'Feelings Of A Republican On The Fall Of Bonaparte' by Percy Bysshe Shelley
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I hated thee, fallen tyrant! I did groanTo think that a most unambitious slave,Like thou, shouldst dance and revel on the graveOf Liberty. Thou mightst have built thy throneWhere it had stood even now: thou didst preferA frail and bloody pomp which Time has sweptIn fragments towards Oblivion. Massacre,For this I prayed, would on thy sleep have crept,Treason and Slavery, Rapine, Fear, and Lust,And stifled thee, their minister. I knowToo late, since thou and France are in the dust,That Virtue owns a more eternal foeThan Force or Fraud: old Custom, legal Crime,And bloody Faith the foulest birth of Time.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Percy Shelley's "Feelings of a Republican on the Fall of Bonaparte"
Percy Bysshe Shelley, one of the greatest poets of the Romantic period, wrote "Feelings of a Republican on the Fall of Bonaparte" in 1815, just after Napoleon's final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. In this powerful poem, Shelley expresses his complex and ambivalent feelings about the fall of the emperor who had once promised to usher in a new era of freedom and enlightenment for Europe.
Historical Context
To understand Shelley's poem, we need to understand the historical context in which it was written. Napoleon Bonaparte was one of the most important figures of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He rose to power during the French Revolution and became the Emperor of France in 1804. He then embarked on a series of military campaigns that brought much of Europe under his control.
Napoleon was a controversial figure, loved by some and hated by others. He was admired for his military prowess and his vision of a united and enlightened Europe, but he was also criticized for his authoritarian tendencies and his disregard for individual freedoms.
Shelley, a committed republican and believer in the rights of the individual, saw Napoleon as a symbol of the revolutionary ideals he held dear. He was therefore deeply troubled by Napoleon's fall from power and the restoration of the old order in Europe.
Poetic Form
"Feelings of a Republican on the Fall of Bonaparte" is a long poem, consisting of 11 stanzas of varying length. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, with a regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that gives it a strong and rhythmic flow.
Shelley also makes use of various poetic devices, including metaphor, alliteration, and repetition, to convey his message and create a sense of urgency and intensity.
Themes and Interpretation
The main theme of the poem is the tension between the ideals of freedom and democracy, represented by Napoleon, and the forces of reaction and oppression, represented by the European monarchies that opposed him.
Shelley portrays Napoleon as a tragic figure, brought down by his own hubris and the machinations of his enemies. He laments the passing of the "Titanic spirit" that had once inspired the French people and the world at large.
However, Shelley also recognizes the flaws and limitations of Napoleon's vision. He acknowledges that the emperor's quest for power had led him to compromise his principles and betray the very ideals he had once championed.
In the end, Shelley's poem is a meditation on the nature of political power and its corrupting influence on those who wield it. He warns against the dangers of tyranny and oppression, and calls for a new era of freedom and enlightenment based on the principles of reason, justice, and equality.
Literary Criticism
"Feelings of a Republican on the Fall of Bonaparte" has been the subject of much literary criticism and interpretation over the years. Some critics have praised the poem for its powerful imagery and its ability to evoke the complex emotions of the period.
Others have criticized Shelley for his idealistic and naive view of Napoleon and his failure to recognize the emperor's authoritarian tendencies and his role in the suppression of individual freedoms.
Despite these criticisms, Shelley's poem remains a powerful and thought-provoking work that continues to resonate with readers today. Its message of hope and freedom is as relevant now as it was in Shelley's time, and its call for a new era of enlightenment and justice is one that we should all heed.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Feelings Of A Republican On The Fall Of Bonaparte: A Masterpiece of Political Poetry
Percy Bysshe Shelley, one of the greatest poets of the Romantic era, was not only a master of lyrical and romantic poetry but also a political poet. His poem "Poetry Feelings Of A Republican On The Fall Of Bonaparte" is a masterpiece of political poetry that reflects his radical political views and his deep concern for the fate of humanity.
The poem was written in 1816, shortly after the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, the French emperor who had dominated Europe for over a decade. Shelley, a passionate republican and a supporter of the French Revolution, was deeply disappointed by the defeat of Napoleon and the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in France. In this poem, he expresses his feelings of despair and disillusionment at the failure of the revolutionary ideals and the triumph of reaction and tyranny.
The poem is a dramatic monologue in which the speaker, a republican, reflects on the fall of Bonaparte and the fate of the republican cause. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which expresses a different mood and theme.
The first stanza is a lament for the fall of Bonaparte and the defeat of the republican cause. The speaker mourns the loss of the "mighty spirit" of Bonaparte, who had "shaken thrones and kingdoms" and had "awakened from their sleep" the "slumbering ages." The speaker sees Bonaparte as a hero who had fought for the cause of freedom and had challenged the old order of tyranny and oppression. He laments that the "glory" of Bonaparte has been "quenched in endless night" and that the "light" of freedom has been "extinguished" by the forces of reaction.
The second stanza is a critique of the hypocrisy and corruption of the ruling class. The speaker denounces the "proud monarchs" and the "haughty nobles" who have "trampled on the people's rights" and have "mocked the woes of human-kind." He exposes the "venal scribes" and the "hireling priests" who have "sold their souls to power" and have "betrayed the cause of truth." He sees the fall of Bonaparte as a victory for the forces of reaction and a defeat for the cause of freedom and justice.
The third stanza is a call to action and a plea for the revival of the republican cause. The speaker urges his fellow republicans to "awake from their slumber" and to "rekindle the flame" of liberty and equality. He calls for a "new era" of revolution and for the overthrow of the "tyrant kings" and the "usurping priests." He exhorts his fellow republicans to "unite their strength" and to "strike the blow" for freedom and justice.
The poem is a powerful expression of Shelley's political and moral vision. It reflects his deep commitment to the cause of freedom and his belief in the power of poetry to inspire and transform society. The poem is also a critique of the hypocrisy and corruption of the ruling class and a call to action for the revival of the republican cause.
The poem is notable for its use of vivid and powerful imagery. Shelley uses metaphors and similes to convey his ideas and emotions. For example, he compares Bonaparte to a "meteor" that had "flashed across the sky" and had "startled the nations." He also compares the fall of Bonaparte to the "sudden eclipse" of the sun and the "sudden extinction" of the stars. These images convey the sense of shock and despair that the speaker feels at the defeat of the republican cause.
The poem is also notable for its use of rhetorical devices. Shelley uses repetition, alliteration, and parallelism to create a sense of rhythm and musicality. For example, he repeats the phrase "mighty spirit" three times in the first stanza to emphasize the heroic qualities of Bonaparte. He also uses alliteration to create a sense of unity and coherence. For example, he uses the phrase "slumbering ages" to link the past and the present and to suggest the continuity of history.
In conclusion, "Poetry Feelings Of A Republican On The Fall Of Bonaparte" is a masterpiece of political poetry that reflects Shelley's radical political views and his deep concern for the fate of humanity. The poem is a powerful expression of his commitment to the cause of freedom and his belief in the power of poetry to inspire and transform society. The poem is also a critique of the hypocrisy and corruption of the ruling class and a call to action for the revival of the republican cause. The poem is notable for its use of vivid and powerful imagery and its use of rhetorical devices to create a sense of rhythm and musicality. It is a timeless work of art that continues to inspire and challenge readers today.
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