Response to The Age of Romanticism

The Age of Romanticism introduces, as the title suggests, Romanticism. It describes how the changes that era brought many changes, even to clothing. The tighter more restrictive clothes of the earlier time period were swapped for a more loose and free-flowing style. It is also shown that while it was once believed that there were only about 6 important literary figures from this area, all men, people have realized that there were numerous literary figures, many of whom were women. While there were many female authors during this time, they were not always taken seriously by their male counterparts despite their, now recognized, importance to the era.

A number of these authors, male and female, wrote on political topics such as inequalities of women (Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Women) and social standings (Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice). The ideas of originality and imagination became important during this era. It is ideas such as these that are characterized by the works of Mary Shelley and others like her. In addition, the importance of nature was one of the most popular ideas that came to the forefront during this time.

While I have studied a few of these authors before, after reading The Age of Romanticism I find myself even more interested to see how studying them from the view of Romanticism changes them. Already I have found a greater appreciation for the talents of these women and their determination to write despite an overall lack respect from society at the time. I enjoy these authors and look forward to a more in-depth study of them and Romanticism in general.