Tara on Libertinism

http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portraitLarge/mw05397/John-Wilmot-2nd-Earl-of-Rochester
(John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, by an unknown artist circa 1665-1670, from the National Portrait Gallery)
 Libertinism (Tara Olivero)
A libertine, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is “a person, especially a man, who freely indulges in sensual pleasures without regard to moral principles.” Libertines believed in the power of the senses and the importance of individualism, valuing self-interest and the personal delights of one’s passions above all else. Restraint meant nothing to libertines, who encouraged indulgence in many respects, although especially in their sexual desires and behavior.
 A number of philosophies, namely “Hobbism,” contributed to Restoration libertinism. Hobbes’ views of human nature and his beliefs about desire as self-interest were highly associated with libertine ideals. Hobbes’ irreligious philosophies also tied to libertines’ apathetic (or sometimes even hostile) attitudes towards typical Christian ideas about morality. However, libertines often altered and reinterpreted Hobbes’ words and beliefs to benefit their own philosophies of behavior, even going so far as to quote him out of context to support their new view of morality. Additionally, most scholars make the distinction that libertinism is not a philosophy on its own but instead a way of life that is grounded in one’s actions.
 Many Restoration writers explored, as Walter Chernaik states in his book Sexual Freedom in Restoration Literature, the “frustration and ennui implicit within the libertine ethos” because of the impossibility of attaining true sexual freedom. This especially true of women; libertinism was linked with a more positive view of male promiscuity while female promiscuity still held overtly negative associations. In addition, libertinism is not only intertwined with gender inequity but also in class politics. Members of the elite were permitted to engage in these behaviors, while libertine-ish actions from individuals of the lower class were still not societally accepted.
 John Wilmot, the Earl of Rochester, is the closest human representation of libertine ideals. His debauchery at Charles II’s court was well-known, and he inspired many “rake” characters in Restoration stage comedies of the time. His satirical writings, including A Satire Against Mankind, were considered to be among the highest of all Restoration intellectuals. The most notable female representative of libertinism is the poet and playwright Aphra Behn. She used her work to critique and condemn the double standard between the public opinion of male and female libertine behaviors, and her heroines were often agents of their own sexual desires.
 A final point of discussion regarding libertinism is the extent to which libertinism was perceived as a performance. J. Webster in his book Performing Libertinism in Charles II’s Court sums up this idea by noting that “libertines were public performers of private pursuits.” Libertines’ outrageous behaviors and opinions purposefully drew attention to the societal standards of the day, and therefore, whether through their writing or through their actions, they publically questioned moral values as well as social and political ideas of the time.
 Main Sources:
Christopher Tilmouth, Passion’s Triumph Over Reason
J. Webster, Performing Libertinism in Charles II’s Court: Politics, Drama, Sexuality

Additional Sources:
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/libertine
https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Wilmot-2nd-earl-of-Rochester
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/john-wilmot
http://www.southampton.ac.uk/~sdb2/rakes.html
https://extra.shu.ac.uk/emls/03-2/rev_wil1.html