Romanticism: New Waves of Imaginative Thinking
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Romanticism: New Waves of Imaginative Thinking Chris Ann Masiello Elizabeth City State University Faculty Mentor: Tatiana Tagirova Elizabeth City State University ABSTRACT In this paper I discuss the rebirth of the gothic genre which materialized at the end of the Romantic Period as a mode of escape from the cultural harshness brought by the industrial revolution. This genre represents a new wave in imaginative thinking that integrated mystical elements into poetry to create spine tingling tales. It is for this reason that I chose to analyze Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poems “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” and “Christabel” as well as Lord Byron’s poem "Manfred." All three of them are examples of gothic style of writing that resulted from cruel and reprehensible cultural reality. In the first poem, the strange and unusual supernatural creatures create an atmo- sphere filled with darkness and obscurity. In the second poem, the main character’s struggle against her evil twin parallels doppelganger that existed between two war threatening countries, England and France. In the third poem, Byron incorporates the spirits and spells in order to shed his guilt from his forbidden offense. The single greatest impact of these poems is the ability to transport the reader from their present reality to a preceding time in history that was far less complicated. One of the most influential writers of the Romantic Period is Samuel Taylor s modern industrialization sprang Coleridge. He whole heartedly believed in up in England during the eighteenth A democracy where everyone had the right century, the culture grew extremely cruel to be heard. In his poem, “The Rime of to the vast majority of people. It divided the Ancient Mariner,” he challenged the them into two classes, the elite with special Romantics to launch into the supernatural privileges and the commoners with obliga- world in their search for freedom. Even tions. The Romantic Period was forged by though "Christabel" never once employs those who looked at the world in a differ- the term invasion” (Mulvihill, 273), it is ent light. A writer of that time was often based on the threat of the French incursion. viewed by the majority “as a spokesman of Equally, both poems reflect Coleridge’s society addressing a cultivated and homo- opinion about his culture because they aim geneous audience and having as his end the to mirror the concerns of his time and to conveyance of ‘truth’ ” (Baker, Web). Spun incorporate nature into the people’s lives. from revolutions and political upheaval, As a result, he captures the hearts of his Romantic writers were inspired by dreams readers in his quest for democracy and of liberty. Their ideas were often viewed freedom. by the nobles as a threat to society owing Another influential writer of the to a new way of thinking. Death by guil- Romantic Era is George Gordon, Lord lotine was their punishment. Yet, it is from Byron. Lord Byron wrote during his many this radical ideology and the new percep- travels. His poetry “combined the more tion of the world that the greatest literature emerged. 87 Explorations | Humanities popular features of the late-eighteenth- "Christabel," and "Manfred," are mirror century romanticism: colorful descriptions images of the new wave in imaginative of exotic nature, disillusioned meditations thinking that resulted from the notoriously on the vanity of earthly things, a lyrical cruel and reprehensible cultural society. exaltation of freedom, and above all, Archaic language integrated throughout the new hero, handsome and lonely, yet Coleridge’s poem “The Rime of the strongly impassioned even for all of his Ancient Mariner” was used to escape the weariness with life” (Byron, 333). Byron’s present and hold onto the past. As a result poem “Manfred,” is a brilliant example of of the “global and domestic consequences his style of poetry. It portrays the vibrant of the expanding British Empire,” the beauty of the Swiss Alps. The poem’s main English culture was by in large viewed character is a very attractive and solitary with great cynicism (Levy, 693). It was gentleman who desperately seeks freedom for this very reason that many Romantics from his earthly transgression. It is for yearned to revert to a point-in-time that this reason that many people believe that was much simpler and ethically purer. In “Manfred” was actually a confession of his poem, Coleridge cleverly incorporated Byron’s own guilt that was brought on by the use of archaic words and spellings as a his forbidden love. Byron’s personal letters method to break away from reality and to and journals reflect his character’s image capture a distinct period in history that was and bring extraordinary uniqueness into far less complicated. Coleridge chose to his writings (Gatton, Web). In addition incorporate words such as: “gossamers” in to that, Byron also protests against social place of cob webs, “spectre-bark” instead injustices and integrates mystical elements of ghosts, and “corses” denoting corpses to escape the underlying turmoil of the into his poem to enhance its literary modern industrialization of that time. mysticism and timeless appeal (Coleridge, During the late eighteenth century, a 435, 439). revolutionary uprising occurred and forced The incorporation of the medieval style England to enter a new and innovative of gothic writing is yet another technique era known as the Romantic Period. It that the writer used to escape the complexity was a turbulent time of change from an of his modern culture. Coleridge’s gothic agricultural society to a nation of modern writing style took the reader on a fantasy industrialization. New industries replaced adventure surrounded by an atmosphere the old-fashioned hand labor industry, filled with darkness and obscurity. Readers forcing harsh environments with extended were carried to an extraordinary place working hours, inadequate pay, and adrift at sea with no land in sight. The cruel discipline. The “constant threat of vessel aboard the open water in Coleridge’s inflation and depression” loomed because poem is important because it symbolized the English government chose to fund his flight of imagination far away from the the French and American Revolutionary realisms of life. It introduced the reader to wars despite public outcries for economic, bizarre and unusual supernatural creatures political, and social reforms (Greenblatt, that symbolized the real cultural dangers 2). As a reflection of the harsh English that modern industry presented to society. society, writers reached back into Medieval These paranormal creatures derived from Europe and reintroduced the Gothic genre the darkest recesses of Coleridge’s mind by incorporating eerie plots, apparitions, included such monstrosities as “thousands” and mysterious deaths (Greenblatt, 21). of grotesque “slimy” sea monsters that "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," “crawl with their legs” as-well-as ghostlike 88 Chris Ann Masiello apparitions (Coleridge, 433, 436). “And I had done a hellish thing, Creatures such as these once again echoed And it would work’em woe. on “contemporary maritime exploration For all averred, I had killed the bird and scientific experimentation,” which That made the breeze to blow” (422) was highly considered as the “twin dangers of imperialism and science” during the As the story continues to develop, a series Romantic Period (Levy, 693). of wretched punishments are bestowed Coleridge also integrated nature and its upon the Mariner for his indefensible spiritual affect on one’s character. While on slaughter of the Albatross and for his lack their expedition, the Mariner and his fleet of sorrow and regret. Starting with the encounter a bird known as the Albatross. initial punishment of thirst, the crew and The Albatross is a symbolic representation the Mariner begin to feel the repercussions of all that is characteristically pure and of disrespecting the life of a once living and good. The Albatross followed and encircled breathing animal. As Coleridge states, the ship for many days begging for food. The Mariner looked upon the Albatross “And every tongue, through utter drought as a savaging vagabond; thus, he decided Was withered at the root; to eradicate the bird. As Coleridge writes, We could not speak, no more than if “With my cross-bow / I shot the Albatross” We had been choked with soot” (434) (81-82). This “pivotal act of slaying the unsuspecting bird reflects the Mariner's Coleridge further elaborates on the punishment of dehydration by writing, failure to achieve universal benevolence. Coleridge may also be suggesting that the “Water, water, everywhere, Mariner, by having cut himself off from And all the boards did shrink; all domestic ties, seems to be incapable Water, water, everywhere, of acting kindly toward a "sweet Bird," Nor any drop to drink” (433) "a Christian Soul," that "every day for food or play / Came to the Mariner's Yet still another punishment that the hollo!" (Levy, 88, 65, 73-74). As the story Mariner is subjected to is that of isolation continues to progress, Coleridge speaks of and loneliness. The Mariner thought the repercussions of the Mariners action by he saw a ship sailing toward his vessel to saying; rescue his suffering crew. However, much to his regret, it was a ghost ship, a ship of “Ah! Well-a-day! What evil looks imminent demise. Every single one of his Had I from old and young! fellow crewmen fell to their death leaving Instead of the cross, the Albatross the Mariner in total seclusion. Responding About my neck was hung” (434) to his own feelings, the Mariner says, The compassion that the Mariner’s “Alone, alone, all, all alone, shipmate exhibited toward the dead bird Alone on a wide wide sea! is undeniably symbolic of the Romantics And never a saint took pity on appreciation and respect for nature and My soul in agony” (436) the natural world.