William Wordsworth's political poetry

Politics of William Wordsworth: A Comparative Analysis of his Poetry between 1798 ("the Tables Turned") and 1807 ("I Grieved for Buonaparte, with a Vain")

The political crisis that is the French Revolution that occurred in Europe between the periods 1789 to 1799 illustrates the influential effects of the Enlightenment movement and political ideas of the philosophes. The prevalent ideology of the French philosophes during the period is human freedom through rationalization -- that is, freedom acquired through intellectual development and material progress. It is through this ideology that 18th century French society sought to attain, and in the process, led to the declaration of the French Revolution.

Within this historical context emerged the poetry of William Wordsworth, the English poet who was best known for strict adherence to the genre of Romanticism to his poetic style and content. Beyond Wordsworth's Romantic poetic style and content lies a political ideology that deviates from the popular belief of most Europeans during the time (18th century). That is, while Europe shares the glory of human freedom and social progress through the French Revolution, Wordsworth remained critical, as most of his fellow British were, in the triumph of a revolution that England considers as a path towards tyrannical rule and not freedom.

This paper discusses Wordsworth's political views between the periods 1798 and 1807, which are during and after the French Revolution. Through an analysis of two of his poems written from one period, 1798 and 1807, respectively, the researcher posits that Wordsworth's political stance is critical to the rationalization of human society and its seemingly patriarchal nature; he contends that a shift from rationalization (i.e., modernization of society) to a return to traditionalistic society governed by matriarchy (through Nature) is the true meaning of intellectual development and material progress -- that is, social progress. This argument is put forward in the texts that follow, with references from his two poems, "The Tables Turned" (1798) and "I Grieved for Buonaparte, with a Vain" (1807).

Considerably, there is little difference between the two poems' primary message with respect to Wordsworth's political ideology. Both poems adhere to his critical view of rationalization of society through institutionalized education (e.g., universities and formal education). If at all there is a difference, it is the degree of his belief towards Nature and traditionalistic human society, where it further intensified; strengthening his belief that humanity should engage itself with Nature than ever before.

This assertion is explicitly expressed in the two poems, which are considered forms of personal satire against the prevalent political ideology in Europe in the 18th century. Wordsworth's concept of "personal satire" is a literary work that is expressed implicitly and subtly, addressing the public through its hidden meaning rather than its explicit content (Dyer, 1997:102). To illustrate, the prevalent theme of rationalization (of society) through institutionalized education versus 'education' through Nature is reflected in "The Tables Turned."

The poem contains two main messages: a critique of instutionalized education and exaltation of human life and Nature. In this poem, Wordsworth speaks primarily from his own experience of and opinion about education through Nature. His critique of institutionalized education is evident in the first stanza, wherein he disapproves of the use of books to attain knowledge and wisdom: "Up! Up! my Friend, and quit your books;... Books! 'tis a dull and endless strife: Come, hear the woodland linnet...There's more of wisdom in it (lines 1-10). The poet's suggestion that "Let Nature be your Teacher" stems from his belief in the principle of Romanticism: Wordsworth believes that it is "[t]he poet's obligation...to render experiences accurately and express them without resorting to traditional poetic convention...The object of poets, in short, is to connect their own imaginations with the imagination of readers and to enable readers to reexperience the poet's heightened awareness" (Roberts and Jacobs, 1998:948).

Indeed, the "language of real life" is advocated in "Tables Turned," since Wordsworth brings forth through his words his own experience of how he was able to achieve enlightenment through Nature (Rider, 2004). Furthermore, what the poem illustrates is the poet's 'conversation' with the reader, a feature that is inherent among Romantic poems in its attempt to convey to the readers the realities and experiences of the poet. It is through this sharing of experiences between the poet and the reader that makes the poem adhere to its message -- that is, that education should be within the natural environment of human society: among people and with Nature. Wisdom and knowledge acquired through social interaction with people and Nature is the ultimate form of education, far better than what books and other symbols of institutionalized and formal education can give to human society. This belief is elucidated in the poem's last lines, "Enough of Science and Art; Close up those barren leaves; Come forth, and bring with you a heart That watches and receives" (lines 29-32).

In early 19th century, years after the French Revolution, Wordsworth's criticism of modernization has intensified, illustrating how the Enlightenment's ideology of rationalization of society and individual right to freedom had instead led to the downfall of human society. In 1807, when he wrote the poem, "I Grieved for Buonaparte, with a Vain," Wordsworth demonstrates how a misguided belief in freedom from monarchy (characteristic of the French Revolution) resulted to tyranny, or the rule of France by individuals who have self-interests exclusive of the welfare of human society and the common good.

This image of a tyrant is explicitly expressed in the poem, where, from the title itself, readers can identify the poet's feelings towards the subject, Napoleon Bonaparte, France's greatest (and worst) political leader. Through Buonaparte, Wordsworth explicates his disagreement with rationalization, modernization, and other social changes that the Enlightenment has brought to European society (in general). His dismay over the so-called development of human society during the period is expressed in the following lines, wherein he tries to create an image of a Buonaparte -- that is, a leader who is effective and wiser than the 'real' Buonaparte. "The Governor who must be wise and good, and temper with the sternness of the brain Thoughts motherly, and meek as womanhood" (lines 6-8).

Despite the similarities in focus and historical context in which "Tables Turned" and "Buonaparte" are applied, the only difference in both poems is that Wordsworth has furthered his attempt to reform society, criticizing initially rationalization through institutionalized education. In "Buonaparte," readers witness that Wordsworth implies an even bigger meaning in his poem, offering a critical analysis not only rationalization through institutionalized education, but of European society in general, which is patriarchal in nature. The downfall of human society through the French Revolution is an illustration of how humanity has failed under the guidance of rational males, and suggests that a society based on matriarchy or dominance of females be supported. This belief is in line with his argument in the first poem, wherein human life can achieve social progress through knowledge and wisdom acquired from Nature -- that is, the power of social interaction with people and Nature. As Bainbridge (1999) discusses in his analysis, "Wordsworth makes clear that femininity is no less central to politics than poetics...The good patriarch must himself grow matriarchal..."

In "Buonaparte," the poet's reiteration of his belief in the power of Nature to induce social progress through intellectual development and social coherence is reflected. Nature, as in "Tables Turned," takes a central role in the development of human society. In the first poem, Wordsworth express his thesis, while in "Buonaparte," he provides an illustration of the adverse effects of rationalization and modernization to the fate of human society. This poem, created in early 19th century, a period after the French Revolution and the beginnings of Industrial Revolution in Britain is taking place, shows the dominance of "Nature and...fraternal fellowship with his fellow-man [sic]." In "Buonaparte," the leader in the poem, society experiences a downfall towards savagery, an imagery more explicit in the form of a revolution (i.e., French Revolution): "...the beauty of the landscape, the freedom of its creatures, and the trustfulness of the people...become the innocent causes of cruelty, possessiveness and greed" (Turner, 2000).

Indeed, the second poem best illustrates the consequence that results from humankind's 'progress' towards modernization and rationalization. However, Wordsworth's nature as a Romantic poet reflects in the last lines of the poem, wherein he gives hope to his readers, enticing them to join him in his pursuit of wisdom by communing with Nature. In "Buonaparte," he gives an ideal situation wherein a society's political structure and state improves as human society engages "in the hourly walk of the mind's business," a form of social interaction wherein human knowledge is shared and experienced harmoniously. Through this scenario, Wordsworth asserts that "the stalk of True Power" grows, and ultimately, true freedom of the individual is attained ("and her rights are these") (lines 11-14). It is thus through this poem (and a series of poems during this period) that Wordsworth comes full circle not only as a poet, but as a political reformist as well. "Buonaparte" elucidates clearly how Nature and social interaction bring about human freedom and social progress.

The analysis of "Tables Turned" and "Buonaparte" brings into focus the important points that make up Wordsworth's political views. His consistent criticism of the Enlightenment, rationalization, modernization, and the French Revolution demonstrates his belief that the path towards rationalization of society has brought greater adverse rather than beneficial effects. In the texts that follow, the main themes that emerged from the analysis of the two poems are discussed exclusively to provide greater understanding of Wordsworth's political ideology between the periods 18th and 19th centuries. These themes are identified as follows: the French Revolution, tyranny as a consequence of misguided need to attain individual freedom, the fall of human society as it succumbed to modernization and rationalization, and lastly, the path towards savagery instead of social progress as a result of political conflict that emerged during the Enlightenment period.

The first theme that is implicitly, yet powerfully conveyed in both poems is the outcome of the French Revolution. For Wordsworth, the seemingly powerful revolution of the masses has resulted to disillusionment and hopelessness instead of building a stronger republic and society in France. Reflecting on these realities in his life during the latter part of the 18th century, the poet expresses through "Buonaparte" his 'renouncement' of "revolutionary rationalism," and instead advocated for a life governed by "quietism, skepticism, and self-confessed nature-worship" (Mortensen, 2000). In his attempt to seek an alternative to discovering a more meaningful understanding of human life, Wordsworth's poems illustrate how he found meaning in life through Nature and traditionalist society rather than a rationalistic society that brought nothing but ruin to society (as in the case of France).

It is also inevitable that in discussing the French Revolution, Wordsworth also puts this event in the context of Bonaparte's rule as prime leader of France. His criticism of Bonaparte is symbolic of his criticism of the Enlightenment, for it is through Bonaparte's leadership that France began its ascent towards rationalization and modernization. Through the lesson that the whole world had learned with the fall of French society after the French Revolution, he proves to his readers in "Buonaparte" that the leader's downfall is considered also as the downfall of human society. How, in his attempt to achieve greater power, influence, and wealth all over France and Europe, he had instead received political downfall. This is evidence of how, social progress through material progress instead of social interaction and communion with Nature results to adverse effects such as disunity and disillusionment.