Closed Reading W8: Percy Bysshe Shelley
" Stanzas Written in Dejection-December 1818, near Naples " In reading and learning about the sequence of personal tragedies surrounding this year I was drawn and felt the author’s disparity in line 20-25. " Alas, I have nor hope nor health/Nor peace within nor calm around” The author insinuates that it’s not only his hope that is failing him but his health. He has no peace. This could be on the account of not only dealing with the grief of losing two of his kids in a custody battle and two to sudden death, but guilt for how he abandoned his ex-wife, which caused her to commit suicide. In addition, there was no calm around him because he was ostracized and isolated for his unconventional beliefs. I’m sure there was much upheaval surrounding the death of his ex-wife. "Nor that content surpassing wealth/the sage in meditation found/and walked with inward glory crowned; nor fame nor power nor love nor leisure” Here we see his dissatisfaction with his life. ...