New Voices - 2012

industrialized society (ll. 1-2). He is sorrowful that ―for this, for everything, we are out of tune,‖ (l. 8). Wordsworth then offers the solution of recognizing the power of Nature, and even goes so far as suggesting (as a shock to readers) that he would ―rather be a Pagan suckled in a creed outworn,‖ just so he could be closer to nature (ll. 9-10). Though a milder Romantic poet as compared to Blake and Shelley, Wordsworth shows his irritation with consumerist society to a high degree, which would indeed be quite shocking to readers during the Romantic period.

However, the ―creed outworn‖ is not the focus of the poem; rather, the sublime qualities of Nature that ―would make [him] less forlorn‖ are the major points Wordsworth is trying to get across (l. 10, l. 12). The religious statement is merely used to reinforce the point that we should all return to admiring the nature that can easily destroy us, not to convince the world to convert to Pagan belief systems; Wordsworth describes such beliefs as ―outworn‖ and simply wants that connection with nature again (l. 10).

Throughout these three works, there is one constant message. Wordsworth claims that ―we have given our hearts away‖ (l. 4). This relates to the lack of a torso, and consequent lack of a heart, in ―Ozymandias,‖ as well as the ―plagues‖ caused by the ―youthful Harlot‖ in Blake's ―London‖ (ll. 14-16). Thus, all three comment on the lack of heart in society–―heart‖ representing emotion, love, and faith, rebuking such failings as the blasphemy of being human.

This feeling of immense sorrow at the falling out-of-awe with Nature in society is a common sentiment in the Romantic Movement, nature not being restricted to physical surroundings alone.

The ―inner other‖ of human nature that goes against ―enlightened‖ society is just as prevalent a concept in Romantic works as the sublime physicality of Nature, as shown through each of these works. Thus, each of the poems communicates a strong contempt of the products of the Age of Reason, which are truly detrimental to human characteristics, as well as urge society to see these downfalls becoming embedded in everyday life for us all. In doing so, the poets hoped to create a change in society towards appreciating nature—not simply the physical nature surrounding us all, but the human nature within each of us as well.