Neoclassicism And Trifles

During the era of neoclassicism are many readings based off of this particular philosophy. Succinctly and effectively, in order that specific ideas get across, many authors incorporate general principles that have the ability to catch the public eye. They do this in hopes of the reader taking these principles from the work, and applying it to everyday life. Because society plays a huge role during this time, these readings are designed to inform people on how to live their life in an effective and appropriate way. In the readings “The Diary of Samuel Pepys” by Samuel Pepys, “The Spectator” by Joseph Addison and “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathon Swift, the principles given throughout in each are control or restraint, humans have limitations,
Disciplined and determined, “(…) [His] poor wife rose by 5 o’clock in the morning, before day, and went to market and bought fowl and many other things for dinner—with which I was highly pleased” (Pepys 586). Moreover, speculation on Pepys’s wife’s control over how she begins her mornings describes a well put example of how one has the ability to control their actions and how they go about starting their day in a useful way. Pepys shares this because he wants to give society an understanding of how, even though there may be a loath to do so, everyone holds the capability to take on self-control and be responsible when managing their time. To put an emphasis on the fact that humans have limitations, Pepys uses the Great London Fire as an anecdote of this principle. As the malicious fire began to grow at a quick rate, “Poor people [were] staying in their houses as long as till the very fire touched them, and then running into boats or clambering from one pair of stair by the water-side to another” (Pepys 584). While the people of London’s limitations were awfully temper, until the problem itself reached them, they began to experience it in a more personal way. He shares this because he wants to let people understand an extreme point at which some begin to react to their limits, and that all people have the different ways of responding to a certain situation. Finally,
Stressing the way couples should act before marriage, Addison exhorts that “Before marriage, we cannot be too inquisitive and discerning in the faults of the person beloved, nor after it too dim-sighted and superficial” (Addison 604). Addison knows that a successful marriage comes from two people who have the ability to restrain themselves from being overly sensitive and questionable towards their significant other before getting married. Also, that after marriage both people should remain true to who they are, and not fall into the trap of fake and forced feelings, preserving the divertissement and realness of the relationship. In order that human’s limitations are known, Addison relies on his writing to send across his point. Blatantly, Addison explains that “However perfect and accomplished the person appears to you at a distance, you will find many blemishes and imperfections in her humor (…) which you never discovered or perhaps suspected” (Addison 604). Clearly, Addison points out that in order to realize someone’s imperfections instantly, one must have the ability to know their limits and to understand that all people have flaws and imperfections. In reality, it will not matter how far or close one is to them; flaws are always present. When talking about reason or logic over imagination, Addison uses his children as