Restoration Period

1. Restoration Period
(1660-1700)

2. Death of Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English general and
statesman, who first as a subordinate and later as
Commander-in-Chief, led armies of the Parliament of
England against King Charles I during the English Civil
War, subsequently ruling the British Isles as Lord
Protector from 1653 until his death in 1658. Cromwell
died of natural causes in 1658 and was buried in
Westminster Abbey. He was succeeded by his son
Richard, whose weakness led to a power vacuum.

3. The period from 1660 to 1700 is known as the
Restoration period or the Age of Dryden. Dryden was
the representative writer of this period. Restoration
period, which lasted from 1660 to around 1688. The
name 'restoration' comes from the crowning of
Charles II, which marks the restoring of the traditional
English monarchical form of government following a
short period of rule by a handful of republican
governments.

4. Charles II

5. Political Context
The divisions between those who supported a more
traditional form of government and those who
wanted a more republican form of government led to
strong tensions throughout England. These tensions
led to the English Civil War, which lasted from 1642 to
1651 and was a particularly brutal experience for
many British people. The war culminated with the
beheading of Charles I in 1649, and from 1649 to
1659, various forms of republican government ruled
Britain.

6. In1660, Charles II became king, thereby restoring the
English monarchy. After Charles II died in 1685, his
brother, James II, took over the throne. Afraid of the
policies James II might introduce, William III removed
James II in 1688 and took over the English throne in
1689. This act is often referred to as the Glorious
Revolution because, relative to the violence of the
English Civil War, the transfer of power was not very
bloody.

7. The Theatre
One of the most significant aspects of Restoration
literature is the return of the theatre. As a result of
the influence of religious and political leaders who
believed it to be sinful, the theatre had been closed
for 18 years. Charles II, however, was a big fan of
drama and quickly allowed and encouraged the
theatre's presence.

8. Influence of French Culture
It is generally acknowledged that there was a
profound influence of the French culture on the
English Restoration culture due to the fact that the
English king Charles I1 and his court had been
refugees in France for early 20 years, having adopted
French tastes and French manners.

9. Authors and Works
John Dryden
The Rival Ladies, Tyrannick Love, All for Love
William Congreve
The Old Bachelor, The Double Dealer, The Morning
Bride
William Wycherley
Love in a Wood, The Gentlemen, Dancing Master
George Etherege
The comical Revenge, She Would if She Could

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