Born 4 Aug 1792, Sussex - Died 8 July 1822, Italy
Percy Shelley will always be remembered as one of the finest English Romantic poets, and one of the most influential in ideas of nonviolence, idealism and vegetarianism.
His contribution to Mary’s Frankenstein must also be remembered, as well as the poet not conforming to traditional ideals, but instead challenging them, influencing future progressives such as Gandhi and Leo Tolstoy.
Percy Bysshe
Shelley
Image 1 - Percy's mother, Elizabeth Pilford Shelley
Image 2 - Percy's father, Sir Timothy Shelley
Image 3 - A day in the school yard, Eton College in the 1800s
Childhood
Percy Bysshe Shelley was born on 4 August 1792 near Horsham in Sussex. He is the first of seven children of the Whig Parliamentarian Sir Timothy Shelley and his wife Elizabeth Pilfold Shelley.
Education
In 1804, Percy begins his studies at Eton College, the boys' boarding school. Six years later, Percy enrolls at University College, Oxford. During his spell, Percy was rather un-interested in his studies, and rarely attended class, with rumours that he only attended one single lecture. While there, Percy begins his first novel, titled Zastrozzi, and variety of short poems. Zastrozzi was a gothic novel, which represented some of his atheistic views through the antagonist, Zastrozzi. The villain Zastrozzi was an extremely violent character, with a goal of revenge and implementing fear into others.
Radicalisation
From 1811, Percy’s ideas started to become much more radical, where he read work from writers such as Tom Paine and William Godwin, both of whom were known for their radical views. His radical publication “The Necessity of Atheism”, lead to Percy being expelled from the University, as he was found distributing the essay to fellow students. Another essay in the same year, titled the “Existing State of Things”, an anti-monarchical and anti-war poem. Both texts reinforce young Percy’s controversial views, and highlights the type of texts that would arise later on in his career.
Harriet Westbrook
After being expelled from Oxford, in 1811, Percy ran away to Scotland with 16-year-old Harriet Westbrook, himself 19. The couple married 2 weeks following Harriet's 16th birthday, they had two children together, however soon separated with Percy admitting he was never in love with Miss Westbrook, he was seeking a more intellectually stimulating woman.
Because of the mistreatment and missery that Percy had caused his young wife, she ended up taking her own life at aged just 21 years old.
Harriet Westbrook
Mary Godwin
A year later, was when Percy fell in love with Mary Godwin, the daughter of famous writer William Godwin. Both Percy and William, were already friends, and whom shared controversial political ideas. The couples relationship was during Percy and Harriet’s birth of their second child, which caused a swarm of negativity between both Percy and Harriet, and future difficulties of Percy seeing his two children. Between 1815-16, the couple (Percy and Mary) celebrated the birth of their two children, the eldest was their daughter Clara, and their youngest was named William. Clara however, was two months premature, and passed away a few weeks later.
Lake Geneva 1816
1816 was an especially important year, where the couple spent the summer at Lake Geneva, Shelley wrote his most famous poems, and Mary began planning her most successful novel, Frankenstein.
In addition to the tragedy of losing their first child, Percy’s wife Harriet, committed suicide by drowning herself. Harriet was carrying hers and Percy’s third child at the time, and Percy was refused custody of their child, due to his ‘unorthodox’ views.
Only two weeks after Harriets death Percy and Mary marry at St. Mildred’s Church in London.
Their time in Italy
Percy and Mary lived in Italy for several years, however Mary suffered a nervous breakdown over the loss of her, now, three children. In the midst of herb suffering, Percy’s time in Italy was his most productive, with poems such as Prometheus Unbound, The Revolt of Islam, Ozymandias and Adonais, being published.
Also important to note is that Mary’s ‘Frankenstein’ was also published during the author’s time in Italy.
The house on Lake Geneva that Frankenstein was born, and where Percy wrote his, arguably, best work.
In John Lauritsen’s ‘The Man Who Wrote Frankenstein’ (2007), it was argued that Percy’s contribution to the novel was extensive, where he contributed at least 4,000 - 5,000 words to Mary’s ‘Frankenstein’, equating to about 6% of the novel. In addition, Charles E. Robinson in 2008, credited Percy as co-author of the novel, stating “he made very significant changes in words, themes and style. The book should now be credited as 'by Mary Shelley with Percy Shelley'." At the Mary Shelley Festival in St. Peter’s Church there will be examples of notes and changes to the novel, by Percy, such as spelling corrections and structural changes.
The Death of Percy Shelley
By 1819, the couple had lost all three of their children, but now their fourth was on its way. However, further tragedy ensued, in 1822 Percy was returning from a visit with Lord Byron and James Hunt, in which he set up The Liberal, when his boat overturned in the Gulf of Spezia and he and his crew all drowned, Shelley's body later washed up onto the beach where he would be cremated. Mary Shelley declared in her Note on Poems of 1822 that the design of the boat had a defect and that it was never seaworthy.
Historians, note that the boat was in fact seaworthy, where the sinking was due the storm and poor seamanship, while others suggest the possibility of pirates mistaking the boat for Byron's. Such theories that Shelley may have been murdered for political reasons, where he had allegedly before had been attacked during the night by a man who aimed to assassinate Percy. It was suggested that one side of the boat had been rammed, however the liferaft was unused and still attached to the boat. The bodies were found completely clothed, including boots.
Atheism
"Atheism leaves to man reason - but superstition destroys all these, and erects itself into a tyranny over the understandings of men: hence atheism never disturbs the government, but renders man more clear- sighted, since he sees nothing beyond the boundaries of the present life"
"Our knowledge of the existence, of a Deity is a subject of such importance that it cannot be too minutely investigated"
The Necessity of Atheism - 1811
The second essay Percy published was titled The Necessity of Atheism. Historian Glenn Everett notes that the title “The Necessity of Atheism” is much 'tamer' than it suggests. The “necessity” that Percy states, is that one must at least able to argue/ discuss God and religion. Talking of no God went against the grain of society in the 1800s. In addition to his own views in the essay, Percy quotes Lord Bacon, on how atheism leaves a man sane, a soul who can analyse every possibility.
The Revolt of Islam - 1818
"I have attempted in the progress of my work to speak to the common elementary emotions of the human heart, so that, though it is the story of violence and revolution, it is relieved by milder pictures of friendship and love and natural affections."
Following the aftermath of the French Revolution Percy used the poems of this book to symbolism the liberation and revolutionary ideals.
It did not draw much inspiration from Islam but the use of oriental themes were used throughout and there was certainly a focus on religion.
Arguably his first major poem, this poem most represents Percy’s visionary views, an allegory of his political ideas of revolution.
The main theme was non-violence in revolution, and that only a better society could be established through people becoming more virtuous and imagining a better society.
He believed that animals should be treated with love and compassion, like humans, and the act of killing animals for food was barbaric - hence him practising vegetarianism
Queen Mab - 1813
"His sympathy was excited by the misery with which the world is bursting. He witnessed the sufferings of the poor, and was aware of the evils of ignorance."
The Masque of Anarchy - 1819
"I met Murder on the way; Very smooth he looked, yet grim; Seven blood-hounds followed him."
Painted picture of the Peterloo Massacar by Richard Carlile, 1819
Percy's theories on non-violent revolutions and the genesis of British Radicalism, in this poem, inspired writer Leo Tolstoy, and Mahatma Gandhi's passive resistance. Percy explored the idea of nonviolent resistance, in protest and political action.
Gandhi would often quote Percy’s “The Masque of Anarchy”, outlining his modern thinking and humanitarianism ideas.
The manuscript was influenced by the horrific Peterloo Massacre, where 50,000 peaceful protesters were attacked, leaving at least 15 dead. In the poem the politicians are represented as evil and unjust, a powerful reminder of the toxic undercurrent in the political system:
"The Poem was produced by a series of thoughts which filled my mind with unbounded and sustained enthusiasm - I felt that it was in many respects a genuine picture of my own mind"
- Prometheus Unbound , 1820
Hymn to Intellectual Beauty - 1816
"Love, Hope, and Self-esteem, like clouds depart - This dim vast vale of tears, vacant and desolate? Ask why sunlight not forever"
Written during the summer when himself and Mary's stay with Lord Byron and Claire Claremont in Switzerland, which was their first trip away together.
The three major themes refer to his present relationship with Mary, who were both madly in love. Such themes in the poem are carried by a mysterious shadow, which floats throughout the world and enters every living man, like the feeling of loving someone.
"He chose for his hero a youth nourished in dreams of liberty, some of whose actions are in direct opposition to the opinions of the world, but who is animated throughout by an ardent love of virtue"
- Mary Shelley, in The Complete Works of P.B Shelley, 1914
