Romanticism and the Rule of Law: Coleridge, Blake, and the Autonomous Reader

This book explores how British Romanticism responded to the rise of The Rule of Law and the challenges it faced after the French Revolution, focusing on Romantic literary responses and its influence on legal and literary critical reactions to modern crises.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 244 pages
Publication date: 08 August 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

British Romanticism emerged as an artistic response to the profound shift in subjectivity brought about by the rise of The Rule of Law, and it also served as a reaction to the challenges posed against this ideal following the French Revolution. This comprehensive study primarily delves into Romantic literary responses to these historical events, with a significant emphasis on the works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Blake. However, its later stages also examine how Romantic poetry's construction of the autonomous reading subject continues to shape legal and literary critical reactions to two contemporary crises in the rule of law: European Fascism and the ongoing instability of legal interpretive strategies.

The emergence of British Romanticism can be traced back to the transformative impact of the rise of The Rule of Law, which heralded a significant shift in the way individuals perceived themselves and their relationships with the world. This newfound sense of individualism and self-expression found fertile ground in the literary works of the Romantic period, which celebrated the power of the human imagination and the individual's ability to shape their own destiny.

However, the rise of The Rule of Law also brought with it a series of challenges that threatened to undermine the ideal of individualism and self-determination. The French Revolution, in particular, brought about a wave of political and social upheaval that challenged the established order and threatened the values of individual liberty and equality. Romantic writers responded to these challenges by exploring the complexities of human nature, the power of the imagination, and the role of the individual in shaping society.

One of the most notable responses to the challenges posed by the French Revolution was the work of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is a powerful exploration of the consequences of human greed and the destructive power of revenge. The poem tells the story of a sailor who murders an albatross, a bird that had been guiding his ship through treacherous waters. As a result, the sailor is cursed by the spirits of the sea, and his ship is haunted by the ghost of the albatross.

Coleridge's poem explores the themes of guilt, remorse, and the destructive power of human nature. It serves as a warning against the dangers of unchecked ambition and the consequences of acting on impulse rather than reason. The poem also highlights the importance of empathy and compassion, as the sailor's actions ultimately lead to the destruction of his own ship and the death of his fellow sailors.

Another notable response to the challenges posed by the French Revolution was the work of William Blake. Blake's poem "The Tyger" is a powerful exploration of the nature of evil and the destructive power of human desire. The poem presents a fierce tiger who is consumed by its own desires and is unable to find peace or fulfillment. Blake uses vivid imagery and powerful symbolism to convey the sense of chaos and destruction that results from human selfishness and greed.

Blake's poem explores the themes of morality, ethics, and the nature of human nature. It serves as a warning against the dangers of pursuing power and wealth at the expense of others and the consequences of living in a state of constant conflict. The poem also highlights the importance of empathy and compassion, as the tiger's inability to find peace ultimately leads to its own destruction.

In addition to their literary responses to the challenges posed by the French Revolution, Romantic writers also played a significant role in shaping legal and literary critical reactions to two contemporary crises in the rule of law: European Fascism and the ongoing instability of legal interpretive strategies.

European Fascism emerged as a response to the economic and social uphe
disparities that were prevalent in Europe following the Great Depression and the Second World War. It was characterized by a strong emphasis on nationalism, authoritarianism, and militarism and sought to restore order and stability to a society war-torn Europe. Romantic writers responded to European Fascism by exploring the complexities of human nature, the power of the imagination, and the role of the individual in shaping society.

One of the most notable responses to European Fascism was the work of George Orwell. Orwell's novel "1984" is a powerful exploration of the nature of totalitarianism and the dangers of unchecked power. The novel presents a society in which the government has complete control over every aspect of individual life, from speech to thought to behavior. The novel serves as a warning against the dangers of authoritarianism and the consequences of living in a state of constant surveillance and control.

Orwell's novel explores the themes of freedom, individuality, and the nature of human nature. It serves as a warning against the dangers of pursuing power and wealth at the expense of others and the consequences of living in a state of constant conflict. The novel also highlights the importance of empathy and compassion, as the characters' struggle to maintain their own sense of identity and autonomy ultimately leads to their own destruction.

Another notable response to European Fascism was the work of Hannah Arendt. Arendt's essay "The Origins of Totalitarianism" is a powerful exploration of the nature of totalitarianism and the dangers of unchecked power. The essay presents a society in which the government has complete control over every aspect of individual life, from speech to thought to behavior. The essay serves as a warning against the dangers of authoritarianism and the consequences of living in a state of constant surveillance and control.

Arendt's essay explores the themes of freedom, individuality, and the nature of human nature. It serves as a warning against the dangers of pursuing power and wealth at the expense of others and the consequences of living in a state of constant conflict. The essay also highlights the importance of empathy and compassion, as the characters' struggle to maintain their own sense of identity and autonomy ultimately leads to their own destruction.

In conclusion, British Romanticism emerged as an artistic response to the profound shift in subjectivity brought about by the rise of The Rule of Law and it also served as a reaction to the challenges posed against this ideal following the French Revolution. This comprehensive study primarily delves into Romantic literary responses to these historical events, with a significant emphasis on the works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Blake. However, its later stages also examine how Romantic poetry's construction of the autonomous reading subject continues to shape legal and literary critical reactions to two contemporary crises in the rule of law: European Fascism and the ongoing instability of legal interpretive strategies.

Romanticism emerged as an artistic response to the profound shift in subjectivity brought about by the rise of The Rule of Law, and it also served as a reaction to the challenges posed against this ideal following the French Revolution. This comprehensive study primarily delves into Romantic literary responses to these historical events, with a significant emphasis on the works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Blake. However, its later stages also examine how Romantic poetry's construction of the autonomous reading subject continues to shape legal and literary critical reactions to two contemporary crises in the rule of law: European Fascism and the ongoing instability of legal interpretive strategies.

The emergence of British Romanticism can be traced back to the transformative impact of the rise of The Rule of Law, which heralded a significant shift in the way
in the way individuals perceived themselves and their relationships with the world. This newfound sense of individualism and self-expression found fertile ground in the literary works of the Romantic period, which celebrated the power of the human imagination and the individual's ability to shape their own destiny.

However, the rise of The Rule of Law also brought with it a series of challenges that threatened to undermine the ideal of individualism and self-determination. The French Revolution, in particular, brought about a wave of political and social upheaval that challenged the established order and threatened the values of individual liberty and equality. Romantic writers responded to these challenges by exploring the complexities of human nature, the power of the imagination, and the role of the individual in shaping society.

One of the most notable responses to the challenges posed by the French Revolution was the work of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is a powerful exploration of the consequences of human greed. The poem tells the story of a sailor who murders an albatross, a bird that had been guiding the ship through treacherous waters. As a result, the sailor is cursed by the spirits. The poem tells the story of a sailor who murders an albatross, a bird that had been guiding his ship through treacherous waters. As a result, the sailor is cursed by the spirits of the sea, and his ship is haunted by the ghost of the albatross.

Coleridge's poem explores the themes of guilt, remorse, and the destructive power of human nature. It serves as a warning against the dangers of unchecked ambition and the consequences of acting on impulse rather than reason. The poem also highlights the importance of empathy and compassion, as the sailor's actions ultimately lead to the destruction of his own ship and the death of his fellow sailors.

Another notable response to the challenges posed by the French Revolution was the work of William Blake. Blake's poem "The Tyger" is a powerful exploration of the nature of evil and the destructive power of human desire. The poem presents a fierce tiger who is consumed by its own desires and is unable to find peace or fulfillment. Blake uses vivid imagery and powerful symbolism to convey the sense of chaos and destruction that results from human selfishness and greed.

Blake's poem explores the themes of morality, ethics, and the nature of human nature. It serves as a warning against the dangers of pursuing power and wealth at the expense of others and the consequences of living in a state of constant conflict. The poem also highlights the importance of empathy and compassion, as the tiger's inability to find peace ultimately leads to its own destruction.

In addition to their literary responses to the challenges posed by the French Revolution, Romantic writers also played a significant role in shaping legal and literary critical reactions to two contemporary crises in the rule of law: European Fascism and the ongoing instability of legal interpretive strategies.

European Fascism emerged as a response to the economic and social disparities that were prevalent in Europe after the Great Depression and the Second World War. It was characterized by a strong emphasis on nationalism, authoritarianism, and militarism and sought to restore order and stability to a war-torn Europe. Romantic writers responded to European Fascism by exploring the complexities of human nature, the power of the imagination, and the role of the individual in shaping society.

One of the most notable responses to European Fascism was the work of George Orwell. Orwell's novel "1984" is a powerful exploration of the nature of totalitarianism and the dangers of unchecked power. The novel presents a society in which the government has complete control over every aspect of individual life, from speech to thought to behavior. The novel serves as a warning against the dangers of authoritarianism and the consequences of living in a state of constant surveillance and control.

Orwell's novel explores the themes of freedom, individuality, and the nature of human nature. It serves as a warning against the dangers of pursuing power and wealth at the expense of others and the consequences of living in a state of constant conflict. The novel also highlights the importance of empathy and compassion, as the characters' struggle to maintain their own sense of identity and autonomy ultimately leads to their own destruction.

Another notable response to European Fascism was the work of Hannah Arendt. Arendt's essay "The Origins of Totalitarianism" is a powerful exploration of the nature of totalitarianism and the dangers of unchecked power. The essay presents a society in which the government has complete control over every aspect of individual life, from speech to thought to behavior. The essay serves as a warning against the dangers of authoritarianism and the consequences of living in a state of constant surveillance and control.

Arendt's essay explores the themes of freedom, individuality, and the nature of human nature. It serves as a warning against the dangers of pursuing power and wealth at the expense of others and the consequences of living in a state of constant conflict. The essay also highlights the importance of empathy and compassion, as the characters' struggle to maintain their own sense of identity and autonomy ultimately leads to their own destruction.

In conclusion, British Romanticism emerged as an artistic response to the profound shift in subjectivity brought about by the rise of The Rule of Law and it also served as a reaction to the challenges posed against this ideal following the French Revolution. This comprehensive study primarily delves into Romantic literary responses to these historical events, with a significant emphasis on the works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Blake. However, its later stages also examine how Romantic poetry's construction of the autonomous reading subject continues to shape legal and literary critical reactions to two contemporary crises in the rule of law: European Fascism and the ongoing instability of legal interpretive strategies.

Weight: 339g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030748807
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021