Noble savage

Quick Facts: Who was Noble savage?

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Noble savage

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A literary and anthropological myth symbolizing innate human goodness uncorrupted by civilization.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

In Western anthropology, philosophy, and literature, the myth of the noble savage refers to a stock character who is uncorrupted by civilization. As such, the "noble" savage symbolizes the innate goodness and moral superiority of a primitive people living in harmony with nature.

Career & Major Achievements

In the heroic drama of the stageplay The Conquest of Granada by the Spaniards (1672), the English playwright John Dryden represents the noble savage as an archetype of Man-as-Creature-of-Nature. The intellectual politics of the Stuart Restoration (1660–1688) expanded Dryden's playwright usage of savage to denote a human wild beast and a wild man.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Concerning civility and incivility, in the Inquiry Concerning Virtue, or Merit (1699), the philosopher Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury, said that men and women possess an innate morality, a sense of right and wrong conduct, which is based upon the intellect and the emotions, and not based upon religious doctrine. In 18th-century anthropology, the term noble savage then denoted nature's gentleman, an ideal man born from the sentimentalism of moral sense theory.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1660: 1660 Milestone — The intellectual politics of the Stuart Restoration (1660–1688) expanded Dryden's playwright usage of savage to denote a human wild beast and a wild man.
2. 1672: 1672 Milestone — In the heroic drama of the stageplay The Conquest of Granada by the Spaniards (1672), the English playwright John Dryden represents the noble savage as an archetype of Man-as-Creature-of-Nature.
3. 1699: 1699 Milestone — Concerning civility and incivility, in the Inquiry Concerning Virtue, or Merit (1699), the philosopher Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury, said that men and women possess an innate morality, a sense of right and wrong conduct, which is based upon the intellect and the emotions, and not based upon religious doctrine.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Noble savage

True or False: “The myth of the noble savage suggests that primitive people possess an innate moral goodness superior to that achieved through complex civilization.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): This myth posits that nature itself dictates a moral superiority, which is a key theme in the literary and philosophical uses of the trope.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Anne Bradstreet — Historical peer (Died in 1672) (1672): Pioneering Puritan poet of early North America, celebrated for domestic themes.
• Dost Mohammad of Bhopal — Historical peer (Born in 1672) (1672): Founder of Bhopal State, an Afghan noble who rose through Mughal service.
• Charles X Gustav — Historical peer (Died in 1660) (1660): Swedish monarch who led the empire during the Second Northern War.
• Daniel Defoe — Historical peer (Born in 1660) (1660): Pioneering English novelist, journalist, and merchant of the early 18th century.
• Alexander Pope — Historical peer (Born in 1688) (1688): Master satirist of the Augustan Age, renowned for wit and poetic precision.
• Emanuel Swedenborg — Historical peer (Born in 1688) (1688): Swedish polymath whose visions profoundly shaped modern theology and science.
• Jean Racine — Historical peer (Died in 1699) (1699): Master tragedian of 17th-century France, celebrated for psychological depth.
• Jean Siméon Chardin — Historical peer (Born in 1699) (1699): Master of still life and genre scenes, known for soft light and domestic intimacy.

Frequently Asked Questions about Noble savage