Shelley's Ideas of Reform in Prometheus Unbound

Abstract

The purpose of this essay is to examine how Shelley deploys his thoughts on reform underlying his diverse portrayals of the classical figure Prometheus in Prometheus Unbound (1819). It argues that the characters of Prometheus embody Shelley's ideas of political, social, and moral reform in his lifetime. Incorporating the complexity of the historical conditions of his age, the poet constructs the symbolic ramifications of the protagonist, which extend into moral, political, and social aspects. He emphasizes the prerequisite requirement of moral reformation, which provides the basis for improving political and social establishments. The poet unfolds the notable reflections of the poem on the struggle for reformation which took place in his contemporary English society, while also considering the role of poetry in capturing that struggle.