The Perspective in Human Affairs Provided by the Focus on Ruins in the Period of Romantic Writings - Essay Example

? The Perspective in Human Affairs in Romantic Writings It is a fundamental fact that human affairs are at the core of the society. The supremacy of man as the driving force of the developments in the universe cannot be overstated. Since ancient times, humans have played a critical role in redefining life in the universe. Various developments in the society have been made in order to make life better and more rewarding. The cream of the society including kings and the elites has consistently devised means to ensure that their lives are comfortable and fulfilling. Yet in the long-run, the tragedy of life is that mortality is inevitable. Suffice to say, all beings are mortal. Imperatively, even the people who have risen to the epitomes of power eventually have to face death and destruction. In this sense, it beats all logic in understanding why things that have been built with so much effort have to eventually fall. The inevitability of doom is part and parcel of the life all mortals. Incidentally, history is full of examples of great empires painfully built over long periods which finally collapsed. For instance, the Roman Empire was vast and powerful during its peak years. It would have been safe to imagine that it could last forever and dominate the world. However, the present reality is that the Roman Empire is basically history. Several literally works during the Romantic Period attempted to depict the vanity of human affairs and the mortal nature of all life. the Romantic works were basically a revolt against the social and political norms of the day in an attempt to enlighten the society on the vanity of life. In most Romantic writings, the authors critically reflected on the inevitable fate of all human beings to perish. In essence, the ruins of various societies offered examples of how great empires had collapsed. For instance, Volney in his work The Ruins indicates that all human affairs are bound to perish at a certain point in time. The hopeless situation of all human endeavors is highlighted by Volney in the statement that: I saw daily on my road fields abandoned, villages deserted, and cities in ruin. Often I met with ancient monuments, wrecks of temples, palaces and fortresses, columns, aqueducts and tombs. This spectacle led me to meditate on times past, and filled my mind with contemplations the most serious and profound. (Ch. 1). This is in reference to the collapsed the Turkish Empire. Volney notes that the Empire once flourished as the epitome of power and people lived in opulence. Yet, the palaces and the monuments of the city became desolate after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. The once busy streets that were crowded by happy people now lay in utter solitary. Volney indicates that the walls of the empire were once home to great arts and festivities that celebrated the joys of human affairs (Ch. 2). Yet, the silence of death now reigned in the ruins of the walls of the empire and they stood in stark contrast of their glorious past. Volney points out that ruins of the empires remained as skeletons of the powerful cities. The uncertainty of life is one of the realities that all mortals have to live with. In the ancient times, the natives of the powerful empires lived happily oblivious of the fact that their cities would eventually perish. The desolate lands that remained after the collapse of empires indicate that all human affairs are in vain. Volney points out that he sought the works of the ancient inhabitants of the land and he found none. In retrospect, he wonders “Where those husbandmen, harvests, flocks, and all the creation of living beings in which the face of the earth rejoiced?” (Ch. 2). All the labors and efforts of the ancient inhabitants could not be found in the ruins that Volney visited. All the fleets that the adorned the ports, the great temples that people worshipped in, the flocks and harvest that were not there anymore. It therefore implies that the fortunes of countries changed in such a momentous way that the previous riches and possessions just vanished into thin air. The destiny of man is sealed by fate. No matter what men aspire to do or attain, it is their natural fate to vanish and leave the earth desolate as they found it. Volney points out that this truth is ignored by most mortals. However much humans are aware of the fate that awaits them, they have chosen to ignore the truth. Volney poses the question “will he forever shut his eyes to the light, and his heart to the admonitions of truth and reason?” (Ch. 3). Men are aware that they will eventually perish but they ignore this truth. The blind fatality is more or less self-inflicted by men who are driven by raw ambition. The people of the universe often get carried by the simple pleasures and joys of life that come their way. In these joys, humans forget the basic realities of life and assume that the good times will last forever. So, they use their inherent greedy nature to amass more worldly possessions to guarantee better life. However, history clearly indicates that life is not eternal (Vlney, Ch. 2). The delusion of mere mortals is that they deserved to be rewarded by the universe for their efforts. Volney points out that the balance of rewards and punishments is not something that is within the control of human beings (Ch. 2). The issue of divinity further complicates the matrix of human affairs. The religious folks often ponder on the pertinent question of whether God is the author of the miseries that befalls all mankind. It is quite difficult to fathom the realities of life from the perspective of religious beliefs. If God gives human beings all the good things, is he still the one who authors the calamities that befalls mankind (Volney, Ch 2)? In this sense, it is difficult to fathom how a person who bestows good tidings on mankind can on the other hand craft disastrous calamities on the same men. The God who gives all life air and other essential supplies, is He the same God who delivers catastrophes? The irony in this issue is that no one can understand the duality of God or whatever Supreme being that dictates the fate of mankind. However, in spite of this reality, human affairs have been always conducted in a manner that completely ignores these basic tenets of life. The reality of life is that all mortals eventually have to die. The graves and tombs are the final resting points of all human beings and it is not a matter of debate. Volney postulates that people choose to ignore the reality that they will eventually die. Human affairs are often conducted in denial of the fact that death is inevitable (Ch 4). This is more pronounces among men of elevated positions in the society. For instance, the Kings and the Elites of the ancient societies lived as is they were unlike the ordinary men in the society. They conducted their lives in a manner that indicated they foresaw eternal life. The absurd belief of eternal life is a fallacy that has lived on since ancient times. In essence, the reality of life is ignored by the very people who are expected to be the most enlightened in the society. It is very unfortunate that the nobles of the society lived in total disregard of plain truths (Volney Ch. 5). It is important to note that man is the sole architect of his or her own destiny. In as much as there are other issues which are beyond the control of humans, the quality of life that a person lives majorly depend on the individual choices that they make. According to Volney: "Feeble work of my hands, I owe thee nothing, and I give thee life; the world wherein I placed thee was not made for thee, yet I give thee the use of it; thou wilt find in it a mixture of good and evil; it is for thee to distinguish them; for thee to guide thy footsteps in a path containing thorns as well as roses. Be the arbiter of thine own fate; I put thy destiny into thine own hands!" (Ch 5) This implies that it is futile to lay blame of one’s a fate on the issues of life that are not beyond control. It is also within the understanding of mortals that life is not eternal and each day should be lived in a manner that is consistent with one’s desires. It should also be plain to all persons that nothing they do can help to lengthen their lives. Notably, people should live each day at a time. The immutable laws of nature play an important role in ensuring that there is a constant and regular order of events in the universe. Volney indicates that the society inexplicably attempts to redefine itself in a manner that is favorable to self (177). However, the law of nature is applicable to the entire universe without favor or regard to any country, race or religion. In essence, the law of nature allows for equity and fairness among all mortals in the society. One of the justifications of this law of nature is that all mortals must perish eventually. It is inconsequential whether one agrees with the law of nature or since it will still hold anyway. However unpalatable, the laws of nature are vital in ensuring the society is ordered and runs in a smooth way. In retrospect, the principle of self preservation is at the core of the survival of the natural environment. Volney points out that in the same way that human beings work in their own self interest, nature also has to work in its self interest (185). The universe is oriented towards ensuring that it survives eternally. To guarantee its survival, nature has to renew and rejuvenate itself continuously. Therefore, the life forms have to be renewed for the survival of the natural environment. This implies that the interests of nature may at times being conflict with the interests of human affairs. However, Volney indicates that the laws of nature have precedence over the self-serving interests of human affairs. It should be noted that in as much as the human affairs are conducted with emphasis in self-preservation, the law of nature has to be respected. It is futile to disregard the laws of nature since they will come to pass in any way. The denial of this reality is counterproductive since tremendous efforts of human beings always end up as wasted. Volney points out that ancient inhabitants of kingdoms did a lot of work in building their empires; which ended up being completely destroyed to become ruins. Contradictions and dualities are inherent in all human affairs. Volney postulates that conflicting interests and desires play a great role in influencing the behaviors of human beings. In essence, human affairs are predetermined by the interests of the architects of all the projects. For instance, the founders of great empires such as the Ottoman Empire were driven by the raw ambition of power. They envisioned exercising power over vast lands and big population. However, they had to conquer these lands before they could be able to control them as they wished. The moral dilemma in the conquest of the lands was that there inevitably had to be some kind of bloodshed. This meant that that their desires and ambitions were against the religious tenets. Volney notes that most human affairs are sometimes conducted in complete disregard of the religious and society values that are advocated (Volney 35). The religious beliefs are circumvented in order to serve the interests of the elite in the society. John Keats’ poem ‘On Seeing the Elgin Marbles for the First Time’ is a classic sonnet on the mortality of man. In the first two lines of the poem, the poet presents himself as being overwhelmed by the issue of mortality. The poet is completely burdened by his mortality and the fact that there is nothing that he can do about it (Lines 1-2). In the second line, the poet says the “weighs heavily on me like unwilling sleep” (Line 2). This is a direct acknowledgement of the reality that the issue of mortality is beyond his control. Just like sleep overwhelms a manner, the poet postulates that death is inevitable. This indicates that human affairs should be conducted in a manner that is in cognizant of the fact that death is a reality, however painful. The poet portrays his own reluctance to accept this reality by the use of negative words such as ‘unwilling’ and ‘weak’ (Line 1-2) The poet indicates that: And each imagined pinnacle and steep/ Of godlike hardship tells me I must die/ Like a sick eagle looking at the sky. (Line 3-5). Keats implies that death is a painful prospect. In comparison to the act of sleeping, he writes that death is steep. Imperatively, he admits that it is not easy to accept death as a reality but it does not leave one with any latitude to change the stark reality. The mortality of man is not an optional thing. Rather, it is a reality that each person has to live with despite its painful nature even in mere imaginations. The comparison of a sick eagle looking at sky implies the helplessness with which he poet faces the situation of death. There is no action that can help mankind to avert the eventuality of death. It should be clear that the poet at this stage does not think the prospect of death as a good thing. He only accepts it reluctantly since he does not have the power to avoid it. However, Keats finds consolation in the fact that eventually death comes with some sort of relaxation from the difficulty of life. In fact, he thinks of death as a kind of luxury (Line 6). He is still in conflict with himself as the issue of death stirs conflict emotions in his heart. The solace it may offer and its finality are two sides of death that are difficult to reconcile. It should be noted that it is an individual’s responsibility to ascertain his or her level of comfort with the notion of death. Keats is literally in pain in trying to accept the reality of death (Line 11). In a direct acknowledgement of his dilemma, Keats offers his view that “That mingles Grecian grandeur with the rude/Wasting of old Time -with a billowy main” (Line 12-13). This is the reality that death and eventual destruction is not something that any person can easily accept and move on. The destructions that occur in the society are painful realities that every person has to live with. History is rife with examples of many empires that have collapsed mass deaths of otherwise innocent people through calamities and negative happenings in the society. As mere mortals, the best course of action to is to accept death and live our lives. Percy Shelley's ‘Ozymandias’ is also a sonnet that offers insight on the mortality of mankind and the eventual destruction that is inevitable. The poem is essentially about a traveler who narrates about a ruined statute in his native country. The statute is itself destroyed and stands as a skeleton of its glorious past and the issues that it previously stood for. Generally, the message of the sonnet is the destruction that is a reality although most people tend to ignore it. Shelley narrates the words on the pedestal “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:/Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!”(Line 10-11). The fact that the statute is now destroyed indicates that the sculptor’s words stand as an irony to the current status of the statute. Suffice to say, it is ironical for the statute to proclaim its mighty works when it is in a desolate state. The two legs of the statute stand without the body and the head lies in massive dust on the ground (Lines 2-4). This symbolically indicates that empire that the King Ozymandias built and thought was marvelous now lay crumbled. The insignificance of human beings to the passing of time is clearly implied given that the civilization and works of the great are now just history. King Ozymandias was pleased with his work and he thought that people could forever think of it as mighty. The indiscriminate destruction of the advancements that the king once boasted of has now been wiped clean by history. It should be noted that the King Ozymandias thought his works were so magnificent that even the competition had no option but to despair. However, the reality is that he was disapproved as even his statute is an embarrassment of what he had advocated for previously. In retrospect, the poet attempts to show that the society and nature is in continuous and nothing is eternal. However marvelous human affairs are, they will eventually be wiped out and only remain in the annals of history. The poet indicates that “Nothing beside remains. Round the decay/Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare” (Lines 12-13). Essentially, all the “King of Kings” Ozymandias built was now mere ruins. The significance of human prowess and affairs can only be guaranteed during a given season. Great acts that astonished ancient people now lie as simply historical events that are not so important. Great civilizations that propelled mankind to great heights in ancient times are now mere appendages in the pages of history. They no longer astonish inhabitants of the universe and nobody really cares about them. As the poem by Shelley points out, the King Ozymandias would be completely astonished to see that all that he worked for now lay in utter ruins. John Keats 'Ode on a Grecian Urn' is a great poem that is memorable from the romantic period. In the first part of the poem, Keats creates a Greek Urn in his own mind. He attempts to evaluate the basis of the life of the urn by asking critical questions. In Lines 8-10, he writes that “What men or gods are these? What maidens loth? What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape? What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?” Prior to these formative questions, he ponders about the deities and the mortals (Line 6). This implies that the poet is cognizant of the fact that there are indeed mortals in the society. The things that Keats question show that there are issues about life and society that may not be as crystal clear as they should be. Theoretically, life is just simple and it should be laden with its own beauty. However, the truth is that there are various imperfections that must be accepted as the realities of life. Keats indicates that “When old age shall this generation waste/ Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe” (Lines46/47). This implies that the pursuit of some things in life is just an exercise in futility. It would be difficult to fathom why people would be preoccupied with chasing beauty when in reality such things may not of any importance in the long run. Keats indicates that human beings should be liberated from the pursuit of perfection and embrace the imperfections of the world. This tragic acceptance is vital in ensuring that beauty of life is accepted in whatever form that it comes in. Death then should be accepted as a form of renewal such that individuals accept that when one form of life dies, another one comes up. As Keats puts it in the final lines “Beauty is truth, truth beauty, — that is all/ Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know” (Line 49/50) Bibliography Clifford, J.K. 2008. Romantic Period: Critical Analysis. Chester: Pearson Jeffreys, K.P., Harold, F. 2012. Classic Literature: The Romantic Period. Oxford: Oxford University Press John Keats 'Ode on a Grecian Urn' John Keats ‘On Seeing the Elgin Marbles for the First Time’ Percy Shelley's ‘Ozymandias’ Volney, C. F. 2007. Volney's Ruins. New York: Harvard University Press Read More