The Life of Percy Bysshe Shelley
Near Horsham, Sussex, England, Percy Bysshe Shelley was born on August 4th, 1792, to Timothy and Elizabeth Shelley. Being the first born of 7 children, two of which passed away at birth, Shelly was to inherit his grandfather’s estate and a seat in Parliament. Through his semi-abnormal childhood and education, Romantic beliefs, and works of literature, Percy Bysshe Shelley has become a well known Romantic Poet.
In the meadows surrounding his home, Shelley grew up learning to fish and hunt, but at the age of ten, in 1802, he left home to study at Syon House Academy. Two years later, in 1804, he attended Eton College, a boy’s boarding school. However, during his education, he was physically and mentally bullied causing him to live more in his imagination than in reality, as an introvert. During his time at Eton,
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Beginning with his first publications, Shelley was looked down upon due to his shared beliefs on religion. For example, claiming god’s existence was unproven and there was no physical proof or reason. Against religion, as well, he questioned marriage and its purpose believing it was unnecessary if two were actually in love. This thought also supports the Romantic belief of individualism. Shelley believed the world could not be seem in completeness therefore requiring imagination. Romantics believed the power of the mind is a creative force, the mind is god-like, and each person has the power of imagination. In his poetry, Shelley used descriptive words representing how people think of things in many different ways using our imagination, not just thinking one way. The Romantics believed poetry should be about feelings and emotion not rigid and artificial thoughts. Shelley supported this belief, for example, by writing about love and the women in his life. The use of these beliefs in his literature allowed Shelley to create many famous