Defoe Novel And Puritanism

Daniel Defoe is a famous English litterateur and political analyst,whom is widely regarded as father of English novel. He plays animportant role in the history of the development of European literature.A very important characteristic of Defoe’s novels is apparent ReligiousConsciousness and Puritanism. His works not only show the ideology ofever-expanding capitalism, but also reflect the author’s deep religiousbeliefs.This thesis attempts to discuss the characteristic of Defoe’s novels,which is affected by Puritanism. The thesis is divided into three chapters.The first chapter analyzes the contradiction of English religions inDefoe’s age. Chapter two focuses on the core views of Puritanism inDefoe’s novels. Chapter three deals with the spirit temperament ofDefoe’s characters which is affected by Puritanism. The thesis has fiveparts, including introduction and conclusion.The introduction briefly introduces the important role of Defoe’snovels plays in the history of the development of European literature.And make a summary for the Research situation of Defoe’s novels. Italso tells the innovations and research methods of this thesis.The first chapter mainly reviews the contradiction of Englishreligions in Defoe’s age. Firstly, analyzing the different conceptsbetween Puritanism、 Puritan and Puritanism campaign; Secondly,analyzing the contradiction between Puritanism and AnglicanChurches; Finally, discussing Defoe’s attitude to Puritanism and itscharacteristic in his age.The second chapter taps the core views of Puritanism in Defoe’snovels. Due to the changing times and social environment, Puritanismas one form of the Protestantism, has its own distinct religious claims and value system. The core views of Puritanism in Defoe’s novels are earthlydoctrine、asceticism and utilitarianism.The third chapter studies the spirit temperament of Defoe’scharacters which is affected by Puritanism. The tendentiousness ofPuritanism permits Puritans pursuing their benefits, but it should be inrelation to God. The heroes in Defoe’s novels pay more attentions ontheir own benefits to a certain extent and always forget God. Thusconcentrating on their own abilities makes themselves far from God.They are all living by themselves, helpless、lonely and contradictory.Solitude and contradiction is the two apparent spirit temperament ofDefoe’s characters.The conclusion sums the full text up, including the significance ofreligion to the English writers、the core views of Puritanism in Defoe’snovels、the function of Puritanism on Defoe’s life and novel creation,and so on.