Sexuality And Persecution: Writers During The Romantic Era

Kayla Robinson
Professor Angelone
ENGLT 311
5 March 2015
Sexuality and Persecution: Writers during the Romantic Period When first contemplating the word romanticism, it summons up impressions of a vivid, all-encompassing sentimentality, potent eccentricity, even uninhibited melodious expression, and more often than not highlighting love as the utmost of human purposes. In actuality, the Romantic Period was vastly different. During this time period, from 1785 to 1832, acts of social and literary defiance were occurring. Yes, we can admit some of the most profound and canonized authors and works to date came into notice within this time. However, this was still a time of unrest. The French Revolution was well underway with England joining

In the 1800’s, love, matrimony and sexuality were seen as definite and interchangeable affairs. Sexuality was ruthlessly subjugated during this era. Both public discussion of the topic and sexual conduct were suppressed. Sexuality was linked to the view of family, a combination of kinship, matrimony and heritage. There was an extensive cultural unsettlement in regards to the all-encompassing pleasure known as sexual gratification. Women were generally thought to have no interest in physical intimacy as a whole while men were allowed to do as they pleased so long as polite society was unaware. These were topics not spoken of in polite company. Many of the writers of this time whose work included even remotely sexual themes were oftentimes censured as being too vulgar or immoral. Yet the works would still be read in

There is still some debate occurring as to his sexuality. It is said that he fell in love with a man, a love so encompassing that it overshadowed his love for Fanny Browne, the love of his life and next door neighbor. His poetry was represented by sensual images, notable in the odes he wrote which are still among the most popular works in English Literature. It is that previously mentioned sensual imagery that led to negative views of his work. In 1818, Keats’ confidence was destroyed by critics. For his verse in Adonais, Byron ridiculed the young poet stating that he was, “snuffed out by an article” (Greenblatt 1875). His poetry was seen as an” irresistible target” (1875), because of its promotion by a fellow radical writer. In fact, his work did not achieve notoriety until well after his