Restoration Theatre; An introduction

 

Restoration Theatre 

 

The Restoration Period points out to a period in English history between 1660 and 1688. After the collapse of Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth, with the return of Charles to the English throne, this period began. During this age; arts, literature, and culture flourished and underwent restoration in England. In addition to cultural changes, the Restoration Period witnessed significant political and social changes such as theatre, and many folk rituals were banned by Puritans in 1642. The monarchy was restored, and the power of the aristocracy increased. Generally, the Restoration Period was a significant period in English history in terms of cultural, artistic, and intellectual pursuits, as well as important political and social developments.  

 

The literature of the Restoration period dealt with themes of love, sexual matters, and politics. During the time between Charles's Restoration and the start of sentimental comedy in the 1700s, comedy reigned, but there was plenty of heroic tragedy. One of the most famous writers of this period is John Dryden, who is known for his poetry and plays. He is considered the leading literary figure of the Restoration era. Other known writers include Aphra Behn, Samuel Pepys, John Wilmot and Earl of Rochester. Restoration literature provided the cultural and social alterations that happened during this time in English history. 

 

Restoration Comedy is known as artificial or comedy of manners. Restoration comedies often focused on the social codes of the middle and upper classes; sexual matters and aristocratic characters, including their affairs, marriages of convenience, and other romantic entanglements. 

Reconstruction based on a drawing of Drury Lane by Christopher Wren, the theatre's architect (1674) 

 

Mummification Process

Mummification Process

Mummification was developed by the ancient Egyptians to preserve the body for the afterlife. Typically, all internal organs are removed before mummification, except the heart. But in this case, the heart is removed, and the lungs are left intact. Next, the body is covered with salt and left for about 40 days, until all moisture is eliminated. Perfumed oils and plant resins are rubbed on the body. Thick layers of resin are applied to glue the strips of linen that were wrapped around the body. The mummy is placed on a wooden board and more wrappings bound them together. A mysterious pouch, perhaps of religious significance, is placed on the chest. A mummified ibis*, a wading bird with a slender, down-curved bill, is placed on the abdomen. Ibis mummies commonly served as votive offerings to the gods, but this is an unusual case of a bird being mummified with a deceased human. Long linen strips further secured the wrappings. Large linen cloth was wrapped around the mummy. The shroud is painted red with an imported lead-based pigment. This treatment is rare, very few red shroud mummies exist. Egyptian symbols of protection and rebirth are painted on the outer cloth with pigments and gold. After the mummification process is completed, if the person is a king, they are placed in three coffins, one of which is gold and the other wooden, and the 70-day mummification process is completed. 

*Ibis-The unusual covering of a votive ibis mummy—a shell of linen and plaster—reproduces the bird's long beak and head, with glass beads added for eyes. Millions of votive ibis mummies were dedicated in Egypt during the first millennium B.C. 

Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius (121-180). Roman emperor between the years 161-180. He is famous for his 12-volume book "Ta eis Eauton" (Thoughts to Myself) which is written in Greek, carrying the effects of Stoic philosophy. It has become a symbol of the Golden Age of the Roman Empire. 

He was chosen as the joint emporer of the future before reached the age of 17, but he could not come to the throne until age 40. Marcus who is hardworking, clever and dignified, because he wanted to be satisfied with traditional education in Greek and Latin and rheotoric art, he jumped in with both feet to "Diatribai" (Lecture Notes). Thereafter philosophy was the main subject of Marcus's interest. With the dislike of Christian, Marcus didn't give them systematic pressure. Though there was no change in the legal position of Christians, Christianity was considered a criminal offense on its own, but there were no specific prosecution to reveal Christians.

"Ta eis Eauto" consists of political thought penned up by Marcus's day to day.Marcus had hard-to-reach targets. He was thinking about his triviality, his roughness, and the temporality of the concrete world as well as his own.As an unrelated person in the world, but in another world who does not believe in his existence, he was comitted to the task himself no response, not even lasting reputation.

Though "Ta eis Eauto" is considered one of the greatest works ever made by many generations, the opinions he presented here, with didn't belong to Marcus, they were not original. It based on the moral principles of Stoicism that originated from Epictetus. According to this, the universe was a unity led by a mind and the human spirit was part of this mind. Perhaps due to lack of understanding, Marcus's some thoughts, leaving the stoic philosophy he approached Neo-Platonism, which all pagan philosophies lead to epicureanism. 

“If you end your perceptions, desires and instincts, your soul is free.”

“You must stand erect, others don't keep you alive. “

“Power is in your mind, not out there. When you understand this, you will also find your strenght. “

“Our life is the work of our thoughts.”

“Your own happiness is only depends on itself. “