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Revolutionism in Shelley: the Man and the Poet —Tip Ip

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Revolutionism in Shelley: the Man and the Poet —Tip Ip ♦—TIP IP - SE NA REVOLUTIONISM IN SHELLEY: THE MAN AND THE POET A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF ATLANTA UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS BY ELLIS L. HUNTER DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH ATLANTA UNIVERSITY ATLANTA, GEORGIA AUGUST, 1956 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION 1 Chapter I. REASONS FOR SHELLEY'S REVOLUTIONARY DISPOSITION $ II. MANIFESTATIONS OF SHELLEY'S REVOLUTIONISM IN HIS POETRY . 2$ III. SHELLEY'S ACHIEVEMENTS AS A REVOLUTIONARY POET U3 BIBLIOGRAPHY 1*8 ii INTRODUCTION Through the years many brilliant studies have been made on Shelley. His enthusiasts have approached him from scientific, religious, political, ethical, philosophical, biographical, and poetical viewpoints. The writer is somewhat loath to consider this present study uniquej yet, after consult¬ ing countless bibliographies on Shelley, no such study as this has been found. True, Shelley as a revolutionist has been discussed perhaps in most studies on himj indeed, it could hardly be omitted, for it was such a deep part of him and it affected almost everything he did. However, the writer feels safe in saying that if there are other such studies as this, they are either few or have not received wide acclaim. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the note of revolutionism in Shelley the man and Shelley the poet. All other facts concerning him that do not directly relate to his revolutionary bent are either mentioned in passing as a background against which his revolutionism may be viewed, or they are omitted entirely. Hence, in an effort to get at the core of his revolutionary manifestations, the writer has given special consideration to, first, Shelley’s personality, habits, education, friends, influences (political, scientific, religious), and personal convictions. Second, atten¬ tion is focused on selections from his major and minor poems. Since various prose works are discussed in the first part of this research, the last section will be primarily concerned with his poetry. 1 2 Through the years Shelley has become the subject of vituperation and censure. To some the name '’Shelley" has become opprobious. It is to be regretted that more freedom-loving people have not come to his rescue. Even the severest critics cannot attack him for his benevolent intentions. Nevertheless, more than a century has passed, and he is yet the subject of keener debate than any of his contemporaries. The apparent reason is that many vital facts about him are yet unknown. One critic, Robert M. Smith, states that Shelley has been greatly harmed by his friends and enemies. The former have presented only the best views of him, and, in doing this, they have destroyed and distorted many vital facts about him. The latter have presented his bad qualities, and, in doing this, they have read dis¬ torted meanings into his works and magnified trivial details about his life to their advantage. Much of the confusion about Shelley would now be clear if his friends had known him better, for they would have known that he loved the truth, and sought the truth.^ Hence, my treatment of Shelley in this paper is somewhat sympathetic in tonej this is not an attempt to invent excuses for his behavior, but an attempt to mitigate some of his injustices. To better understand and appreciate Shelley, it is necessary to know something about the period in which he lived. Shelley is a product of the Romantic movement in England. This movement is somewhat difficult to define, and is perhaps best understood by referring to some of the ele¬ ments that underlay its birth. There arose a feeling of revolt and turmoil at the end of the eighteenth century and the beginning of the nineteenth. This feeling was ^Robert M. Smith, The Shelley Legend (New York, 19U5) , pp. 305-309 3 characteristic of many fields, not literature alone, and it extended throughout all of Europe. The chief proponent of this new spirit was Rousseau, whose doctrine of the dignity of man and his perfectibility in an original state of nature had found adherents everywhere. Polit¬ ically, the events of the French Revolution transformed the ideals of Rousseau into practicalities, at least for a time. The repercussions of the French Revolution, with its temporary realization of the ideals of Rousseau and his followers, were widespread. Moreover, the spread of the Industrial Revolution made wretched the lot of many of the com¬ mon people, creating a demand for reform.^ While the situation in England was not quite as serious as it was in other parts of Europe, there were still many abuses which cried out for remedies. True representative government and religious liberty were not as yet found in England. The unemployment situation was aggravated by the introduction of machinery and the subsequent decline of the ancient guild system, an organization designed to render aid to the "needy” or to those who were suffering from destitution. The masses as a whole had no repre¬ sentation in the government, and the government steadfastly opposed all reforms. The excesses of the French Revolution were partly to blame for this state of affairs, for the wealthy Tories feared that any concession to the people would result in revolution and anarchy. Nevertheless, reform slowly made its way. As a result, slave trade was abolished, the regula¬ tion of the factories was begun, trade unions were made legal, and the 2 Catholics were finally freed from civil restraint. These are merely a few ^George B. Woods, Homer A. Watt, and George K. Anderson (eds.), The Literature of England (rev. ed.j Chicago, 19ljl), II, 3-U» ^Ibid., pp. 5, 29-31j Albert C. Baugh, et al., A Literary History cf England (New York, 19U8), pp. 1122-1127* U of the social and economic changes that this new movement fostered. Literature was also deeply influenced by this fire which was sweeping all Europe. A view of the literature written during this period reveals that there was a general revolt against authority} imagination and emotion supplanted reason; nature became the focus of poetic imagination instead of the city, and strong individualism was hailed. As a result of the emphasis on individualism, democracy received its greatest impetus. The brotherhood of man was preached and to this end, Shelley fought continually and courageously. "*Wood, Watt, and Anderson, op. cit., pp. 1-2 CHAPTER I REASONS FOR SHELLEY'S REVOLUTIONARY DISPOSITION Percy Bysshe Shelley was bom August h, 1792, at Field Place in Sussex, England, when much of Europe was suffering acutely from politi¬ cal, religious, social, and economic deficiencies.^- It is no surprise that Shelley, whose philanthropic nature manifested itself at an early age, became anxious about the confusion and unrest that eventually reached and upset England. Shelley was tall, "slightly and delicately built . fair and ruddy ... with a profusion of silkly brown hair that curled naturally." He had a pleasant, girlish face, whose features became sharp when he was in pain or angerj "his terrors were painful to see." His voice, which was usually soft and pleasant, became shrill and harsh when he was excited.^ We shall see later how his effeminate features and his susceptibility to physical and spiritual emotions affected his relationship with others. At home Shelley was considered "a wild and wonder-loving boy."3 He enjoyed roaming the woods near his home, for nature held a wonderful ^See supra, pp. 3-1*. ^Arthur M. D. Hughes, The Nascent Mind of Shelley (Oxford, 19U7), pp. 17-18. 3 Ibid.y p# 5 6 fascination for him. His super imagination was forever at workj and he would often relate frightful tales of horror and mystery to his adoring sisters, who, like many other persons, never really knew him. This story-telling was probably the first evidence of his desire to become a poet."*" At the age of ten Shelley entered Sion House at Brentford. While there several things happened that were to have great influence upon him in later years. First, it was at Sion House that his affinity for the occult was abetted by the romances of Anne Radcliffe, "Monk” Lewis, and particularly Charles B, Brown.2 This was not required reading, but such works had a tendency to placate his capricious fancy. Second, he became deeply interested in the wonders of science, and the lectures on chemistry and astronomy were like beautiful melodies to his ears. Third, his rebel¬ lious nature toward authority and punishment was displayed there. For instance, when he was whipped, he would roll on the floor as if he were in agony, not from pain, but from a sense of indignity.-^ Fourth, his feminine characteristics made him the center of attraction, and the boys enjoyed harassing him. To one as sensitive as Shelley, it is no surprise that this harassment created within him a sense of isolation and retaliation. “It also laid the psychological basis for that hatred of tyranny which Shelley integrated - using the Whig outlook of his family as intellectual foundation - •^-Edmund C. Blunden, Shelley (New York, 19h7)> P* 19. 2 Eleanor Sickels, "Shelley and Charles Brockden Brown," PICA, XLV (March, 1930), 1116-1128. ^A. Clutton-Brock, Shelley: The Man and the Poet (New York, 1909), pp. 7-8. 7 into his political philosophy."-*• Generally, his stay at Sion House was not very pleasant, although he had some pleasant moments. What is really signi¬ ficant about his stay there is his intolerant attitude toward frustration and suppression, wherein the germ of revolution was developing. Shelley entered Eton at the age of twelve. His previous experience at Sion House caused him to avoid crowds, and consequently, he kept much to himself here.
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