Romanticism refers to a period that had literary, intellectual and artistic movement. The movement originated in Europe in 18th century but it was at its top between 1800 and 1850. It was at its peak during this time because of industrial revolution. The revolution was against political and social norms that enlightenment brought. Romanticism had a reaction that was against scientific rationalization of nature. People expressed their emotions through music, poems and visual arts.
During the age of enlightenment, a group of people believed that reason and science were good and it could improve things for the better. It was during this period of enlightenment that people started to believe that reason could allow people to achieve happiness, knowledge and freedom (Wallace, pg. 32). In Britain writers began to express their ideas through writing of books, newspapers and pamphlets. A good example of a British writer is Mary Wollstonecraft. The lady argued in her writings that women should have equal rights as men. Adam Smith is another British writer. He argued that individuals should have freedom to make their own choices to allow economic growth. Alienation and disillusionment from the society began to build up because the Romanticists felt that the offers from the enlightenment created oppressive, unequal and a conformist society. They believed that science could not understand the personality of human beings and the world.
The British poets like Shakespeare animated their poems as they sought for models of formal perfection. The Shakespearean poets celebrated spontaneity, intuition and instinct. The new Augustus poets thrived on correctness, refinery and uncertainty. People received the works of Shakespeare with appreciation because it stressed a return to life through emotions. It allowed human beings to feel and reason. The period allowed people to rely on instincts, emotions and intuition.
Works Cited
Wallace, Miriam L. Enlightening Romanticism, Romancing the Enlightenment: British Novels from 1750 to 1832. Farmingham, England: Ashgate, 2009. Print.
