A Comparison Of The Depiction Of William Wordsworth Within Percy ShelleyS To Wordsworth And Mary ShelleyS On Reading WordsworthS Lines On Peele Castle.
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Generations after influential writers have surpassed the peak of their literary career, it is typical to continue inspiration upon the following writing successors. In terms of the proclaimed “second generation Romantic writers”, the “first generation” was extremely inspiring and important to the descendants of this type of writing and, essentially, this way of life. Upon further analysis of the poems addressed to Wordsworth by both Percy Shelley and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, it is apparent that there is both a sense of bitterness and lovingness intertwined within the respective lines of prose. The depiction of William Wordsworth found within both Percy and Mary Shelleys designated poems are affectionately used to accentuate their own poetic ability and writing profession.
Quite commonly in published literary history, writers will use their idols to construct goals and ideals for themselves in terms of their present and future career. Frequently distinguishable in the second generation of Romantic poets, the previous generation was often times placed on a pedestal. Even more prominent in relating the second generation and their romanticizing of the first generation, is the use or mentioning of the ancestors and their infamous works. However, the second generation had a hard time attempting to follow up the immense success of the first generation, largely due to the drastic differences in their separate worlds. As a second generation poet, the influential writers of the previous generation were practically as colourful and intelligent as possible. Therefore, to be related in any manner to one of these poets gave the second generation great joy. For those writers who were not connected with an idol through the eyes of a fellow poet or potential audience, many used their own works to express the similarities between themselves and their favourite first generation poet. For Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley and her husband Percy Shelley, this was none other than William Wordsworth. Their highest regarded association poems were entitled, respectively, On Reading Wordsworths Lines on Peele Castle, and To Wordsworth. While the two poems express very different qualities viewed in Wordsworth, they present similarities in their feelings towards Wordsworths ultimate status, and share unadulterated underlying tones.
Throughout On Reading Wordsworths Lines on Peele Castle, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley has provided a minor attitude of resentment towards the direction of her attention. More overpoweringly though, is her immeasurable regard of William Wordsworth in terms of poetic hierarchy. It is apparent to her audience that she respects Wordsworth, especially at the height of his career. Also obvious to the readers is her invisible connection with the idolized writer, through the way in which she portrays a complete and thorough understanding of Wordsworth, as if the two share the same frame of mind. “It is with me, as erst with you, / oh poet, natures chronicler” (Wollstonecraft Shelley, 1438, 1-2). Developed within these simple lines in Mary Wollstonecraft Shelleys poem, is a sense of an equalizing or balancing between Mrs. Shelly and Wordsworth, in terms of prevalent writing talent and their mindset climax. Furthermore, since these lines are at the first two of the poem, this notion carries on throughout the following twenty-six. Not only does Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley use the written portrayal of Wordsworth to elevate her own status, but she concentrates on drawing attention to her admirable poetic capabilities and accomplished career.
Marys husband, Percy Shelley, originally held the same extensive affection towards William Wordsworth. Also similarly, Mr. Shelley had more of a predominant negative outlook upon Wordsworth towards the end of the idolized poets career, which To Wordsworth depicts vividly. Percy Shelley states early on in his dedicated poem with the presented thought of, “Thou wert as a lone star, whose light did shine / on some frail bark in winters midnight roar” (Shelley, 1052, 7-8). This single, short assertion alone allows for Mr. Shelley to connect himself to Wordsworth on an intellectual level. By stating this in his poem, he is attempting to portray to his audience the idea that he is one of the few admirers who truly understands the legendary writer because Shelley completely comprehends Wordsworths admirers, such as John Milton. Through his poetry, Percy Shelley also elevates himself, as his wife did ten years later, to the presumed elite status in which these former poets eternally reside. In doing so, he emphasizes his own poetic aptitude, and furthermore, his professional writing future.
Not attempting to be hidden within To Wordsworth, Percy Shelley emits his anger towards his former idolized career shaper. Percy Shelley was unfortunate enough to be a part of the second generation of romantic writers, many of which found great difficulty in providing prose as prominent and illustrious as the previous generation. Such unfortunate poets as Mr. Shelley found comfort in continuing to admire their revolutionary idols early in their lives. When William Wordsworth “sold himself out” to the Government – the very enforcement in which he had been leading others to revolt against – that comforting feeling in the second generation admirers evaporated. Towards the end of his poem, Percy Shelley proclaims, “In honoured poverty thy voice did weave / songs consecrate to truth and liberty / Deserting there, thou leavest me to grieve” (Shelley, 1052, 11-13). Using reference to Wordsworths acceptance of the Government job as Distributor for stamps