2022, Vol. 4, Issue 4, Part A

The concept of 18th-century New England as optimistic rationalism emerges as the dominant view of life. According to this view, God and nature are benevolent to man and all are part of the harmonious, cosmic progress is imitable by man, and society is perfectible. These were the views of the people who led the American Revolution and created its new form of government. After the revolution, New England went through a period of intellectual decline, this happened mainly because its dominant classes were severely affected by the radicalism of the French Revolution and its associated religious infinity. In the period of the Fedietists and the Jeffersons there was complete cultural isolation. The period ended after the war of 1812. When a young man visited Europe and brought back books and ideas. The seed of romanticism transferred from Europe and generated in soil already well fertilized by the traditional Puritan, respect for the life of the mind. it eventually grew into the so-called New England Renaissance.

Only a small number of individuals accepted the bolder implication of romanticism, although among them was the figure of the most respected descendants. New England writers fall fairly and clearly into two groups: (1) Radicals who try to break completely with the past and develop an original relationship to the universe, and (2) Conservatives who remain closer to the Brahmanical or ancient tradition. the breadwinner of the family and were mostly men of learning rather than original ideas.