The Masque of Anarchy

The poem spends much of its length outlining Shelley’s logic, rather than advancing the simple narrative at its core. He further strengthens his argument by using noble and heroic imagery to inspire radical change.

When describing in the poem the violence and injustice protestors will face, Shelley does not shy away from the reality. The “fixed bayonet” will “[g]leam with sharp desire to wet / Its bright point in English blood” (Stanza 77). The cavalry's swords will “[w]heel and flash [...] / In a sea of death and mourning” (Stanza 78). The tyrants and their soldiers will “[s]lash, and stab, and maim, and hew” (Stanza 84). By emphasizing the reality, Shelley underscores that he knows nonviolent resistance has a cost. Shelley then argues that this cost is less than the reward. He describes an idyllic England to strive for that he sees as attainable if the English people come together.

The poem’s advocacy for nonviolent resistance was a radical belief for Shelley’s time. Shelley’s belief resulted from his observations about what he saw as the failure of the French Revolution and the disappointment of Napoleon’s reign. In Shelley’s eyes, violent protest could be directly connected to military despotism, as violence begets violence. At the time of writing The Masque of Anarchy, Shelley even extended it to causes such as that of Irish independence, which he sympathized with while still not condoning violent rebellion.