Here is a comprehensive biography of the life of Percy Bysshe Shelley,
Percy Bysshe Shelley was born on August 4, 1792, in Horsham, Sussex, England, into a wealthy and aristocratic family. He was the eldest of seven children born to Timothy Shelley, a Member of Parliament, and Elizabeth Pilfold Shelley. From a young age, Percy exhibited a precocious intellect and a deep fascination with literature and science.
In 1804, at the age of 12, Percy was sent to Eton College, where he faced bullying and developed a sense of rebellion against the oppressive school environment. It was at Eton that he first began to express his radical and atheistic views, which would later become a hallmark of his adult life.
After leaving Eton, Shelley attended University College, Oxford, in 1810. However, his time at Oxford was short-lived due to his publication of a pamphlet titled "The Necessity of Atheism," which led to his expulsion from the university. This event marked a turning point in his life, as he fully embraced his identity as a freethinker and atheist.
In 1811, Shelley married Harriet Westbrook, a union that was partly motivated by his desire to break free from his family's control. The marriage was tumultuous, and they had two children together. Shelley's rebellious spirit and his devotion to intellectual and political causes strained their relationship.
Shelley's early literary works were heavily influenced by the Romantic movement and poets like William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He published his first major poem, "Queen Mab" (1813), which espoused radical political and philosophical ideas, including his opposition to tyranny and his belief in the power of the imagination to bring about social change.
During this period, Shelley also befriended the poet Lord Byron and developed a close friendship that would profoundly impact his life and work.
In 1814, Shelley eloped to Switzerland with Mary Godwin, the daughter of philosopher William Godwin and feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft. Their relationship had begun when Mary was still a teenager, and it led to scandal and ostracism from society. They were accompanied by Mary's stepsister Claire Clairmont, who was pregnant with Byron's child.
The summer of 1816, famously known as the "Year Without a Summer" due to the volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora, was spent in Geneva with Byron. It was during this time that Mary Shelley conceived the idea for her novel "Frankenstein," while Shelley wrote some of his most famous poems, including "Mont Blanc."
Shelley's literary output during this period included some of his most celebrated works, such as "Prometheus Unbound" (1819), a lyrical drama that expressed his radical and utopian vision for a transformed society. He also penned "Ode to the West Wind" and "To a Skylark," which remain among his most enduring poems.
Despite his literary success, Shelley's personal life was marked by tragedy. In 1818, his first wife, Harriet, committed suicide, and Shelley married Mary Godwin later that year. The circumstances surrounding Harriet's death added to the public's perception of Shelley as a scandalous and immoral figure.
In 1818, Shelley and Mary, along with their children and Claire Clairmont, settled in Italy, where they would spend the remainder of Shelley's life. Italy's political and cultural climate resonated with Shelley's revolutionary ideals, and he became deeply involved in Italian politics.
During these years, Shelley continued to write prolifically, producing notable works such as "The Cenci" (1819) and "Adonais" (1821), an elegy for his friend John Keats. He also became engaged in the cause of Italian nationalism, supporting various liberation movements.
Tragedy struck on July 8, 1822, when Shelley's sailing boat, the "Don Juan," was caught in a storm off the coast of Italy. Shelley and his two companions drowned, and his body washed ashore near Viareggio. He was just 29 years old at the time of his death.
Percy Bysshe Shelley's life was marked by his unwavering commitment to individualism, social justice, and the power of poetry to inspire change. His radical ideas on atheism, liberty, and social reform continue to resonate with readers today. Shelley's poetry, filled with vivid imagery and a sense of cosmic wonder, remains a cornerstone of English Romantic literature.
His influence extended to later generations of poets, including the Pre-Raphaelites and poets like W.B. Yeats and Robert Browning. Shelley's belief in the potential for art and poetry to shape society and his dedication to challenging established norms make him a significant figure in the history of literature and political thought. His works continue to be celebrated for their enduring relevance and timeless beauty.
