Impact of French Revoluation in Wordsworth's poetry

This blog is a response to a task assigned by Dilip Barad sir (Department of English, MKBU). For more details of the task click here. In this blog we will discuss how french Revolution influenced Wordsworth's romanticism.

William Wordsworth (7 April 1770 – 23 April 1850) was an English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with their joint publication Lyrical Ballads (1798).Wordsworth was Poet Laureate from 1843 until his death from pleurisy on 23 April 1850.

Q: How French Revolution influenced Wordsworth's poetry?

Ans:

The French Revolution had a significant influence on William Wordsworth's romanticism. Wordsworth was a prominent English Romantic poet, and the events of the French Revolution, which began in 1789, had a profound impact on his literary and philosophical outlook. Here's how it influenced him:

1. Idealism and Liberty: The ideals of the French Revolution, such as liberty, equality, and fraternity, resonated with Wordsworth's own beliefs about the importance of individual freedom and the innate goodness of humanity. He saw the revolution as a source of hope and inspiration for a better world.

2. Nature and Emotion: Wordsworth's poetry often celebrated the beauty of nature and the emotions it evoked in individuals. The upheaval of the French Revolution led him to reflect on the relationship between nature, human emotions, and societal change. His poems, like "Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey," reflect this connection.

3. Individual Experience: Wordsworth's romanticism emphasized the importance of individual experience and emotions. The tumultuous and transformative nature of the French Revolution reinforced his belief in the power of personal experiences to shape one's perspective and understanding of the world.

4. Critique of Industrialization: Wordsworth, along with fellow Romantic poets like Coleridge, was critical of the industrialization and urbanization of society during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The social and economic changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution were, in part, a response to the political and ideological shifts associated with the French Revolution.

5. Return to Simplicity: In response to the complex and often violent events of the revolution, Wordsworth and other Romantic poets sought solace in the simplicity and tranquility of rural life. This is evident in many of Wordsworth's poems, where he often depicted the beauty and peace of the natural world.

In summary, the French Revolution influenced Wordsworth's romanticism by shaping his views on individualism, nature, and the human spirit's capacity for change and renewal. It played a pivotal role in the development of his poetic themes and philosophy during a time of significant historical and social upheaval.