Biography
Percy Bysshe Shelley was a poet who sought to revitalize the human spirit and challenge societal norms. His work was marked by fervor and intellectual depth, infused with a visionary quality. Despite facing personal and societal obstacles, Shelley remained committed to using poetry as a means of inspiring transformative change.
Early Life and Education
Percy Bysshe Shelley, the eldest of seven children, was born on August 4, 1792, at Field Place near Horsham, England. His father, Timothy Shelley, was a country squire and intermittently a Member of Parliament, while his mother, Elizabeth Pilfold, came from a family of social standing. Shelley's upbringing was largely comfortable, both emotionally and materially, though political disagreements would later strain his relationship with his father.
Shelley's education began under the guidance of the Reverend Evan Edwards, followed by studies at Sion House Academy, Eton, and a brief tenure at Oxford University. He was an avid reader, gaining a substantial knowledge base that rivaled any of his English Romantic contemporaries, save for Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Beyond literature and philosophy, his interests also extended into science and the occult, although his attempts at communicating with supernatural entities reportedly ended in failure.
Formative Years and Early Publications
Characterized by his curly hair and delicate features, Shelley often faced bullying at Sion House and Eton. This maltreatment fostered in him a lifelong contempt for tyranny and oppression. The experiences of his formative years, coupled with societal observations, fueled his rebellious spirit against unmerited authority and conformism, which he viewed as enablers of injustice.
Initially, Shelley's published works reflected a fascination with gothic horror rather than his rebellious ideals. As a teenager, he authored the gothic novels Zastrozzi: A Romance and St. Irvyne: Or, The Rosicrucian, though they failed to capture significant public attention. His collaboration with his sister Elizabeth on Original Poetry by Victor and Cazire included gothic themes and borrowed heavily from earlier works.
Transition to Radicalism
Shelley's radical inclinations became pronounced during his time at Oxford, particularly through his association with Thomas Jefferson Hogg. In late 1810, they anonymously published The Necessity of Atheism, a provocative text that led to their expulsion from Oxford in early 1811 after copies were distributed among prominent clergy and faculty.
Post-expulsion, Shelley's life was marked by transient travels and significant personal choices. He rekindled a relationship with Harriet Westbrook, marrying her in Edinburgh in 1811, partly out of a belief that she was oppressed. The union, though initially content, was fraught with familial disapproval, especially from Shelley's father.
Political Engagement and "Queen Mab"
In London, Shelley aimed to fund a Welsh land initiative, but more notably, he forged key intellectual friendships. He met publisher Thomas Hookham, poet Thomas Love Peacock, and philosopher William Godwin, whose political ideas deeply influenced him. Shelley's poetic work, Queen Mab: A Philosophical Poem, was printed for private circulation in 1813 and reflected Godwin's influence, attacking societal institutions with fervor.
The poem's radical ideas were deemed too controversial for public distribution, leading to the imprisonment of a publisher who released it without permission in 1821. During this period, Shelley's personal life grew increasingly tumultuous, impacting his poetry output until he met Mary Godwin, Godwin's daughter, with whom he eloped to France in 1814.
Turmoil and Triumphs
Shelley's involvement with Mary resulted in estrangement from respectable society and a series of personal tragedies, including the death of their first child. Despite these challenges, Sir Bysshe Shelley's death in 1815 brought financial relief that allowed Shelley to focus on his poetic endeavors. His work during this time included Alastor: Or The Spirit of Solitude, and Other...
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Poems, which warned of the dangers of idealistic pursuits.
The Shelleys' journey to Lake Geneva in 1816 led to encounters with Lord Byron, fostering creative exchanges that influenced Shelley's "Hymn to Intellectual Beauty" and Mont Blanc. These works reflected Shelley's evolving philosophical views, moving toward a more nuanced understanding of nature and creativity.
Later Years and Exile
Shelley's later years were marred by personal losses, including the suicides of Mary’s half-sister Fanny Imlay and Shelley's first wife Harriet. Despite societal rejection, Shelley married Mary in December 1816, though he lost custody of his children from his first marriage. This period also marked his acquaintance with prominent literary figures like Leigh Hunt and John Keats, enriching his intellectual circle.
By 1818, the Shelleys left England for a final time, settling in Italy and forming a close-knit circle of friends and fellow intellectuals. Shelley's works from this period, including Julian and Maddalo and Prometheus Unbound, explore themes of political change and the enduring power of love, often against backdrops of personal grief and political oppression.
Final Works and Legacy
In his final years, Shelley produced some of his most profound writings, though personal tragedies continued to shadow his life. His poem Adonais, written in response to the death of Keats, stands as a testament to his belief in the immortality of artistic genius. His political and philosophical explorations continued with Hellas, inspired by the Greek War of Independence.
Tragically, Shelley's life ended abruptly in 1822 when he drowned while sailing. Despite his short life, Shelley's legacy as a visionary poet and advocate for change endures. His work continues to inspire those who seek a more just and compassionate world.
Further Reading
Baker, Carlos. Shelley’s Major Poetry: The Fabric of a Vision. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1948. A comprehensive analysis blending Shelley’s intellectual biography with his poetic works.
Blunden, Edmund. Shelley: A Life Story. London: Oxford University Press, 1965. Offers insights into the historical context of Shelley’s life and creativity.
Curran, Stuart. “Percy Bysshe Shelley.” In The English Romantic Poets, edited by Frank Jordan. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 1985. Evaluates scholarly work on Shelley.
Curran, Stuart. Shelley’s Annus Mirabilis: The Maturing of an Epic Vision. San Marino, Calif.: Huntington Library, 1975. Discusses Shelley’s key literary period from 1818 to 1820.
Reiman, Donald H. Percy Bysshe Shelley. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1969. A concise overview of Shelley’s life and works.
Shelley, Percy Bysshe. Shelley’s Poetry and Prose. Edited by Donald H. Reiman and Sharon B. Powers. New York: W. W. Norton and Co., 1977. A collection of Shelley’s significant works with critical essays.
Wasserman, Earl R. Shelley: A Critical Reading. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1971. A challenging and insightful analysis of Shelley’s poetry.
White, Newman Ivey. Shelley. 2 vols. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1947. A detailed scholarly biography that remains a standard reference.
Criticism by Percy Bysshe Shelley
