In the context preceding the excerpt, we learn that Percy Shelley had an "unsavory reputation" and that Shelley worked to "redeem his public image" (881). While this work is autobiographical, I wondered if she was up to something more with her novel than just biographizing her life. The character of Adrian, who represents Percy, is described as a kind of hero: he picked Clara up from the rising water as she nearly drowned in it, and shortly after Adrian's death, Verney accounts all he had "possessed of this world's goods, of happiness, knowledge, or virtue, [he] owed to [Adrian]" (889). Mary and Percy Shelley were estranged at the point of his death, so was this romanticization of his character a result of her grief? Or was Mary Shelley's characterization of Adrian propagandistic in order to put Percy Shelley in favor to the public eye?
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
The Last Man and Percy Shelley Commentary
On page 884, Shelley references her late husband's sonnet "Translated from the Greek of Moschus." She follows the excerpt with "But my friends declared that such verses were evil augury; so in cheerful mood we left the shallow waters..." (884). I feel that this provides meaning to Percy Shelley's recent death, and perhaps the public's view of his work, which was unsatisfactory at the time. The declarations of the characters serve to deplete meaning from his poetry, and I think this reflects Mary Shelley's grief while writing The Last Man - that all of the romantic idealism of the time died with her husband, and that there was no longer a need to criticize his works, but instead to celebrate it. The novel also possesses an intense theme of hopelessness. As their boat is about to capsize, Verney understands that his "efforts to prepare [his] companions were rendered nearly futile," expressing a powerlessness that both the narrator and Shelley feel in the face of death.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I agree with you that Shelley was saying there was no reason to critique Percy's works after his death. This reminds me of Hemens' interest in fame after death. It seems that Shelley agreed with Hemens interest in fame and also understood how fame changes once someone has died.
ReplyDeleteYou raise many interesting questions. I'm curious to know why the protagonist is male. Shelley portrays most of her grief through Verney, and I suppose I made the assumption he was meant to represent her? I still think he does, but why did choose a man to represent her in an autobiographical piece? Regardless of whether or not it is fictional, it's still interesting. I'm left wondering what Shelley thought of herself, of her grief? This also brings her portrayal of womanhood into question. Most of the women in the story (including nature) are not favored. So, I think you're right. There's something more here than a "fictional autobiography." She's criticizing romanticism, but in what way other than losing her husband (as a "worthy" romantic writer)?
ReplyDeleteThere is some acknowledgement to the link that exists between grief and fame. Grief is described as a fantastic phenomenon that "weaves a web on which to trace the history of its woe from every form and change around." Grief is what connects all living things from a trans-historical perspective.
ReplyDeleteI like your emphasis on the powerlessness that Shelley and Verney both feel, I hadn't considered that much. It is worth noting that this, combined with the other autobiographical notes in the text, show that Shelley relates very much to these characters and their plight. It's like a therapeutic release of the negative emotions, but written in a fictional account to potentially save face, as her and her husband were in the public eye.
ReplyDelete