One characteristic of Enlightenment that is seen in this excerpt is that people should be guided by the reason and not irrational fears, however serious they may seem to be. The protagonist/author of the diary seems to be the only cool-headed person in this terrible situation. Everybody else is freaking out, running about and screaming. He notices multiple times that nobody is making any effort to actually quench the fire. He is the one who goes to warn the king and suggests that houses should be pulled down. There is one very interesting remark about Lord Mayor, who is in a panic just like everyone else: "To the King's message he cried, like a fainting woman..." Misogyny aside, this comment shows the speaker's manly, reasonable, commendable attitude. He is an active person who does something to undo the damage, and not just a passive observer or a coward who runs away in panic.
A diary entry was a fitting form during the Enlightenment period because that was the first time that the words and opinions of a more or less ordinary person were deemed important. A diary has this risk of being a subjective collection of personal impressions. But Pepys' diary pretends to be highly objective because its author sees himself as a reasonable man, important in his own right, competent enough to keep a diary and record some important things that happen around him, to other ordinary people.
Conflict is not one of the main five of a plot
Romeo to be a maturing character: ROMEO This gentleman, the prince's
near ally, My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt In my behalf; my
reputation stain'd With Tybalt's slander, -- Tybalt, that an hour Hath
been my kinsman! O sweet Juliet, Thy beauty hath made me effeminate And
in my temper soften'd valour's steel!
Romeo is unchanged: ROMEO
Alive, in triumph! and Mercutio slain! Away to heaven, respective
lenity, And fire - eyed fury be my conduct now!
Is this referencing the roaring twenties?
