Since his early childhood, he lived in a world of his own ideas, and when he found this real-world falling short of his ideal, he was naturally led to disappointment. The notes of despondency and despair are quite obvious in Shelley.
He doesn’t love a person for what he or she is but for that is an embodiment of an ideal that he loved. He is an idealist in his love affairs, in the regeneration of humanity, and in creating the “Kingdom of Heaven” upon the earth.
In his early days, Shelley was under the influence of Godwin, a famous Philosopher, and believed that reason could solve all problems of life and death, but gradually he revolted against this philosophy and like Wordsworth began to think of supremacy of intuition, poetic inspiration, and creative imagination.
Shelley is subjective and objective at the same time. In his lyrics, he becomes the most subjective when he gives expression to his own griefs and experiences, but when he expresses his love for commonality and predicts a bright future for humanity, he becomes extremely objective.
I have already pointed out that Shelley was a great revolutionary. This spirit was inspired by the French Revolution. He predicted a bright future for humanity where “Love and Freedom” would rule, and “Intellectual Beauty” would manifest itself fully. He was against all oppression and tyranny in any form. At the end of his great poems, he always sings of a Golden Age. In his “Ode to the West Wind”, he hears “a trumpet of prophecy”, and is sure of a “Spring” after a long winter.
Shelley’s philosophy is purely Platonic as he believes that this material world is a deception which hides from our eyes the Ultimate Reality. According to him all miseries of life can be overcome by universal principles of Love for humanity. Love for him is a cosmic principle which is always fresh. It is the gateway to all wisdom and knowledge.
Shelley proves himself to be the greatest lyricist of English Literature. His Lyrical Poetry is a spontaneous expression of his sorrows as well as the sufferings of humanity in the sweetest and most melodious way. He himself asserts,
“Our sweetest songs are those that tell of the saddest thoughts”
Shelley’s imagery is peculiar to his nature. He never describes his feelings by concrete images like Keats, but he is always misty, vague, dim, deep, and nebulous “Like pageantry of mist on an autumnal stream”. He borrows his images from autumnal leaves, ghosts, spirits, mist and extraordinary awe-inspiring aspects of Nature. His pictures are always dynamic and forceful. He is not a lover of Nature like Wordsworth but loves it for its sublime aspects only.
- Shelley: The Greatest Lyricist of English Literature - 10/10/2022
- Biography - 28/04/2022
- Illusion & Reality - 25/02/2022
