Just Theory by David B. Downing;

Author:David B. Downing;
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-8141-2532-8
Publisher: Lightning Source Inc. (Tier 3)
Published: 2019-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

Plato in the Prelude

What happens when we try to close-read the poem in its own aesthetic terms, to read “with the grain,” more sympathetic to Wordsworth's intentions as embodied in the formal unity of the poem? Wordsworth's grain turns out to be mostly in line with Western metaphysics and especially Plato, mainly because their ideals resonate with each other. As we saw in Chapter 6, Wordsworth rewrote Plato's version of Western metaphysics into the poetics of Romantic idealism. Whereas Aristotle was much more congenial for the Scottish rhetoricians, Plato's more figurative language proved far more compelling for Wordsworth, as it did for Shelley. And Plato (or at least Platonism) is, for all practical purposes, in the text in a lot of ways in a lot of places. For the sake of convenience, I will refer only to Books 9–14 of the 1850 edition of The Prelude, but those culminating sections highlight the key issues.

Book 9 actually exemplifies the political ideals Wordsworth emulates where he can imagine “a Republic, where all stood thus far / Upon equal ground; that we were brothers all / In honour, as in one community” (lines 226–28). Here, he clearly champions communality over hierarchy, resonating well with the strains of radical Romanticism. In this republic “wealth and titles were in less esteem / Than talents, worth and prosperous industry” (lines 231–32). This meritocracy of value would be governed by “equal rights / And individual worth” (lines 242–43). To have such equality, you would have to end poverty, and Wordsworth makes it clear that the government would have a role in ensuring such “equal rights.” He is quite explicit that they are fighting so “that poverty / Abject as this would in a little time / Be found no more” (lines 520–22). And that there would be an institutional and legal basis for the new government, “that we should see … ” (line 524)

All institutes for ever blotted out

That legalized exclusion, empty pomp

Abolished, sensual state and cruel power …

Should see the people having a strong hand

In framing their own laws … (Book 9, lines 526–31)

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