📖Restoration Literature Unit 5 – Sensibility and Sentimentalism in Literature

Historical Context

• Sensibility and Sentimentalism emerged in the 18th century as a reaction against the rationalism of the Enlightenment
• Influenced by philosophical ideas of John Locke and David Hume emphasizing the importance of emotions and subjective experience
• Reflected changing social attitudes towards individuality, empathy, and moral virtue
• Coincided with the rise of the middle class and the expansion of literacy and print culture
• Shaped by cultural events such as the American and French Revolutions, which highlighted the power of human emotion and sentiment
• Responded to the perceived artificiality and moral corruption of aristocratic society
• Drew inspiration from earlier literary traditions of sensibility, such as the works of Samuel Richardson and Laurence Sterne

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Sensibility refers to the capacity for refined emotion, empathy, and moral sensitivity
• Sentimentalism emphasizes the expression of strong, genuine feelings and the cultivation of virtuous sentiments
• Sensibility and Sentimentalism valorize the "man of feeling" or "sentimental hero" who embodies moral goodness and emotional authenticity
• Key terms include sensibility, sentiment, empathy, sympathy, moral virtue, and the cult of feeling
• Sensibility and Sentimentalism are often associated with the genre of the sentimental novel, which focuses on the inner lives and emotional struggles of characters
  • Examples include Samuel Richardson's Pamela and Clarissa and Laurence Sterne's A Sentimental Journey
• The concepts of sensibility and sentiment were gendered, with women often seen as naturally more sensitive and emotionally expressive than men

Major Authors and Works

• Samuel Richardson (1689-1761) pioneered the sentimental novel with works like Pamela (1740) and Clarissa (1748)
• Laurence Sterne (1713-1768) explored the nature of sensibility in his novel A Sentimental Journey (1768)
• Henry Mackenzie (1745-1831) epitomized the "man of feeling" in his novel The Man of Feeling (1771)
• Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774) incorporated sentimental themes in his novel The Vicar of Wakefield (1766)
• Frances Burney (1752-1840) explored female sensibility in her novel Evelina (1778)
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) influenced the movement with his emphasis on natural sentiment and emotional authenticity
  • His novel Julie, or the New Heloise (1761) was a key text of sensibility
• Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) captured the spirit of Sentimentalism in his novel The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774)

Literary Techniques and Themes

• Sentimental novels often employ epistolary form (written as a series of letters) to convey characters' inner thoughts and feelings
• Use of first-person narration and introspective monologues to explore characters' emotional states
• Emphasis on the power of sympathy and the ability to feel others' emotions
• Themes of moral virtue, benevolence, and the triumph of feeling over reason
• Exploration of the conflict between individual desire and social expectations
• Critique of the corrupting influence of society and the value of natural sentiment
• Use of emotional language, effusive descriptions, and sentimental rhetoric to evoke reader's feelings
• Idealization of rural life and the natural world as a refuge from the artificiality of society

Critical Analysis and Interpretation

• Sensibility and Sentimentalism have been interpreted as a reaction against the rationalism and social strictures of the Enlightenment
• Critics have debated the sincerity and authenticity of sentimental expression, with some seeing it as artificial and manipulative
• Feminist scholars have examined the gendered aspects of sensibility and its association with female subjectivity and agency
• Psychoanalytic approaches have explored the psychological dimensions of sensibility and the role of emotion in identity formation
• Marxist critics have interpreted Sentimentalism as a reflection of bourgeois values and the rise of consumer culture
• Postcolonial theorists have examined the role of sentiment in colonial discourse and the construction of the "other"
• Reader-response criticism has investigated the ways in which sentimental texts elicit emotional responses from readers

Cultural Impact and Legacy

• Sensibility and Sentimentalism had a significant influence on 18th and 19th-century culture, shaping ideas about emotion, morality, and social relations
• The valorization of feeling and empathy contributed to the development of humanitarian movements and social reform efforts
• Sentimental literature played a role in the emergence of modern conceptions of the self and the importance of individual experience
• The cult of sensibility influenced fashion, manners, and social behavior, with an emphasis on emotional expressiveness and refined taste
• Sentimental themes and techniques were adapted and parodied by later writers, such as Jane Austen and Mark Twain
• The legacy of Sensibility and Sentimentalism can be seen in the continued popularity of emotionally engaging literature and the enduring fascination with the inner lives of characters
• The movement's emphasis on empathy and moral feeling has resonated with modern concerns about social justice and emotional intelligence

Comparisons with Other Literary Movements

• Sensibility and Sentimentalism are often contrasted with the rationalism and social realism of the Enlightenment
• The movement shares some similarities with Romanticism, particularly in its emphasis on emotion, individuality, and the natural world
  • However, Romanticism tends to prioritize the sublime and the imagination, while Sentimentalism focuses on moral feeling and empathy
• Sensibility and Sentimentalism can be seen as a precursor to the psychological realism of the 19th-century novel, with its focus on characters' inner lives and emotional struggles
• The movement's critique of social artifice and emphasis on natural sentiment resonates with the pastoral tradition in literature
• Sentimental themes and techniques have been adapted and subverted by later literary movements, such as Realism, Modernism, and Postmodernism

Key Takeaways and Exam Tips

• Understand the historical and cultural context of Sensibility and Sentimentalism, including its emergence as a reaction to Enlightenment rationalism and its relationship to changing social attitudes
• Be familiar with key concepts and terms, such as sensibility, sentiment, empathy, moral virtue, and the cult of feeling
• Know the major authors and works associated with the movement, such as Samuel Richardson, Laurence Sterne, Henry Mackenzie, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau
• Recognize the literary techniques and themes commonly employed in sentimental literature, such as epistolary form, first-person narration, emotional language, and the idealization of nature
• Be prepared to analyze and interpret sentimental texts from various critical perspectives, such as feminist, psychoanalytic, and Marxist approaches
• Understand the cultural impact and legacy of Sensibility and Sentimentalism, including its influence on social reform, conceptions of the self, and later literary movements
• Consider the movement's relationship to other literary traditions and movements, such as Romanticism, Realism, and the pastoral tradition
• Practice close reading and textual analysis, paying attention to the ways in which sentimental authors use language, form, and characterization to evoke emotional responses in readers