Literature of the renaissance (16th – 17th centuries)

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

The decay of feudalism and the development of capitalist relations was followed by a great rise in the cultural life of Europe. The epoch was characterized by a thirst for knowledge and discoveries, by a powerful development of individuality.

It was then that great geographical discoveries by Columbus, Magellan and other explorers were made, as well as astronomical discoveries by Copernicus, Bruno, Galileo. The invention and use of the printing press by Guttenberg (1399-1468) in Germany, Caxton (1422-1491) in England, Skaryna (1490-1541) in Belarus, Fyodorov (1510-1583) in Russia contributed to the development of culture in all European countries.

There was a revival of interest in the ancient culture of Greece and Rome ("Renaissance" is the French for "re-birth"). 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 progressive ideology of the Renaissance was humanism. Human life, the happiness of people and 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 religion. The development of a new social order presented great possibilities 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. People with a progressive outlook contributed to the development of the world's art, culture and science. The Renaissance produced such great men as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, Petrarch and Durer, Cervantes and Shakespeare.

In the 16th century capitalism began to develop in England, as well as in other European countries. However, it had some peculiarities. Wool production became the leading manufacture in England. Landowners drove thousands of peasants off their lands, turning these lands into pastures. There was no work for the peasants and many of them became homeless beggars. 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 directed against the ignorance and oppression of the feudal lords, against the greed and self-interest of the bourgeoisie.

These ideas were best expressed by the first English humanist Thomas More (1478-1535) in his book Utopia. Utopia, which is the Greek for "nowhere", 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.

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 nourishing of the English drama. The theatre became a favourite amusement of people, especially in towns. The theatres performed the plays written by the English dramatists of the time. Among the playwrights of the period were John Lyly, Robert Greene, Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson and others. The most outstanding dramatist of the time and of all times was William Shakespeare.