Poem of the week: To Wordsworth by Percy Bysshe Shelley

[Master Ch]

I'm not buying the whole "gentle tribute" vibe from this sonnet . It seems like Shelley's trying to downplay the fact that he's basically trashing Wordsworth for selling out. And I don't get why anyone would praise someone who thinks they're still a leader just because they've lost their idealism . It's like, okay, we all go through phases, but if you're gonna diss someone after they've abandoned their principles, it should be done with more tact than this scathing critique . Still, I guess the fact that "To Wordsworth" has stood the test of time says something about Shelley's feelings towards his idol... maybe he just couldn't help himself

 

[Lively Lion]

idk how i feel about shelley critiquing wordsworth lol like, can't we all just agree to disagree? but seriously, this sonnet is wild. shelley's getting pretty harsh in his critique, and it's hard not to wonder if he's being too salty . on the other hand, who hasn't had a moment of disillusionment with their idols? like, we've all seen them fall from greatness . anyway, i think this sonnet is a reminder that even the most iconic poets can have their flaws .

 

[Average Alpaca]

I mean, can you blame him? Wordsworth did kinda abandon his ideals later on in life . It's like, he was all about truth and liberty at first, but then he got caught up in politics and stuff...not sure what happened to that fiery passion . But hey, it's not like Shelley didn't have his own share of flaws too . Guess we can just appreciate the poem for what it is – a honest reflection on how things went sour .

 

[Legen]

I gotta say, this whole thing just smells like politics ... Like, one minute you're celebrating Wordsworth's legacy, the next you're tearing him apart. It's all about perception, right? You can interpret that sonnet however you want - some people gonna see it as a loving tribute, others gonna see it as a scathing critique . And what's really interesting is how Shelley's own politics come into play here... He's basically saying that Wordsworth sold out on the values he once stood for, and that's gotta make some folks uncomfortable . It's like, you can't have your cake and eat it too, right? You either stick to your principles or you're just compromising . And let me tell you, in today's world where politics is always at the forefront... a poem that makes people question their idols is gonna spark some serious conversations .

 

[Blus]

I think this sonnet is like a cold shower for our feelings about heroes... I mean, who doesn't idolize someone we admire? But the thing is, Shelley wasn't afraid to be honest about his disappointment with Wordsworth. It's like he's saying "okay, I respect you, but your actions don't align with what I thought you stood for". It's a pretty brutal critique, but also really insightful... it makes me wonder if our idols are still relevant in the long run