1. The French Revolution (1789-1799): This event, with its emphasis on individual liberty, equality, and the overthrow of oppressive power, resonated deeply with Romantics. They saw it as a symbol of hope for humanity and a rejection of the strict social hierarchies and rigid rules of the Enlightenment. The revolution also fuelled a sense of fear and instability, which contributed to the Romantics' fascination with the darker aspects of human nature and the sublime.
2. The Industrial Revolution (1760-1840): This period saw a dramatic shift from agrarian societies to industrialized ones, with cities growing rapidly and factories replacing traditional forms of work. Romantics were critical of the dehumanizing effects of industrialization and saw it as a threat to the natural world and the individual spirit. They celebrated the beauty and power of nature as a refuge from the harsh realities of urban life.
These events led to Romantic writers focusing on themes like:
* Individualism and subjectivity: Romantics valued personal experiences, emotions, and imagination over reason and logic.
* Nature: Nature was seen as a source of inspiration, beauty, and spiritual renewal.
* The sublime: Romantics were drawn to the awe-inspiring, the grand, and the terrifying aspects of the world.
* The gothic: The dark and mysterious side of human nature was explored, often in the context of supernatural events and gothic settings.
While the Enlightenment emphasized reason and logic, Romantics sought to elevate emotion, imagination, and intuition. They viewed the world through a lens of feeling and aimed to express the full range of human experience in their writings. The French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution provided the historical context for these concerns, fueling the Romantic desire for individual freedom, connection to nature, and escape from the constraints of society.