I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

Romanticism both grew out of and developed as a reaction against the Age of Enlightenment, which was the dominant philosophical movement in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Although Romanticism broadly agreed with many of the ideals of the Age of Enlightenment, like individual freedom and religious tolerance, it found its emphasis on scientific rationality restrictive.

The Romantic poets believed that classical literary forms no longer served them—they wanted to bring a greater subjectivity into their work, in protest against the social control and destructive modernity they were witnessing. They felt the human experience was minimized in the face of industrialized progress.

This led to their prioritizing the temperament of the individual, and recognizing the struggles of ordinary people, whose lives were often trampled underfoot at this time. Their only recourse was the life of the imagination, where people could maintain their unique identities, their dignity, and their freedom.

While this is a simplification of the nuances of the age, there is little doubt that the Industrial Revolution changed our relationship with nature and with one another for ever. By harnessing nature and individuals in the pursuit of capital, we advanced our civilization, but we disrupted our ability to live in communion with nature.