ROMANTICISM

By Reginald Fredericks

English 12 Period 3

April 5, 2001

Romanticism is a deep, soul concept involving concern for the spiritual inner being. Rather than being a state of mind, romanticism reflects the values of the heart and spirit; although the mind is the first role in creating romanticism, it’s very effective aspect when dealing with it in literature. Yet, many writers and editors reveal to one the misguided concept of romanticism. In essence, the term can mean pragmatically anything. What does that say about the actual meaning of romanticism, then? How about its supportive concepts that serve as examples for this? What do many authors write in their books about romanticism? Barzun wrote as an introduction in his book, “What I am about to discuss is not some vague literary and emotional outlook known as romantic, but the meaning of a whole age as seen against the background of it’s close predecessor by yet a third age-our own.”i Romanticism, although tending to be more spiritually oriented rather than physically, is a spiritual inner look at one’s self from the soul or spirit, while defying or disrupting the authorities and worldly doctrines of love and romance in the natural realm; thus, it is insulting to those who are earthly people, but pleasing to those born of love.

Romanticism can, from a basic understanding, be seen as a concept of romance or romantic love. From a unique perspective, romanticism is one word that really doesn’t have a basic meaning. Romance is usually referred to love stories and tales that are favorable to its characters. Barzun said, “This (romance) usually refers to stories that contain love stories between the character and nature or character to character. Of course, this is fiction because the idea in love and also entertainment.”ii Could love be a form of entertainment? Of course, that depends on what it emphasizes. “Usually romance was emphasizing tales of mystery, terror, and the supernatural. In truth, these are gothic novels.”iii If that’s the emphasis romance (romanticism) has, then what shall the writer state as an agreement of what it is and what it stresses? It certainly expounds more on supernatural characters than of the natural wealth of humanism. In turn, that emphasizes one thing: it certainly must have something to do with godly principles than of worldly standards. “Yet there is broad agreements that most romanticisms are reactions against forms and rules, against classicism and neoclassicism, against nationalism and fixed genres, and that they are new modes of imagination and vision, which especially value freedom of form, spontaneity, self-expression, and subjectivity.”iv “Romanticism is a style in the fine arts and literature. It emphasizes passion rather than reason, and imagination and intuition rather than logic. Romanticism favors full expression of the emotions, and free, spontaneous actions rather than restraint and order.”v

No one likes to be captive or commanded all the time, so why should people not create their own rules and events, inside a world with relief, happiness, and freedom? What about love? How does that fit the category of romanticism or godly principles? Some authors speak of this of being something much more than man can handle. What are others’ opinions about romanticism, contrary or to some extent to what has already been revealed? LipKing writes, “As for the drug called love, the historian has a right to be somewhat impatient with the common idea that it was invented by the romanticists. Classical society makes love a much more exclusive object of interest, both in life and in art, than does romantic society with its wide and diverse interests. It is in any case impossible to exclude love from any conception of human experience. The only questions worth considering is how that particular kind of experience shall be treated, individually, socially, and artically.”viIn other words, love should not be taken as inferior, but something for mankind’s inner selve to use and count as to gain new experiences in life, while enhancing the bad experiences with new opportunities. Keats was an author who really stressed physical beauty rather than eternal beauty. His works can be considered a national love for mankind rather than for supernatural Creator. In contrast, Shelley was one dedicated to what was spiritual or ideal. He considered that one’s earthly beauty was just a mere shadow of their supernatural beauty. Shelley’s work alone proves that romanticism defies the natural realm and stresses that the supernatural is real, while using poetry to create the world of romanticism similar to the world of the modern world. “Poetry and more alike express his hatred of tyranny, his belief that man can become perfect, and his faith in the power of love to transform society.”vii It was also written that Shelley had viewed some of his writings as prophesies from his childhood dreams. This also is a point which indicates a supernatural role in romanticism. The supernatural is often exaggerated when talking about love from gods or peoples’ so called “gods” conceive with normal people creating superhumans or giants. To another extent, one of the greatest stories of romanticism that was true expresses that humanity is loved by one supernatural being known as “God the Supreme Being,” “I Am,” or “Jesus Christ the Messiah.” If that’s the case, is romanticism actually something beyond the mind of humanity or is it something they created to defy their creator and create an alternate world full of human fabrication?

During biblical times, the Hebrews and Jews worshiped the Almighty Supreme God, or Lord of Hosts. It was believed that God loved his people and would often protect and deliver them from slavery. Upon doing so, God promised them an eternal resting place, or the Kingdom of God. On the other hand, sin was so ubiquitous throughout the world, that no one deserved life, but death. To move humanity from the love of Satan, God loved mankind so much that his romantic tale came to life and freed humanity of their filthy, dead souls. King Solomon expresses his feelings of romantic love, or just love in a poetic verse, “Place me like a real over your heart, like a real on your arm, for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave . It burns like a blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.”viii Therefore, romanticism should be seen with a sense of really pursuing the love within one another. It doesn’t have to always contain heroes fighting foes or two lovers committing suicide in order to be together. In fact, romance should be aimed towards loving all men and not hating them. The Lord Jesus said more realistic than one of limited knowledge did, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”ixThen what is love? How one we tell whether or not love is a verb or a noun? In truth, love could be both. It has many characteristics, but love is merely a being rather than a concept many take for granted. Nevertheless, it is how mankind seeks for it to be. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, wrote to the Corinthian church about what love is and how it operates, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails...”xA very difficult concept to understand, yes, but so true! Isn’t that what the concept of romanticism identifies with, an unusual way of living and loving all people despite malice and incorrigible acts to one another? Why should mankind act surprised if God wanted such romance to exist and dominate a world for His glory and not mankind’s? He saved humanity from a massive death and gave them the best of life! “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”xi So what else can writer state? God loved humanity first, so therefore, they need to love Him. God is love, and those who don’t love him, is not born of God and doesn’t love anyone else who does or does not love God. As stated above, God demonstrated his love for mankind, so that many may believe and love Him. This was done by sending His only Son to the cross to die for mankinds’ sins, so that they may live. Therefore, romanticism has to be of spiritual descent and not of the romanticists opinions or analyzations. Otherwise, romanticism would be just be ignorant and insignificant. It, therefore, proves that the spiritual character of romanticism is truly an escape to a world with paradoxical courts and doctrines that conflict with the scientific term of romance and love. Romanticism truly deserves a gold medal and a loud, honorable applause; as a result, mankind is saved from eternal punishment of Hell, and can walk into the light with blessed assurance.

In summary, what shall writer conclude then? Is romanticism a spiritual outlook of humanity from a divine perspective? The authors and even the Bible have been able to serve as substantiated evidence to the broad agreement of romanticism. In addition, what romanticism has been concluded of emphasis has also been similarly supported by factual evidence. Romanticism is used for an escape from the evil, hellish world we live in today to a world of supreme peace, love, and justice. As many observe themselves from the spiritual factor of romanticism, they will find that without the earth would be a wicked, immoral planet rather than a forgiven world. Many should be thankful for the romantic movement and the idea that mankind’s fantasies can, with spiritual direction, become another romantic tale in the flesh. In romanticism, however, may the reader not forget that a person’s spiritual character is far beyond their control and understanding. On a more personal note, it makes the writer thankful that he has a greater power living in him than the one who dwells in the world. Thanks be to romanticism and its godly examination of this world. Blessed be to the one who dwells in romanticism, the spiritual component of human flesh and the true milestone to mankind’s desires and natures of the world that was, is, and will be! “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”xii

Footnotes

1Jacques Barzan, Classical, Romantic, and Modern (Toronto, Canada; Little Brown & Company, 1943), pg. front cover.

2Jacques Barzan, pg. 90, back flap.

3.Paul Strohm, “Romance”, The World Book Encyclopedia (Boston,New York; Houghton Mifflin Company, Riverside Press Cambridge, 1965), pg. 414.

4Paul Strohm, pg. 414

5Hoggard Tara, “Romanticism”, “Encyclopedia Americana” (Vol 23, 1997), pg. 680

6LipKing Lawrence, “Romanticism”, The World Book Encyclopedia (Vol. 16, 1998), pg. 426

7C.L. Cline, “Shelley, Percy Bysshe”, The World Book Encyclopedia (Vol 17, 1965), pg. 313

8King Solomon, Song of Songs 8:6-6-7 (The Bible New International Version)

9Saint Matthew, Gospel of Matthew 5:43-48 (The Bible NIV)

10Saint Paul, First Letter to the Corinthians 13 (The Bible NIV)

11Saint John, Gospel of John 3:16 (The Bible NIV)

12John the Disciple, First Epistle of John (The Bible NIV)

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