Banned Books: Censorship in Eighteenth-Century England

Thesis (M.A.) , 2009 , 89 Pages , Grade: 1,7

English Language and Literature Studies - Culture and Applied Geography

The historical development of censorship is parallel to the evolution of our civilization. If one talks about censorship as a type of social control then one is “overstretching” the concept of the word, as there are a wide variety of social control measures. Thus, breeding can be regarded as censorship or God’s verdict about a forbidden fruit can also be considered as a censorship act. But, since the focal point of this paper is literary censorship, a narrower meaning of the term, such as book censorship, is required. Traditionally, book censorship has been seen as a control over printed expression by authorities, and mostly by the church or government. Alec Craig emphasizes that “it is writing rather than speech that attracts authoritative attention and social pressures because it is so much more enduring and effective; and books have been subject to control of some sort wherever they have been an important medium of communication.” The earliest examples of such regulations can already be found in Ancient Rome and Greece, where the works of Ovid and Socrates were suppressed, or in China, where the writings of Confucius were banned and burned by order of the emperor. However, these censorship measures were not of systematical character, and authorities in the ancient world failed to institutionalize this practice of book suppression. Not until the invention of the printing press and a consequential wide spread adoption in the usage of printing books, especially during the Reformation, was it necessary for the authorities to create a system of sharp control of the written word.
It is widely known that literature is one of the richest sources that contains the knowledge of social consciousness. It portrays the impression of social norms and values as well as modes of thought of a given age. There is also another crucial function of literature, namely it exerts an influence — through its readers — upon the very formation of these norms and values. Annabel Patterson says that “literature is a privileged medium by which matters of serious public concern could be debated.” In order to control this debate, governments have engaged in some methods, including censorial measures. Therefore, suppression of governmental criticism has been and remains its first priority. Apart from political arguments, books can be banned on religious, sexual, or social grounds.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• The Culture of Censorship
  • Alteration of Social Norms
  • State of Art and an Attempt of Term (re)Definition
• Historical Background
  • Control of the Printing Press in Tudor England
  • Control of the Printing Press in Early Stuart England
  • Control of the Printing Press in Late Stuart England
• Regulation of the Printing Press in the 18th century
• Banned Books: the Reformation of Literature
  • Books Suppressed on Religious Grounds: The Shortest Way with the Dissenters and the trial of Daniel Defoe
  • Books Suppressed on Political Grounds: Drapier's Letters and Hibernian patriot Jonathan Swift
  • Books Suppressed on Moral Grounds: The epic comedy of human nature: The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This study examines the development of censorship as a method of controlling the written word in eighteenth-century England. It explores the historical context of censorship, focusing on the transition from the Licensing Act to the emergence of common law as the primary tool for suppressing printed materials. The study also analyzes the motivations and methods employed by the English government in censoring books on religious, political, and moral grounds.

• The evolution of censorship in England from the 17th to the 18th century.
• The impact of the Licensing Act's expiration on the regulation of the printing press.
• The use of common law as a tool for controlling public opinion and suppressing printed materials.
• The motivations behind the censorship of books on religious, political, and moral grounds.
• The impact of censorship on the development of literature and the social consciousness of the time.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The introduction provides a modern understanding of the term censorship and its relation to social control. It also highlights the historical context of censorship, tracing its roots to Ancient Rome, Greece, and China. The second chapter explores the historical development of censorship in England, focusing on the control of the printing press during the Tudor, Early Stuart, and Late Stuart periods. The third chapter examines the regulation of the printing press in the eighteenth century, highlighting the shift from licensing to common law as the primary means of censorship. Finally, the fourth chapter analyzes three representative works by Daniel Defoe, Jonathan Swift, and Henry Fielding, illustrating how censorship impacted the literary landscape of the Augustan Age.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This study focuses on the key concepts of censorship, book suppression, freedom of speech, common law, seditious libel, and the historical context of eighteenth-century England. The work examines the impact of censorship on literature, social consciousness, and the development of the printing press.

• College: University of Münster (Englische Philologie)
• Grade: 1,7
• Author: Magistra Anastasia Castillo (Author)
• Publication Year: 2009
• Pages: 89
• Catalog Number: V156569
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640716821
• ISBN (Book): 9783640716883
• Language: English
• Tags: Banned, Books, Censorship, Eighteenth-Century, England