The English Renaissance was a cultural and artistic movement in England which covers the 16th and the 17th century. During this period a general concept of order was inherited from the medieval view of the world: the great chain of being or better known as the chain of being. Its major premise was that every existing thing in the universe had its "place" in a divinely planned hierarchical order, which was pictured as a chain vertically extended. Furthermore there was a new interest in the individual as the maker of his own destiny, in the ideal of self-development through action and pragmatism. The greatest influence on the new literature wa Humanism. The latter encouraged confidence in the power of human reason to interpret man and nature.

The 18th century, also known as the Augustan age, is considered as a “golden age” for English literature. In this moment cultural innovations and public debate were important and the “art of pleasing” started being an ideal. Morality and fashion demanded simplicity and emotional authenticity and a tendence in develop individual happiness and pleasure was developed. As these aspects took place in everybody’s life, also women tried to take the lead. English women were more independent and active and some of them started a writer career, like Aphra Behn, the first professional women writer. They also influenced the rise of the novel: they wanted to read stories about ordinary people of their days, instead of adventures of the heroes of the past. In addition, the access to books increased thanks to the circulating libraries.

Romantic philosophy revolves around nature, and the relationship the 18th-century European society has with it. For the Romantics, nature helped to enhance the individual experience: in a society overturned by the Industrial Revolution and mass-migration to the cities, nature was able to stay pure and uncorrupted and, therefore, almost spiritual. A truly good life could only be lived outside the society that had now become deeply corrupted. When the Romantics write about life in the city, the mood becomes darker and heavier, emphasizing the idea of a corrupt society.

The Romantics were against the raising bourgeoisie class, who promoted, defended, and openly profited by the recent Revolution. They believed that men and women should be guided by warm emotions rather than the cold abstract rules and rituals established by Bourgeois society. Soon the Romantic movement became a protest against the consumer society lacking in moral, ethics and genuine emotions.