What is classicism?

Classicism, known in English as Le Classicisme, is a literary trend that was popular in Western Europe, especially in France, in the 17th century. It is called "classicism" because it takes ancient Greek and Roman literature as a model for its literary theories and creative practices. Classicalism includes philosophy, literature, music, architecture, and painting.

The representative writers of classicism include Gaulnay, Pascal, Racine, Molière, La Fontaine, Bossuet, Boileau, Laboulaye, St. Simeon, and Fénelon.

Classicalist literary thought, due to the study of antiquity and veneration of antiquity, imitation of antiquity, and the Greek and Roman literature of antiquity as a model. Classicalism was a product of the period of the development of commercial capital and took the mercantile policy as its basis. It obeyed the rule of absolute monarchical power at that time, and was a reflection of the politics of absolute monarchical power in literature, as well as a manifestation of the temporary political accommodation, compromise and concession of the bourgeoisie to the feudal kingship at that time. The three characteristics of classicism are the distinctive tendency to serve the king's right, the supremacy of reason and the use of ancient Greek and Roman literature as a model.

Philosophically, classicism is also called rationalism. Classicalism was formed under the influence of the idea of rationalism, which was popular throughout Western Europe at the time. The representative of rationalism was Descartes, who advocated that everything should be based on the principle of reason, advocated the abandonment of traditional prejudices, opposed the theological worldview of the Middle Ages, opposed blind faith in religious authority and scriptural philosophy, and regarded reason as the only source of knowledge. He believed that sensual materials would deceive people and that only by adopting reason could the world be known.

In literature, Boileau's The Art of Poetry is an important work of Classical literary theory. Classical literature is characterized by: 1. "Reason" is supreme, focusing on normal emotions; 2. There should be an unchanging principle in mind, classicism does not focus on writing personal thoughts and emotions, but focus on writing the general type; 3. Classicalism calls for "imitation of nature". 4; 4. Classicism requires "realism"; 5. Classicism advocates that the task of literature lies in moral preaching, in persuading the good; 6. reverence for the great writers of ancient Greece and Rome; 7. various genres of literature should have strict boundaries and laws; 8. Classicism requires simplicity, conciseness, clarity, and precision of style, and opposes the tedious, cumbersome, ambiguous and obscure, ambiguity and obscurity.

In classical literature, the most successful in drama, there are three major dramatists, they are Gonaye, Racine and Molière, and their representative works are The Hypocrites, The Fluffers, Cid, and Ondemargue.