The French Revolution and Romanticism

Introduction

The French Revolution is commonly known as among the most influential events in the eighteenth century. It had several consequences in all aspects of life, though most researchers focus on the political aspect with those backing the revolution pushing for autonomy and equality like an end to totalitarian authority and economic and legal benefits accorded to the clergy. It is from this resistance to religion and monarchy that there arose equality and human rights. These ideologies has significant implications to Romantic poets (Thompson, 17). Going by the title ‘Romantic Revival’ and efforts directed at reviving it in the middle periods, poetry and culture against a culture of classicism, the ideology had been implanted on the growing French Revolution. The paper will focus on Romanticism in the period of The French Revolution. The paper will focus on how the works of art by various artists, intellectuals and writers led to the rise of revolution and the successful impact it had to the political class in the 1800s.

The French Revolution and Romanticism

By the 1790s, the raw of the war in France that focused on nationalism affected the whole of Europe. Being based on liberty, equality and community, the movement in France gave rise to extensive upsurge against anarchy and oppression which was being meted out by aristocratic class (Long, 370).

Europe was suffering from political unrest using the French Revolution that looked to bestow human rights and an end to class variation (Long, 370). The impact was great and the Romantic Movement based in England acquired major spurs due to its efforts from this war. The causes had major implications to the war which were economic and not political. The class discrimination led to massive protests and led to doubts as well as weakened the socio-economic life of England.

The thriving aspect of Romanticism was attributed by fast cultural nationalism and focus to national origins and shown in the original folks. The French Revolution had great implications to the first and second periods of the Romantics in varied ways. This two periods varied in terms of opinions; they varied in political ideologies and hated each other Long, 278. The first period poets like William Wordsworth and Robert Southey from the ‘Lake District’ school of poetry pitied the philosophical a political aspects of the revolution. Mostly, those shown by William Godwin using Inquiry into Political Justice (Bainbridge, 43). Wordsworth notably chronicled his reaction to the war in his Prelude, though the passages did not get published until he died. One that made its way into the print in 1809, titled ‘French Revolution, as it Appeared Enthusiasts as Its Commencement.’ This title shows Wordsworth change to conservative politics more so as the French Revolution.

Simon Bainbridge and Wordsworth among others translated the Revolution’s focus on man’s equality to language of the local person in the street and subject that can be acquired in Lyrical Ballads (Bainbridge, 56). The words chosen and used by Wordsworth appeared like literary revolution that showed the historical revolution by changing the boundaries that contrasted poetry. This used characters and diction from local representation.

Considering that the first generation Romantics saw their enthusiasm affected by the horrific events of the revolution; starting with the killing of Louis XVI to terror spread all over. This led to dictatorship by Robespierre and Jacobins and resulting to Napoleonic dictatorship. The Revolution affected the whole of Europe and went against everything and gave rise to new ideologies that motivated the European society to literature and philosophy. While on the English side that was a coup d’etat managed by the House of Lords in a model put in place by Glorious Revolution. The radicals claimed that there was wide spread fear.

The Revolutions acquired support from artists and intellectuals from within the country and outside. Blake, a good example, set himself on revolt of authority severally with his integration of political ideologies and visionary anxiety. He at some points had to publish his work with no name and passed t radicals. His art comprising Songs of Liberty and The French Revolution were not well received from the regime in existent as it did abhor the opposition and reacted violently against the pro-Revolution.

The second generation Romantics like Lord Byron and Percy Shelley made use of Revolution’s principles in an idealistic manner. For example Percy Shelley shows rebellious events in the poems like Prometheus Unbound (1820) and Hellas (1822) among others. While at the same time he does not use direct representation of revolutionary operation using a mythological model. This model is useful in that it helps to avoid promoting violent revolutionary acts and implant despair to those that worked to advance liberty in Europe (Shelley, 76). The use of despair according to Shelley is the primary fault with the doing away by Wordworth’s of radical libertarian ideologies and use of passive means. While the use of violent revolutionary method is a feature of Shelley’s critique of Byron’s use of revolution as being on the decline to use of violence and other negative means. Shelley here aimed to advance liberty and equality without violence. Additionally, Cox states that Byron’s display of the inevitable, trends of violence shows the lack of ability to free himself from the past ( Cox, 56). Through, Cox described the revolution in Marino Faliero as being in doom due to the hero’s incapacity to free himself from the past. This leads to the rebels to copy the acts of aristocracy that they aim to do away with. This opinion of radical method shows Byron’s tendency toward the French Revolution more so the youthful idolization of Napoleon (Cox, 67). However, he criticized him later from going away from liberty and democracy to dictatorship.

Byrone’s most notable poems was ‘Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage’, where he makes use of his main character to pass his political opinions. Additionally, we are able to acquire a contrast in the use of nature as was used by Wordsworth. In Wordsworth work of art he used peace and tender images.

It is worth noting that the two generations had powerful feeling of people in creating a radical change to the present status in most cases results to mass movement. The French Revolution was no different. In fact, much was credited to the pens of the time. Most of the authors, scholars and intellects played varied roles in revitalizing the revolution and they had a great feeling in the rise of the revolution on the basis of their creative arts (George, 94). Rousseau arose humanity that was in deep sleep, Godwin hailed individualism and Voltaire relit the flame of autonomy in every person. Lastly, the acts of massive revolution was thrown into a turmoil in France, moving Europe to great extents of acts. It instilled a strong impression on the Romantic poets. Byron and Shelley among others were greatly motivated by the revolution and their works of art were tainted by notions and revolutionary fervor of the people who led it in France.

It is important to note how literature fuels political uprising and spread to England facilitating reforms and all over sudden a creative spirit was created. This is noted in poems by Wordsworth, Byron and Shelley and prose of Scott and Austen (Shelley, 57). This writers had strong allegiance to their country and had the age to be known as the second creative period for literature. Hence in the first days when old institutions appeared to fall with Bastille Southey formed a youthful method where principles were to be used (Long 388).

The French Revolution was based on the leaders who were respected by William Wordsworth – the leader of the Romanticism. William lived in a community where democracy was highly held. The values of the French Revolution used ideals that poet used in the process of subjugating weak nations and influencing their autonomy. The excess disillusion and exasperation affected him because of excess Revolution and rise of threatening dictators like Napoleon (George, 103). However, with the urge of political enthusiasm, he later stated that bliss was present at dawn though being young was a great feeling. While he grew as a strong supporter to war and massive death in other poems he wrote later leading to censure by Romantics.

However, close focus on the style of writing by the Romantics we are able to acquire the significance of Romanticism. This revealed that literature has to show all that is spontaneous and natural and man had the autonomy to follow what he found fitting without being affected by a tight model. It can be stated that literature that was used at the time had acquired the pace of liberty being fast in the essence of the French Revolution (Popkin, 56). The authors in the 1800s actively went back to the incident of the war in search of elements for their arts.

The connection between time and literature arises from the interval of any time limit. They cannot be separated as they went through a lot together. A period where no matter what takes place on the world, basically shows its authoritative impact on literature. The French Revolution and Romanticism in English art took place at about the same time (Popkin, 28). Hence the significance of the revolution left marks on the works of art, meaning that the French Revolution, even though it was a war for liberty, equality and fraternity, it developed the rise of romantic literature in English.

Conclusion

The French Revolution was among the most significant events that took place in the 1800s for Europe. This was since it marked the start of the end of monarchies and dictatorships all over Europe. The artists using their works of art facilitated the rise of the revolution. Authors and scholars informed and educated people on the need for liberty in their counties. The coming together of several artists from all over Europe led to massive revolution as known as the ‘The French Revolution’. Even though a good section of them survived, they are not politically relevant in the modern day. They have however put their mark I history on how art can affect styles of leadership and bring about autonomy.

The paper has been able to focus on the French Revolution and the connection with Romanticism. It has been able to focus on how works of literature led to the revolution and end of anarchies. It acquired support from several scholars locally and externally and was notable in the fall of varied rules of the time. The revolution hence influenced the British poets to acquire their goals.

Works Cited

Bainbridge, Simon. “Politics and Poetry.” The Cambridge Companion to British Literature of the     French Revolution in the 1790s. Pamela Clemit, Ed. Cambridge University Press, 2011.

Cox, Jeffrey N. “Romantic Drama and the French Revolution.” Revolution and English           Romanticism. Keith Hanley and Raman Selden, Eds. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1990.

George Gordon, L. B. Lord Byron – The Major Works (Reissue edition ed.). (J. J. McGann, Ed.)         Oxford: Oxford Paperbacks, 2008.

Long, William J. English Literature—Its History & Its Significance. Calcutta: Radha Publishing          House, 2001.

Popkin, Jeremy D. A Short History of the French Revolution. 4th ed. New Jersey, Pearson   Prentice Hall, 2006.

Shelley, P. B. The Complete Poetic Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley, Vol. 1 of 2. London:         Forgotten Books, 2008.

Thompson, E. P. The Romantics: England in a Revolutionary Age. New York: New Press, 1999.