Romanticism as a Large Network of the 20th Century - Essay Example

The movement arose gradually, had many phases, and was partly a reaction to the industrial revolution. Some scholars argue that it was a revolt against the aristocratic political and social norms of the enlightenment age and a form of reaction against nature’s scientific rationalization.

Several European societal aspects transformed the romantic era in different ways. For instance, in romantics “nature” meant many things. It was perceived as a source of image and subject, as healing power, and as an artificial form of civilization (Geoffrey, 2004). Romanticism gave a lot of emphasis on an accurate description of natural phenomena and capturing “sensuous nuance” which was a true representation of the romantic landscape. Other aspects of European society that transformed the romantic era included symbolism and myth.

Symbols borrowed from the European society in romanticism were viewed as human artistic correlatives of emblematic language in nature (Hye-Kyung, 2005). They were given a lot of value and attention since they could suggest many things simultaneously. One can say that the myths were partly used because of the desire to communicate “inexpressible” by use of the readily available language resources. During this period, people’s love for nature and imagination had prospered, flourished, and skyrocketed.

The main tenets of romanticism included individualism, emotionalism, and nature. These three main qualities are visible repeatedly in several very important and lasting artists, authors, musicians, and so forth. In romantic art and literature, nature was portrayed romantically. For instance, in artistic paintings such as the kindred spirits done by Asher Durand nature is portrayed alongside friendship between two men (Irving, 2004). In the painting, the two men stand on top of a cliff surrounded by very beautiful scenery.

The use of light in the painting makes it appear somehow hazy but well-illuminated. The use of lush and green trees in a mountainous background creates an emphasis on the simple, pure beauty of nature. Emotionalism is another tenet deeply shown in romantic literature. The romantics had a common belief that opening oneself or “using our guts” were the only ways to seek the truth. In many instances, this occurred in nature, for instance, in Edgar Allan Poe’s poem titled “Annabel lee”. The poet mourns his beloved wife’s death and vividly explains how he loved her.

In one of the lines, he states “but we loved with a love that was more than love/I and my Annabel lee”. In the poem, he promises to love her forever, which is an example of romanticism in poetry. Romanticism employed individualism as one of its tenets. It based its argument on the belief that “finding oneself” should be shown repeatedly in a piece of art. For instance, in literary pieces like Herman Melville’s Moby dick, Ishmael is revealed as depressed, by the city life in Manhattan.

The romantics were greatly concerned with the heart’s importance as opposed to the head and creative things. Imagination was equally important just like emotions, nature, and individualism.