Week 8 Analysis, a Literary Analysis of Shelley

Percy Bysshe Shelley, “Stanzas Written in Dejection-December 1818, near Naples” (395-401)

            In the poem “Stanzas Written in Dejection”, the readers feel the tone of the poem as depressing, sad and dejected. This poem seems to be a reference to the feelings of the author at the time, as can be seen through the first person narrative.  The tones can be found through the mood of desperation and failure in his words: “I could lie down like a tired child and weep away the life of care which I have borne and yet must bear till Death like sleep might steal upon me” (398). What I get from this sentence, is that he is desperate to get away from the pains of suffering to the point he hopes for death and is starting to feel numb possibly. Therefore, one could say that the tone of this poem is desperation and failure, along with dejection. To continue on, the theme of this poem seems to be that of despair in a hidden manner, like growing cold to pain. For example, “Some might lament that I were cold, as I, when the sweet day is gone, which my lost heart, too soon grown old, insults with this untimely moan” (398). As can be seen in this part of the poem, his heart has grown to be cold due to an incident. That is where the inspiration of the poem comes in, which in this case is the heartbreak of the poet over the many tough times that he had to go through at this time. In this case, it has to do with the loss of his two children he had with Mary Shelley. For example, “but their two living children died within nine months of each other in 1818 and 1819” (396). This poem was basically a way for Percy to vent his anguish and despair over the losses and the affect it had on him and his family, as can be seen by the use of words and imagery in the poem. So as can one can see, Percy’s very life at the time was what made this poem come to be in existence.