How Does Paine Support The French Revolution As A Sublime

Paine and Shelley are two authors who imagines the French Revolution as sublime and demonstrate this sublimity through their works such as ‘Rights of Man’ (1792) and ‘The Mask of Anarchy’ (1819). Both texts display support for the French Revolution and share the same idea; that the revolution was essential for modern societies. This essay will delve into both texts and their meanings, which are related to the French Revolution, and mainly the subsidies of the revolution, not only for French society but society in the Western world as a whole.
In ‘Rights of Man’ Paine takes on Burke’s ‘Burke on the Sublime’, in the first part of his piece, ‘Part First-Being an Answer to Mr. Burke’s Attack on the French Revolution’. With the title ‘Rights of

Producing a sublime picture of the French Revolution, even the sublime ideals of the revolution. Pronouns are being used to evoke a sense of belonging or right, and that is the focus of Paine’s argument in his piece. On page 49, Paine fantasises the storming of the Bastille, “The mind can hardly picture to itself a more tremendous scene…” (Paine 49), and strongly states, “This event was freedom or slavery.” (Paine 52) Both are examples of Paine’s use of imagination and effective language. As John W. Seaman states, “The principle of civilization violated, clearly, is the right of every person to vote, the ultimate foundation of which, is, as we have seen earlier, Paine’s premise of an equal natural right to self-government.” (W. Seaman 126) This sublime imagery of freedom, nature, and the power of the people all contribute to the French Revolution’s sublimity. Mark Jendrysik asserts that “Paine is also utopian because he moves thought beyond the edge of the known world. He presents a vision of a possible future that is within the reach of humanity.” (Jendrysik 140) Paine complies with the ideals of the French Revolution by being a utopian; he does this by opposing

However, Shelley expresses his opinions through a poem. As Paine focused on the triumph over tyranny, Shelley recognises the violent reality of the French Revolution. Like Paine, Shelley is in support of the revolution, but how does the portrayal of a bloody war link to the support for it? The poem itself is not based on the French Revolution but the Peterloo Massacre, where 60,000 people gathered in demand of parliamentary reform. The poem uses sublime imagery, which can be applied to any revolution, particularly with regards to anarchy. In the poem Shelley personifies Shelley writes about the effects of revolution and personifies all and all are painted in the bloodiest light. The violent acts of anarchy are not at all related to the English people in the