Reading Response 3: Panoptic Perpectives in Shelley's Mont Blanc: Collapsed Distance and the Alpine Sublime"

In Joan Reiss Wry's "Panoptic Perspectives in Shelley's Mont Blanc: Collapsed Distance and the Alpine Sublime" analysis and describes the poem Mont Blanc and Shelley’s writing style. Wry breaks Mont Blanc into sections and begins to describe the first stanza as somewhat confusing yet very imaginatively detailed. The poem begins at the Arve River, which is far below the summit of Mont Blanc. He continues to describe the poem at the second stanza. Shelley begins to bring out a natural and calming environment that gives a full view of the scene. Wry also brings out points in Shelley’s writing about his natural themes where he gives nature all powers and shows a life cycle. He also describes how Shelley’s writing is unique compared to other romantic poets as described “Shelley imaginatively places himself on the clouded mountains,” instead of a distanced view that most authors would compose. Shelley actively places himself on the mountain and writes as if he were experiencing everything that was occurring on Mont Blanc which creates a great image for the reader. Wry also brings a great point at which Shelley begins to wonder if he is awake or dreaming because of the great beauty and power Mont Blanc presents him. This article relates to this blog in terms of Shelley’s literary ways. The article analyzes Shelley’s views and descriptions of nature and how he incorporates the life cycle in the majority of his writing. He also brings a clear image of the natural world as Mont Blanc has a cycle in itself which is powerful, beautiful and destructive. The destructibility describes how the circle of life continues because destroying objects creates a new power or beauty of nature which is reborn as a pure and new object to be rebuilt again, as shown with the glaciers that melt to become run-off and add back to the powerful Arve River. 

 By reading this article, I gained a great understanding of Mont Blanc that I had lacked in the beginning. I did not understand this poem and the way Wry’s broke each stanza down really gave me a more clear and concise understanding. Shelley often has a writing style of a happening-right-at-this-moment which is shown as he gives a distinct image of the scenes of his poetry. Shelley’s poetry often shows a living scene which is shown in Mont Blanc as well as Autumn: A Dirge. As Shelley gives a very descriptive scene of the rivers power, it also shows how nature’s figures, such as rivers and mountains, combined to create a body and one main power united. Although Shelley’s poetry reflects natural scenes, it also can bring you through an emotional journey. I compare the poem and power of Mont Blanc, to the life of a human being as it grows through phases to create a powerful living being. It also shows the many different altitudes one must go through to achieve success. Shelley shows how the human mind can be blinded by their motivations and overlook the natural beauty in something by pushing and rushing through without evaluating the situation. I agree with Wry with the description that Shelley brings a different type of Romantic Poetry such that he writes deeper and more upfront with nature than most Romantic Poets. Shelley describes Mont Blanc in such detailed and extreme ways that a regular human being would take for granted and overlook the actual power and beauty it presents. Shelley shows the power of nature in a variety of ways other than just describing its power, but bringing you to the scene and evaluating its natural power and beauty. He shows the reader a different understanding of nature, the way he believes humans should perceive the natural world. Shelley gives a great point that humans should be using nature to their advantage instead of destroying it to their power. He gives a different point of view to many things a human can experience in their lifetime and explains the true meaning of nature and the way the Earth should really be thought of and used. Many people take for granted the true beauty of this planet and underestimate the power the Earth can have which Shelley points out and truly gives a deep meaning to the natural world.