English Literature

Gaining full knowledge of artists life is impossible using a single work. Nevertheless, it is possible to characterize their way of thinking and style based on any of their writings. By analyzing their use of imagery, language, and structure, one can see how artists perceive things around them. In particular, Wordsworths poem titled, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, reveals his thoughts, which could likewise suggest romantic ways of thinking.

The poem is without a doubt, representative of Romantic poetry. Smith (2010) characterizes romanticism as an experimental project of self and social quest, a quest for connection, a quest for transcendence Based on the poems introduction, we imagine the persona wandering around a flower field, lonely yet unwilling to resolve hisher troubles. Instead of facing problems, the persona turns to nature, and tries to find connection with it. The line I wandered lonely as a cloud. (Wordsworth 1) implies his desire to do something out of the ordinary. Naturally, by taking the form of clouds, the persona suggests his self quest to find another possibility to human nature.

In the contemporary context, this desire to explore possibilities is limited to the self. People desire to be the best that they can be, to use their faculties to achieve their goals. However, as Wordsworth shows, his quest is more than just trying to find himself, thus implying a quest for transcendence. Assuming the nature of clouds, he implies the desire to be omniscient, able to see all things from above. Noting this, we may say that Wordsworth, and possibly other romantic artists strove for divinity or God-like qualities during their time. This idea of imitating God or assuming God-like qualities can be traced far back as the ancient history, as reflected in epics and myths. In those stories, the heroes possess extraordinary strengths and powers. Likewise, in the poem, Wordsworths desire to see everything below the clouds reflects his desire to divine powers.

The use of the clouds as the central symbol in the poem likewise emphasizes divinity. It is a question why the author uses the clouds, above everything to represent himself. There are many things found in nature that could emphasize solitariness and loneliness such as the peaceful ocean, the still mountains, etc. However, Wordsworth chooses the clouds because like God, clouds can take different forms. They can be heavy, light, scattered, or rolled into a ball. By taking different forms, they can easily travel, thus see everything like the Omniscient One. Having noted this, we can say that Wordsworth, during his time, entertained the desire to possess special or God-like qualities. This is not surprising during his time, for the Romantic Period (mid 18th century) follows Puritanism in the 16th-17th centuries (Miller  Johnson 2005). It is possible that remnants of the Puritan beliefs still existed during Wordsworths time.

Moreover, as the persona compares himself to the clouds, he suggests the thought of ascending himself to the heavens. This idea is very suggestive of Jesus ascension to heaven. Although there is no mention of god or his powers, the poem suggests the use of allusion with the personas transforming into clouds.  

Aside from desiring God-like qualities, Wordsworth also expresses the tendency to digress. Wandering around, the persona imagines taking cloud-forms, then seeing the valleys and hills, he turns his gaze to the golden daffodils, saying, When all at once I saw a crowdA host, of golden daffodils (3-4) Noticeably, the introduction of this relative phrase is a sign of digression, a shift in view, both physical and psychological. Moreover, while the next two stanzas describe the daffodils further, the persona digresses again, saying,

For oft, when on my couch I lieIn vacant or in pensive mood,They flash upon that inward eyeWhich is the bliss of solitude

All of a sudden, the persona comes back to reality and takes back his human form. In doing so, he again comes back to his pensive mood, which he earlier suggests in his introduction I wandered lonely (1).

The tendency to digress is apparently seen in the poem. Thus, we see the change in moods of the persona from being lonely to gleeful, and from pensiveness to liveliness. In the introduction, he describes the clouds, saying they only float over vales and hills. (2) This suggests immobility, which later changes as he imagines the daffodils fluttering and dancing (6). Other words denoting motion follow, along with the images presented. These include the stars that shine (7) and are tossing their heads (12), and the waves beside the stars that danced, which outdid the sparkling waves (14). Such contrasting themes of immobility versus movement and loneliness versus glee strongly emphasize the tendency of the author to digress.

Also, there is the change in the physical nature as he takes the form of clouds then come back again to his human form. As he goes back to his human form, the persona still expresses the tendency to resort to digression as he says, They flash upon that inward eyeWhich is the bliss of solitude (21-22). Seated comfortably in his couch, he still remembers the daffodils and retains their memory in his mind. As the poem ends, he imparts his fulfillment in remembering the daffodils, saying, And then my heart with pleasure fills,And dances with the daffodils. (23-24) Based on this, the persona provides a reason for his digression. Feeling lonely and alone, he needs to fill his mind with happy and beautiful memories, which he finds in the daffodils.

Interpreting the last line of the poem leads to another conclusion. As Smith (2010) notes, romantic literature reflects the quest for transcendence. In the poem, we see the personas effort to transcend from loneliness to happiness, though momentary. This goal of transcending from human to godly form, and from sadness to delightfulness is made possible through the personas digression.

The themes of divinity and digression are strongly apparent in the poem. Wishing to take the form of clouds, Wordsworth reflects the desire to be omniscient and divine. Likewise, through digression, he is able to transcend his current feelings, which leads him to a better view of life. Importantly, as these two themes emerge in the poem of the author, it can also be evident in the works of other romanticists.