Comparing Individuality and Transcendence in Wordsworth, Tennyson, and Joyce

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Individuality and Transcendence in Wordsworth, Tennyson, and Joyce

The development of the scientific method started a revolution in thought

that changed how people viewed the world. Scientists tested theories by

creating experiments and carefully observing the results. The importance

of scientific discoveries raised questions about the role of the observer.

According to Ralph Koster, the importance of observation in science led to

the rise of the individual and an awareness of subjectivity. Society

realized that the individual could determine the outcome of an experiment

and that people could interpret events differently depending on prior

experience.

In addition to changing the role of the individual, science also changed

people's views on religion. By contemplating experimental results,

scientists created rules for how the universe operated. Nature became a

knowable force that scientists described in a logical collection of laws.

Thus, science took away much of the world's mystery and changed how people

viewed God. If the universe operated by rules, it wasn't necessary for God

to be involved every moment. God became a clockmaker who started the

universe and sat back to let it run.

The rise of individuality and changing views on religion resulted in

insecurity and isolation. Before the Romantic era, achieving oneness was

often thought of as an act of grace given in mysterious moments. God was

ineffable, but just. Because science encouraged the clockmaker view of ...

... middle of paper ...

...nity. He embraces it all in a unique

vision. Amazingly, in this total embrace, he recovers mystery lost in

modern civilization.

Works Cited

Joyce, James. "The Dead." The Norton Anthology English Literature. Ed.

M.H. Abrams. New York: WW Norton, 2000. 2240-68.

Koster, Ralph. "Seeking the Beyond" 29 March 3003.

http://www.legendmud.org/Ralph/papers/transcendence.html

Wordsworth, William. "Preface to Lyrical Ballads." The Norton Anthology

English Literature. Ed. M.H. Abrams. New York: WW Norton, 2000. 238-50

Wordsworth, William. "Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey." The

Norton Anthology English Literature. Ed. M.H. Abrams. New York: WW Norton,

2000. 235-237.

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