The romantic period
The Romantic Period/Era produced a plethora of great writings. It was a period of great change and emancipation ( ). While the Classical era had strict laws of balance and restraint, the Romantic era moved away from that by allowing artistic freedom, experimentation and creativity ( ). Romantic ideas centered around art as inspiration, the spiritual and aesthetic dimension of nature, and metaphors of organic growth. Art, rather than science, Romantics argued, could best express universal truth. The Romantics underscored the importance of expressive art for the individual and society ( ). The development of the self became a major theme; self-awareness a primary method. If, according to Romantic theory, self and nature were one, self-awareness was not a selfish dead end but a mode of knowledge opening up the universe ( ). If ones’ self were one with all humanity, then the individual had a moral duty to reform social inequalities and relieve human suffering ( ). Unlike European groups, transcendentalists never issued a manifesto. They insisted on individual differences – on the unique viewpoint of the individual. American Transcendentalists Romantics pushed radical individualism to the extreme. It stressed individua . . .
Aside from the obvious we the readers of this play are easily sidetracked from the most important theme that drives the entire play, which is Willy’s relationship with himself and nature. Biff finally realizes his calling at the end of the play, when he comes to terms with himself and could therefore see his father for the real person he is. Unfortunately, in Mans search it is this consistency that attracts most people especially tracendetalists ( ). He calls it a “sordid boon” that people have placed their heart and love in machines and unnatural, man-made materials. Biff is the only male in the Loman’s immediate family that is pursuing his ultimate want; “to return to nature. This proves that he is ignoring his call to nature and replacing it with society’s approval of a persons “attractiveness” (Miller 1181). They both have a negative attitude toward the “grayness” and monotony of the city and positive toward the release of nature (Yeats line 11, Miller). Though he wants success for Biff he is oblivious to Biff’s desires to be with nature, supported by his profession (Cowboy). The grass don’t grow any more, you can’t even raise a carrot in the back yard. Nature is where Willy belongs; this is exhibited in his subtle/unconscious referral to nature, beginning with the first time we encounter Willy in the play. Wordsworth criticizes the world for not respecting nature. For example, his opening line begins “The world is too mush with us late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;… (685 line 1-2). Man does not need much to survive; but desires much in an overwhelmingly competitive society in which we live ( ). I saw the things I loved in this world…so what the hell am I doing in an office…I want to be out there, waiting for me the minute I say I know who I am (Miller 1242-1244). For Example, a house is sufficient to live in, but we would like to live in a bigger house.
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