The Eighteenth Century is said to be a time of widespread religious apathy. Religion and morality declined. Although religion was still present, there was so much religious diversity and little enthusiasm for spiritual matters. "Reason supplanted faith." In her blog, Catherine Curzon said, "There was little enthusiasm for spiritual matters, perhaps a reaction to the excesses of the 17th Century. People were content with things as they were, and few attended churches but did so more out of habit or social custom."

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Catherine Curzon further said, "However, amid this prevailing religious apathy, a significant revival emerged. This revival, spearheaded by the charismatic and resolute John Wesley, was a beacon of hope for those yearning for a deeper spiritual connection." Wesley's leadership and his small group's adherence to church rituals like communion and ministering to the sick ignited what we now recognize as The Great Awakening, a stark contrast to the prevailing religious indifference.

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The Awakening gave birth to influential preachers and paved the way for a vibrant popular print culture. Beverly Tresscot Mueller, in her dissertation, delved into the lives of ten remarkable authors of that era and found that 'each author's chapter contains a biography which analyzes the profound influence of religion in his life.' The Awakening, therefore, left an indelible mark on literature, shaping the works of these authors and many others. 

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Fr. Walter Ong, in a brief position paper, remarked that "Literature relies mainly on religious themes, derives many of its forms from religious ritual, and often serves explicitly religious purposes." 

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To conclude, John Bunyan wrote his masterpiece at the time of The Awakening with a deep spiritual conviction and belief in his redemption. In contrast, William Congreve wrote the play at a time when religion was in decline, and there was no sense of morality in society.