Page 43 - DENG202_ELECTIVE_ENGLISH_III

Elective English—III

Notes Atheism
The theme of a universe without a god is an integral part of Shelley’s works and his constant
references to the inspiration he received from nature. As with his fellow Romantic poets of his
generation as well as of the previous generations, Shelley followed a philosophy that looked to
the unfolding of the universe as a natural progress of time. Shelley’s early principles and his
removal because of his unavoidable atheistic views, he learned the unpopularity of atheism in
his society. As he grew up, he became better at hiding his religious doubt and masking it in
references to mythologies, biblical absurdity, and the ease of self-admitted unfamiliarity of the
world’s greatest mysteries.
Some of the related poems with this theme are: Mutability, Hymn to Intellectual Beauty, Mont Blanc,
The Mask of Anarchy, England in 1819, Ode to the West Wind, The Indian Serenade, To a Skylark, Adonais
and A Dirge.

Oppression/Injustice/Tyranny/Power

Oppression, power, tyranny and injustice form an integral part of Shelley’s works. Though he
expresses this theme in many diverse ways, the idea of a majority being unjustly ruled by an
oppressive few is maybe the most frequent theme in Shelley’s writings. If there is a component
of social theory to take from Shelley’s poetry, it should be his purpose to inspire the tyrannised
classes to involve in revolution against the oppression of atrocious institutions such as legal
courts, religious institutions, the royal court, and other government systems. The disorder in
France during his lifetime and effects of the French Revolution fresh in the minds of several
people served as a powerful impact on him.

Example: Shelley had worked on pamphlets on a political theme asserting a “Declaration
of Rights”.
One of the most frequently used examples of this theme is atheism. So far, beyond his protest
against the domineering elements of religion, Shelley thought of himself as a radical voice for
the people in the fight against unfair laws and governments.
However, social tyranny included personal injustices pointed at Shelley. He was never able to
accept society’s denial of his nonconformity, particularly in his romantic life. Even though he
was standing up against the impiety of authority in the name of freedom, the very people he
wanted to encourage disowned him. For those people disapproved of his unusual lifestyle in
marriage and love as well as his personal godlessness.

Some of the related poems with this theme are: Hymn to Intellectual Beauty, Ozymandias, The Mask
of Anarchy, Song to the Men of England, England in 1819, Ode to the West Wind, To a Skylark and
Adonais.

Revolution/Mutation/Change/Cycle

Knowing Shelley’s overall discontent, it is not astonishing to see him frequently deliberating
the theme of “change.” In Shelley and Byron’s own convictions, this is what isolated them from
their first-generation Romantic poets. Coleridge, Wordsworth and Blake, only worked to describe
and state the injustices of numerous powers in the years leading up to and then during the
French Revolution. On the other hand, Shelley and Byron adopted more of a call-to-arms method.
Shelley was never satisfied with only discussing the problems of state tyranny. He followed his
own principles, even if it resulted in being disowned by his family, dismissal from Oxford and
exile from London society. Shelley used his poetry to challenge his readers to act upon the ideas
he was promoting. Philosophically, recognising that nothing in this world, whether manmade

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