As the Norton pointed out, the advent of the printing press was a major contributor to the sharp increase in the literacy rate during the fifteenth century. The importance of this new innovation would gradually become more and more apparent over the next several centuries. But, while widespread literacy is an absolutely great thing for a society regardless of context, it was, in this case, a huge problem for those in power at the time.
With a growing literacy rate, the ruling state of England saw a very noticeable increase in public criticism in formal articles and even hidden deep in the satirical works of Shakespeare and John Donne. Essays detailing political theory, historical events, and current news allowed a degree of public intelligence and awareness that would make the actions of the government somewhat more transparent and much more susceptible to public outcry. Once the Civil War broke out, the informed public needed to maintain the flow of information and relied heavily on the technology of print to keep up with the events. Of course, the widespread use of the printing press also allowed for a much easier, much more direct way to convey good old fashioned propaganda to the common people; a practice that had long been considered a necessary tool of government.
However, a more literate and intelligent society does lead to many problems within the society itself. Religious and political texts were much more readily available, but these new sources of information would inevitably cause all sorts of ideological quarrels between the state and citizens and also among the citizens themselves. Religious disagreement would go on to divide the citizens, and also alienate them from their religious government. The sort of "inquisitions" that followed in order to preserve the Church of England as supreme over the many splintered groups, would cause immediate dissatisfaction among the people, many of whom would go on to express their unhappiness in public print.
The personal transformation that one underwent through the process of education, as well as the increased likelihood of having one's writings actually published and widely read, allowed the entire public to have their voices and stories heard. Literate people were able to record, collect, and even observe their own thoughts in order to better understand and reflect on both the world around them and their introspective selves. This also allowed the ability to actually make profit of an incredible experience by putting it into print for all to share. Not only could people learn more about religion, politics, and history; but now they were more able to learn about their fellow people.
I'm glad that you discussed the implications of literature becoming more widespread and available to society. The fact that society became more literature was obviously a good thing over time, but it seems at first it caused many issues, especially in the religious areas of life. The more people could read, the more educated they became, and therefore they were more interested and opinionated on what was occurring in society. The fact that people of power kind of hated the fact that people were becoming more literature goes along with your title--the transition was a rough one! I'm glad you discussed this because I think it was a key part of history and it all started with the printing press.
ReplyDeleteI really like this Rumination. I think you hit on a very interesting fact, that although we see wide spread literacy as a good thing, in the time when these events where taking place those in power would have feared it. An informed, intelligent populace is only ever a threat to those who would keep power through unjust means. This has both a down and an upside. The upset of the status quo surely lead to widespread problems and quarrels, but in the end all the violence was worth it. Wasn't it?
ReplyDelete