Like his contemporaries, Shelley saw himself engaged in a quest for understanding the world and the place of the poet in this work. He realized that he was a part of a revolutionary struggle to reshape the world of convention and authority.
He wanted to convey his thoughts to his readers so that they would be aware of their rights to escape from restrictions and conventions in the society.
From our point of views, the poem which best reflects his revolutionary attitude and his political and philosophical view is "The Mask of Anarchy-.
The Mask of Anarchy.
Compared to his contemporary poets, Shelley was the most revolutionary and political. He always expressed his philosophical view of reform in many pieces of his works.
Shelley's motivation that created his characters and political attitude is that he experienced first-hand the French Revolution. This allowed him to ponder many different situations, and determine deep philosophical views. It had been said that Shelley had been, from his youth, the victim of the state of feeling inspired by the French Revolution. This is the reason why he wanted to alleviate the evils of those systems from which he had himself suffered for others. Therefore, as a poet, Shelley's literary career had been politically oriented. .
The Mask of Anarchy was written when he heard the news of the Massacre at Manchester where people protested about their civil rights and the parliamentary government. In early 19th century, England contained a privileged class which was so afraid of revolutions after the Napoleonic Wars while the lower classes were hungry for parliamentary and economic reforms. A clash was inevitable, and it came on August 16, 1819 at Manchester's St. Peter's field. A peaceful rally gathered to protest economic depression, high food costs, and government inaction. About 60,000 attended. The large number and their concerns frightened the civil authorities.