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.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. The Culture of Censorship
1.1 Alteration of Social Norms
1.2 State of Art and an Attempt of Term (re)Definition
2. Historical Background
2.1 Control of the Printing Press in Tudor England
2.2 Control of the Printing Press in Early Stuart England
2.3 Control of the Printing Press in Late Stuart England
3. Regulation of the Printing Press in the 18th century
4. Banned Books: the Reformation of Literature
4.1 Books Suppressed on Religious Grounds: The Shortest Way with the Dissenters and the trial of Daniel Defoe
4.2 Books Suppressed on Political Grounds: Drapier’s Letters and Hibernian patriot Jonathan Swift
4.3 Books Suppressed on Moral Grounds: The epic comedy of human nature: The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding
Conclusion
Research Objectives and Main Themes
This study explores the development and implementation of literary censorship in eighteenth-century England, focusing on the transition from state-led pre-publication licensing to the use of common law, such as libel, to control public discourse. The primary research objective is to examine how the English government utilized legal restrictions to suppress political criticism, religious dissent, and perceived moral impropriety, and to compare these methods with those employed in preceding centuries.
- The evolution of censorship from Tudor-era monarchical control to post-Licensing Act common law mechanisms.
- The role of the law of seditious, blasphemous, and obscene libel in policing the eighteenth-century printing press.
- The interplay between political stability, freedom of expression, and the rise of social norms in the Augustan Age.
- A detailed critical analysis of specific literary cases, including the works of Daniel Defoe, Jonathan Swift, and Henry Fielding.
Excerpt from the Book
The Culture of Censorship
As mentioned in the introduction, censorship is as old as civilization or has been around since the first act of writing. One must be aware, however, that the word “censorship” as we understand it, was unknown to ancient or even Middle Age societies; the institution of the censor existed in ancient Rome. The censor, a magistrate, had two tasks to complete, to register the citizens to pay taxes (census) and to supervise public morals (censura morum), as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary. Thus a close relation between censorship and morality is self-evident, with the latter being defined through cultural norms and customs.
Verification of an utterance is based on the validity of norms which are the instruments of social control. According to Williams, “[n]orms … are rules of conduct; they specify what should and should not be done by various kinds of social actors in various kinds of situations.” All societies have rules or norms specifying appropriate and inappropriate behaviour, which have been accepted as legitimate by all members of society. This means that social norms are generally established; otherwise, a person who does not conform to general rules can be punished. This statement also applies to products of cultural life of society, such as art, music, and literature.
Written words illuminate changing cultural attitudes towards social life and since literature can, through its readers, exert a strong influence on norm formation, it is a censor’s task to preserve social norms. In other words, a modern understanding of censorship regards it as a technique used for the proving of printed materials by means of accepted norms, in order to make possible alterations or to enact a ban. These norms, which in turn are based on a widespread idea of values, undergo a historical change without which there would be little or no progress. In this process, the tension between normative claims and their enforcement plays an essential role.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides the definition of censorship as a form of social control and outlines the historical shift in censorship methods from the ancient world to the development of the printing press in England.
1. The Culture of Censorship: Discusses the theoretical connection between social norms, morality, and censorship, highlighting the evolution of the term and its function in maintaining societal order.
2. Historical Background: Traces the evolution of print control through the Tudor, early Stuart, and late Stuart dynasties, examining the shifting authority from the Church to the State.
3. Regulation of the Printing Press in the 18th century: Examines the implementation of common law, specifically the law of libel, as the primary mechanism for regulating the press following the expiration of the Licensing Act.
4. Banned Books: the Reformation of Literature: Analyzes the political, religious, and moral landscape of the eighteenth century and provides case studies of how specific works were suppressed or challenged under these grounds.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, arguing that while various legal mechanisms were used to restrict the press, censorship remained a contentious and often ineffective tool for total control of public opinion.
Keywords
Censorship, eighteenth-century England, seditious libel, printing press, Daniel Defoe, Jonathan Swift, Henry Fielding, freedom of speech, social norms, government control, licensing, blasphemy, obscenity, literature, public opinion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research focuses on the historical development of literary censorship in eighteenth-century England and how the government adapted its control mechanisms following the end of pre-publication licensing.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The main themes include the regulation of the printing press, the evolution of libel laws, the political environment of the eighteenth century, and the influence of literature on public norms.
What is the primary objective of this work?
The goal is to analyze the various methods of censorship employed by the English government and to understand how these methods differed from earlier, more authoritarian practices.
Which scientific methods are applied?
The study uses historical and critical analysis, drawing on primary sources, legal history, and literary theory to examine censorship as both a political tool and a cultural phenomenon.
What content is covered in the main body?
The main body covers the transition of print control through the Stuart and Tudor periods, the shift toward secular censorship in the 18th century, and detailed discussions of specific banned works by authors like Defoe, Swift, and Fielding.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Censorship, eighteenth-century England, seditious libel, printing press, freedom of speech, and political control.
How does the author analyze Defoe’s "The Shortest Way with the Dissenters"?
The author examines how the work was misunderstood as a genuine high-church tract rather than satire, leading to Defoe's prosecution and serving as a turning point in his journalistic career.
What significance does the trial of Jonathan Swift hold in this work?
The trial is discussed as an example of how Swift navigated the legal dangers of his time, using pamphlets as a form of political protest while managing to evade severe punishment due to public support.
- Quote paper
- Magistra Anastasia Castillo (Author), 2009, Banned Books: Censorship in Eighteenth-Century England, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/156569
