restoration Comedy:

A style of comedy that flourished in England during the Restoration period (1660-1710), characterized by its focus on sexual intrigue, witty dialogue, and often cynical portrayals of love and relationships.

Enlightenment Thought: An intellectual movement emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority, which influenced literature by encouraging the exploration of personal emotions and moral considerations.