Introduction
The significant impact of the Industrial Revolution, which lasted from the second half of the 18th century to the middle of the 19th century, can be seen in almost all spheres of life. Noticeably, the period of industrialization coincides with the years in which writers and poets attributed to the movement of romanticism created their literary works. The Industrial Revolution shifted societies’ focus from agriculture to manufacturing and mechanization and established the priority of logic and reason over feelings and imagination. Therefore, one may ask the following question: How can the knowledge about industrialization help understand the key topics and motives in the Romanic Period literature?
Emotions and Imagination over Rationalism and Reason
To begin with, one should pay attention to the power of feelings and imagination in romanticist literature. For the Industrial Revolution to be effective and have its key objectives achieved, an emphasis was placed on logic and reason (Rathod 4). People tried to rationalize their new order of things and systematize their daily experiences because this suited urban life best. However, romanticist authors did not support such avoidance of emotions as they believed that precisely the free expression of feelings and the use of imagination could make communities prosper (Rathod 32). Therefore, in their novels and poems, writers of that period allowed their characters and lyric heroes to be emotional and reflect on their feelings.
Additionally, the Industrial Revolution made many people experience negative feelings: they were tired, bewildered, lost, confused, and anxious; no other feelings could have been caused by machinery labor. However, the changed pace of life did not allow them to express these emotions (Rathod 32). Therefore, writers strived to show that all feelings mattered and could not be kept unexpressed. Finally, the industrialization that tried to apply scientific and logical approaches to nature also explains why romanticists insisted on the celebration of imagination: only the latter could be used to understand environmental forces.
Individualism and the Factory System
Further, what helps readers understand romanticist literature is the fact that industrialization made some people lose their individualism. This cause explains why most authors of that period emphasized the uniqueness of people’s characteristics and emotions (Ketabgian). Instead of following common trends, romanticists insisted that individuals needed to focus on their personal relationships with nature, creativity, and artistry. Consequently, precisely the trend of working in factories and becoming a part of a single mechanism with standardized duties and no opportunity to express oneself justifies the literature’s focus on individualism.
Glorification of Nature
Reverence for nature is one of the key themes that run through almost all literary works of the Romantic era. Answering the question of why nature was so important for writers and poets of that period, one should remember that the Industrial Revolution led to a massive rejection of rural life (Rathod 69). Many people abruptly moved to the cities and abandoned agriculture, turning to manufacturing and mechanical labor. The connection with nature was weakened or ruined, and for romanticist writers, this was not right (Rathod 41). As a result, through their literary works, they tried to remind humans of the importance of unity with nature.
What is more, their purpose was to demonstrate that healthy and positive feelings, such as inspiration, love, empathy, and kindness, could only be received through this connection. Romanticists believed that mechanical labor opposed nature, and the celebration of the former adversely affected the latter, ruining people’s unity with the environment even more (Rathod 69). Noticeably, Wordsworth explores the topic of a lost connection with nature in one of his odes, saying that children perceive the world around them as living organisms. However, this connection is getting weaker every year, and for many adults, it completely disappears as they become careless about the animal and plant world. Therefore, the important role of nature in the literature of that period was justified by its decreased significance in real life.
The Use of Sensory Literary Devices
As indicated earlier in the paper, logical and machinery attitudes promoted by the Industrial Revolution explain why romanticists, when opposing these views, celebrated imagination, emotions, and nature. To better achieve this celebration and evoke feelings and senses in readers, this movement’s authors used numerous sensory metaphors, alliterations, and other devices (Fraser; Ibañez 3). An exploration of the poems of John Clare and Charlotte Smith can provide some insights. Thus, “rather than appropriating bird sounds, these poets provide a voice to the voiceless, channeling birdsong directly into their poetry through formal manipulation, figurative language, and auditory imagery” (Fraser). As a result, industrialization explains this need to use sensory literary devices.
Conclusion
To draw a conclusion, the information about the key traits and effects of the Industrial Revolution allows for a deeper understanding of the motives of the Romantic period authors. Industrialization brought a severe shift from nature, the free expression of emotions, and the use of imagination. Many people became a part of larger mechanisms, losing their individuality. These facts explain why romanticists celebrated feelings and creativity, unity with nature, and individualism, as well as used sensory literary devices to evoke emotions in readers.
Works Cited
Fraser, Beth. “Poesy Breathes in All: Ecocritical Explorations of Omnipoetic Birdsong in Romantic Poetry.” Furman Engaged, vol. 406, 2019.
Ibañez, Diego Orihuela. “Romanticism and Landscape: An Eco-Critical Approach to the Natural Image.” Romanticism, vol. 2, no. 2, 2019, pp. 1-9.
Ketabgian, Tamara. “Industrialism and Literature.” The Encyclopedia of Victorian Literature, edited by D.F. Felluga, Wiley Online Library, 2015. Web.
Rathod, Rakesh. Romantic Movement: A Journey to Nature, Beauty and Imagination, Idealization of Women and Rejection of Industrialization. Nitya Publications, 2019.
Wordsworth, William. “Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood.” Poetry Foundation, 2019, Web.