Rebecca Anderson
Professor: Dr. Darrohn
English 252
07 October 2010
Spirituality in Nature In the poem “Mont Blanc” by Percy Bysshe Shelley, there is a strong correlation conveyed between nature and spirituality. Although Shelley does not specifically mention any religious connotation, the words chosen in this poem could have more than one meaning. Perhaps Shelley purposely wrote “Mont Blanc” to have more than one meaning and has left it up to the reader to interpret and absorb this poem as it is suitable to him. I interpreted the poem to be about spirituality. I have found several connections in Shelley’s choice of words indicating spirituality in nature is possible, and it is up to the reader to discover his own ability in finding his own spirituality.
The lyrical lines in stanza 5 describe the strength and majestic qualities of Mont Blanc. The mountain is portrayed as one of isolation; it is a secluded place uninhibited by man (137). Shelley uses the words, “solemn power” to describe Mont Blanc (128). In the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), one definition of solemn is, “having a religious character” another is, “Associated or connected to religious rites or observances.” The word power is defined as, “A powerful celestial or spiritual being” (OED). Because of the portrayal of the mountain and the choice of words Shelley uses to describe it, it takes on a spiritual characteristic. In addition to “Mont Blanc” being portrayed as powerful, indicating how strong this mountain appears, Shelley gives it an imagery and feeling of something supernatural. The speaker talks of the snow falling down on the mountain and how the wind gives it “breath” (135). This gives the mountain life; the
Anderson 2 reader feels the mountain breathing as if it were alive. Not alive in the human sense, but in the supernatural. This adds to the sense of spirituality being portrayed in the poem. Another indication of spirituality is in the lines139-140 where Shelley writes, “The secret strength of things/Which governs thought”. I believe Shelley is inviting the reader to meditate to ponder life’s questions. Questions such as: What is the meaning of life? What is our purpose on earth? What is life after death? Or what is reality? There are many definitions to the word thought. Besides a traditional meaning of, “formation and arrangement of ideas in the mind”; the Oxford English Dictionary also states, “…with defining adjective: the ideas characteristic of thinkers of a particular type, school, religion, time, or place, or of a particular field of study; what is or has been thought by the philosophers, scholars, or students of a specified time, place, subject, etc.” (OED). This definition supports my theory of spirituality. Perhaps Shelley is provoking the reader to consider searching his inner depths of his mind; much like a philosopher does, to answer his life’s questions. Religion is also mentioned in the definition, further promoting the idea of spirituality. After the consideration of the word thought, the poetic line continues with, “and to the infinite dome/ Of heaven is as a law, inhabits thee!”(140-1). The word dome in the Oxford English Dictionary has a specific reference to this time frame with the definition as, “A cathedral church.” In addition, it is also defined as, “the convex rounded summit of a mountain…” This shows a relationship with church and nature, more specifically, spirituality and nature. More curiously, Shelley has chosen to rhyme dome with home from line 136. Could Shelley be suggesting that when someone finds his spirituality, he is home? Possibly finding peace, infinitely as the original line suggests.
Line 141 drives home the spirituality theory quite simply, “Of heaven is as law, inhabits thee!” I believe Shelley is saying all of mankind is capable spirituality. It resides in the deep recesses of our minds waiting to be discovered. This is evident when the speaker uses the words “inhabits thee”. A
Anderson 3 man’s soul resides in his heart and mind, and he is competent of deeper thought. This indicates a person, regardless of his belief or the level of intelligence, is capable of accessing the deeper recesses of his mind to find his spirituality. Whether or not man chooses to use these abilities is of his ignorance, freewill and choice. However, man can find his spirituality; it is there, waiting for him to discover it.
In our class discussion of “Mont Blanc”, the speaker’s question posed in lines 142-144 was concluded to mean, what would humans’ existence be if nature was overlooked? Shelley speaks of life and death in nature. In these last three lines the correlation nature and mankind have in life and death is quite clear. There cannot be life for humans if nature did not exist.
I believe the speaker’s question shows the correlation of Mont Blanc and nature with human thought and reflection of spirituality. In lines 142-4, Shelley writes, “And what were thou, and earth, and stars, and sea,/If to the human mind’s imaginings/Silence and solitude were vacancy?” Perhaps Shelley’s hidden meaning is he is asking the question of what would nature be if man did not use his mind to reflect. In other words, if man did not use his mind and capabilities of soul searching to answer life’s bigger questions during times of solitude, his time of isolation is wasted. More specifically, a person’s thought and meditation is “vacant” during these times, and perhaps his life is wasted as well. This is evident when Shelley uses the words, “Silence and solitude were vacancy?” If man spends his quiet time not reflecting or meditating life’s questions then that man has no soul, thought, or spirituality. Shelley’s “Mont Blanc” is a wonderful poem. I believe he has left the poem open to many meanings. One of those meanings, I believe, is spirituality. For me, Shelley is inviting man to see what life has to offer. It is evident Shelley possesses the insight of the power of thought and spirituality. I believe Shelley’s poem encourages each individual to seek deeper thought on his own spirituality. His words are enlightening and he instills the belief that all of us are capable to answer our own life’s questions. Much of Shelley’s poem portrays nature as spiritual. His poem weaves spirituality into nature.
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Works Cited
Oxford English Dictionary. 2009. 2nd ed. 1989. Print.
Shelley, Percy. “Mont Blanc.” 1817. The Longman Anthology of British Literature: The Romantics and Their Contemporaries. Eds. David Damrosch and Kevin J.H. Dettmar. 4th ed. Vol. 2A. Boston: Longman-Pearson, 2010. 776-780. Print.