ENGLAND IN 1819 By Percy Bysshe Shelley

Shelley’s response to the brutal Peterloo Massacre in August of Background On August 16, 1819m mounted soldiers charged into a crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Field, near Manchester. The people had rallied to demonstrate for reform. Eighty people were injured and at least six killed. The event was given the name as a parody of “Waterloo.” Recall King George II had lost the colonies and was considered insane by many.

An old, mad, blind, despised, and dying king,-- Princes, the dregs of their dull race, who flow Through public scorn, mud from a muddy spring,-- Rulers who neither see, nor feel, nor know, But leech-like to their fainting country cling, Till they drop, blind in blood, without a blow,-- A people starved and stabbed in the untilled field,-- An army which liberticide and prey Makes as a two-edged sword to all who wield,-- Golden and sanguine laws which tempt and slay; Religion Christless, Godless, a book sealed,-- A Senate--Time's worst statute unrepealed,-- Are graves from which a glorious Phantom may Burst to illumine our tempestuous day.

Form - Sonnet  fourteen lines  Iambic pentameters  rhyming scheme (a-b-a-b-a-b, c-d-c-d, c-c-d-d)

The poem passionately attacks England's decadent, oppressive ruling class.  King George III “old, mad, blind, despised, and dying." Royalty creates a dull race, scored by the people ruled  Nobility “Princes” "leech-like“ metaphorically sucking the blood from the people, who are oppressed, hungry, and hopeless, their fields untilled.  Meanwhile, the army is corrupt and dangerous to liberty  Laws are harsh and useless  Religion has lost its morality  Parliament is a relic. In addition  Civil rights of the Catholic minority are non existent "Time's worst statute unrepealed".  Ending Couplet A startling burst of optimism, hope that a "glorious Phantom" may spring forth from this decay and "illumine our tempestuous day."

Connotations Powerful word choice leech-like(trope) liberticide two-edged sword Christless, Godless

Repetition through Restatement gives depth to the exigent (argument). Blindness – opening line “blind” fourth line “Rulers who neither see nor fell nor know” Hatred of the people – opening line “despised” third line “public scorn” Out dated rule – tenth line “Golden and sanguine laws” twelfth line “time’s worst statue”

Ending reversal based on a paradox – unrepealed laws are “graves” which will burst forth a rebirth

Shelley’s premise The more repressive Law and Religion becomes the more likelihood revolution will occur.