Inaudible Symphony: Harmony in Queen Mab

Houjuan ZHOU

Abstract


Percy Bysshe Shelley’s Queen Mabis commonly acknowledged as a philosophical poem, which indicates some of Shelley’s philosophical thoughts. Shelley’s versification in this poem reflects his concern towards the theory of harmony. Harmony originated from music, referring to the proper ratios and order of numbers. And harmony here in this poem, bares some similarities with the mean or intermediate state in China’s culture, which encourages people to try to find a proper place between the two extremes instead of going either of them. By using many techniques such as symbolizing, allegory, etc., he shows his desire for harmony in three folds, harmony between man and god, between man and Nature, and between man and man. Shelley thinks that poets are the one who should shoulder the duty of awaking common people. With virtues the ideal of a harmonious world would be achieved.

 


Keywords


Shelley; Queen Mab; Harmony; Virtues

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/9613

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