Neoclassicism:Neoclassicism represented a reaction against the passionate and enthusiastic renaissance view of man as being basically good and possessed of an endless potential for religious and intellectual growth. Neoclassical theorists, by contrast, saw man as an imperfect being, inherently sinful, whose potential was limited. They replaced the renaissance emphasis on the imagination, on invention, experimentation, and with an emphasis on order, reason, on common sense, on religious, political and economic reaction. They maintained that man himself was the most appropriate subject of art, and saw art itself as essentially valuable because it was somehow useful and as something which was properly intellectual rather than emotional.
Importance on proper subject matter and details to an overall design, to engage in their work like balance, proportion, unity, and harmony which would facilitate the process of educating, and correcting mankind. Their favorite literary forms were the essay, the letter, the satire, and the spoof, while the theatre saw the development of the drama and sentimental comedy. Many of the primary beliefs of Neoclassicism in fact have reappeared in the twentieth century. In the Neoclassic era hierarchy system was prevalent and prominent.
We come to know about this from the story “Tartuffe” where Orgon displays his higher authority over Dorine. Such a system is still existent in most parts of the world but in a subtler manner for example the Caste system that exists in countries like India which were prominent earlier but are being eradicated from society. The class system still exists today but in the minds of people due to differences in social status, wealth and power. Another example would be where person with higher power like a politician can get away with misdemeanor where as a layman cannot.
In the sixteenth and seventeenth century authors such as Moliere and Voltaire had to alter parts of their stories in order to please the king because if the stories criticized the royal community the circulation of the story would be stopped and the author would be punished. But in today’s world there is lot more freedom one can express ones thoughts freely and openly but even in today’s world a person is criticized if his or her writing offends a group or community for example Salman Rushdies book “Satanic Verses”. This shows that the neoclassic period still influences the world today.
