The history and significance of the novel
Novels. Everyone can always agree to having a favourite novel, whether it may be a dystopian fiction like Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games or a supernatural adventure such as one of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books. Novels, however, are more than just a story inscribed on innumerable pages; they are a major part of literature – and will always continue to be.
The novel is considered by many to be somewhat of a post-Renaissance phenomenon, influenced by the innovation of printing presses, therefore making literature now accessible to a brand-new audience of readers. Books did exist prior to the invention of printing press, but these hand-written manuscripts were only available to the nobility and the Church. Books during these times were either Medieval or Greek literature, appealing to the male readership rather than a female’s. Once the printing press began to spread across Europe, new readers desired to read more about life as they knew it, creating a shift towards realism (focusing on social issues and middle- and lower-class people).
By the 18th century, the novel was now up and running. Around the same time, women were significant central figures of the novel – both as readers and writers – which reflected their budding status in society. Female readership wanted courtship plots and domestic themes in literature. They wanted things to be as relatable to them as possible! Eventually, these ideas became crucial and showcased how men and women differ in economic and social status. Think of some of the works of Jane Austin: Emma, Pride and Prejudice, and Sense and Sensibility. These novels all explore the ideas of courtship and romance – as well as one’s ranking in society.
Countless female writers including Jane Austin and Mary Wollstonecraft (author of A Vindication for the Rights of Women) revolutionised and contributed to ‘the modern novel’. Nevertheless, there are some women who are still underappreciated for their writing and influence associated with English novel. These women wrote amatory fiction, which provided women with a sense of involvement in the world outside their domestic lives. Some leading female authors of amatory fiction included Eliza Haywood, Delarivier Manley, and Aphra Behn. This type of fiction, however, was perceived as immoral of the day because it portrayed women having scandalous love affairs without facing punishment. Despite the public scandal and controversy regarding amatory fiction, it played an important role in securing women’s rights to express their thoughts.
In the 21st century, classic literature of the past three centuries is becoming more foreign to modern readership, as we are regarded to be in a ‘post literate age’. In current society, there is a decline in reading novels in which are greater in length and age. As a generation, we need to understand the cultural and historical context of novels! It is extremely valuable to read some classic literature – whether it be Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, Louise May Alcott’s Little Women, or Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. There is aways something for everyone to read!
Ruby C, Year 9