"The Cloud" |
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Percy Bysshe Shelley was born in Broadbridge Heath, England, on August 4, 1792. He was the oldest of seven children. At age ten, he left home to study at Syon House Academy. Two years later at age twelve he enrolled at Eton College. While there, he was bullied physically and mentally by his classmates, which drove him to retreat into his imagination. Within the year, he had written and published two novels and two works of poetry.
At the age of eighteen, Percy enrolled in University College in Oxford. After only a few months, he was expelled after refusing to deny his authorship of the controversial pamphlet entitled "The Necessity of Atheism." Following this, his parents demanded he renounce his unorthodox beliefs: vegetarianism, political radicalism and sexual freedom.
They also forbid him from becoming involved with sixteen year old mentally troubled Harriet Westbrook. In August 1811, against his parents' wishes, Percy and Harriet eloped. His hope was to rescue her from her suicidal tendencies, but soon after marriage he became bored with her and moved on to other love interests. Despite the troubled relationship, Harriet gave birth to their first child in June 1813, and became pregnant with their second in 1814. Before the second child was born, Percy left Harriet to pursue a relationship with Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, daughter of William Godwin. Godwin was against the relationship and refused to talk with Mary for three years. In November 1814, Harriet Shelley gave birth to their second child; three months later Mary Shelley gave birth to Percy's third child, who died soon after. In 1816, Mary gave birth to his fourth, William.
In December 1816, Percy's wife, Harriet, drowned herself in the Serpentine River in London. This freed Percy to finally marry Mary a few week later. Mary's father, William, accepted Percy and forgave Mary after their legal marriage.
On July 8, 1822, Percy was sailing in Italy when he drowned at age 29. There is some speculation as to whether the death was accidental or murder.
In 1919, almost a century after Percy's death, "The Cloud" was produced into a black and white, silent movie by director W.A. Van Scoy. The movie is a visual representation of the poem featuring landscapes and clouds. It is not available online.
To the poem...
At the age of eighteen, Percy enrolled in University College in Oxford. After only a few months, he was expelled after refusing to deny his authorship of the controversial pamphlet entitled "The Necessity of Atheism." Following this, his parents demanded he renounce his unorthodox beliefs: vegetarianism, political radicalism and sexual freedom.
They also forbid him from becoming involved with sixteen year old mentally troubled Harriet Westbrook. In August 1811, against his parents' wishes, Percy and Harriet eloped. His hope was to rescue her from her suicidal tendencies, but soon after marriage he became bored with her and moved on to other love interests. Despite the troubled relationship, Harriet gave birth to their first child in June 1813, and became pregnant with their second in 1814. Before the second child was born, Percy left Harriet to pursue a relationship with Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, daughter of William Godwin. Godwin was against the relationship and refused to talk with Mary for three years. In November 1814, Harriet Shelley gave birth to their second child; three months later Mary Shelley gave birth to Percy's third child, who died soon after. In 1816, Mary gave birth to his fourth, William.
In December 1816, Percy's wife, Harriet, drowned herself in the Serpentine River in London. This freed Percy to finally marry Mary a few week later. Mary's father, William, accepted Percy and forgave Mary after their legal marriage.
On July 8, 1822, Percy was sailing in Italy when he drowned at age 29. There is some speculation as to whether the death was accidental or murder.
In 1919, almost a century after Percy's death, "The Cloud" was produced into a black and white, silent movie by director W.A. Van Scoy. The movie is a visual representation of the poem featuring landscapes and clouds. It is not available online.
To the poem...