Wilfrid Scawen Blunt was a prominent 19th-century British poet whose works remain a testament to the intricacies of Victorian and early modern British poetry. Born in 1840, Blunt’s life and work offer a fascinating glimpse into the turbulence of the 19th century, marked by vast societal changes, imperial expansions, and complex political landscapes. As a British poet, Blunt’s voice stood out for its passionate yet controversial nature, combining themes of personal and political conflict with a unique, almost prophetic style of writing.
This article will explore Wilfrid Scawen Blunt’s life, his major works, and the lasting impact of his poetry on the landscape of 19th-century British literature. We will also compare his works with those of his contemporaries, such as Alfred Lord Tennyson, Robert Browning, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, examining how Blunt’s voice fit within the broader context of British poetry during this period.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1840 into an aristocratic family, Blunt’s life was marked by privilege and duty. He was educated at Eton and later at Oxford, institutions that served to shape his early thoughts and literary inclinations. Despite his upper-class background, Blunt was not content with the traditional path that most of his peers followed. His early life was filled with the contradictions of privilege and rebellion, which would later be evident in his poetry.
Blunt’s strong independence and dissatisfaction with conventional societal norms would continue throughout his life, influencing both his poetry and his political beliefs. In his formative years, he began to travel extensively, which also had a profound effect on his writing. His travels to Egypt, the Middle East, and India would later influence much of his poetic imagery, making him a poet deeply engaged with the world outside Britain.
Thematic Concerns and Style
Blunt’s poetry is often characterized by its passionate intensity and his deep engagement with themes such as love, politics, and societal criticism. While the majority of British poets in the 19th century adhered to formal structures and measured rhythms, Blunt was more inclined to break from tradition, using free verse and emotional expression to reflect the unrest and changes that characterized the times.
In contrast to the more restrained, reflective tones of many of his contemporaries, Blunt’s poetry exhibits a vibrant, at times rebellious energy. He had a tendency to use personal emotions as a springboard for broader political and social criticism. Blunt’s thematic concerns were not just personal; they were also overtly political, critiquing British imperialism and offering commentary on the erosion of moral values in Victorian society.
In his most famous work, The Love-Letters of a Portuguese Nun, Blunt offers an intense exploration of the human spirit’s inner conflict, the pain of unrequited love, and the rejection of societal norms. The poem stands as a fascinating commentary on the intersection of personal and social desires, a theme that Blunt revisits throughout his work.
Blunt’s Political Views
What set Blunt apart from many other 19th-century British poets was his overtly political stance. His love of the East, particularly his admiration for the Arab world, was not simply a product of Orientalist fascination; it was deeply tied to his opposition to British imperialism. Blunt’s political views were shaped by his travels, and he became an outspoken critic of British colonial rule, particularly in Egypt and India.
He was particularly vocal about the consequences of British intervention in foreign lands and often used his poetry as a vehicle for his critique of British imperialism. This political engagement placed him in contrast to more popular poets of the era, such as Alfred Lord Tennyson, whose works were often more nationalistic or focused on themes of British greatness.
Blunt’s critiques were sometimes seen as controversial, especially during a time when the British Empire was at the height of its power. Yet, his insights into the destructive nature of imperialism, combined with his support for Arab independence, make him an important figure in the discussion of British imperial literature.
Comparison to Other 19th Century British Poets
Alfred Lord Tennyson
Alfred Lord Tennyson, perhaps the most celebrated British poet of the Victorian era, was Blunt’s contemporary but approached poetry from a very different perspective. Tennyson’s works often reflected the sensibilities of the Victorian age, with their focus on morality, faith, and national pride. Tennyson’s Idylls of the King, for example, explores Arthurian legend and the moral lessons embedded within it, whereas Blunt’s works were more concerned with the struggles of the individual against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world.
Where Tennyson’s poems were often imbued with a sense of duty and reverence for tradition, Blunt’s were brimming with rebellion and critique. While Tennyson might glorify the British Empire and its moral mission, Blunt openly criticized its expansionist policies, making his works more politically charged and less inclined to uphold the status quo.
Robert Browning
Robert Browning, known for his dramatic monologues and psychological explorations, shared Blunt’s fascination with the human psyche and inner conflict. However, Browning’s poetry, while deeply introspective, often tackled themes of human error, redemption, and the complexities of individual choice. In contrast, Blunt’s poetry tends to be more overtly political, dealing less with the internal struggles of his characters and more with the external conflicts facing society.
Where Browning’s characters may seek to resolve their moral dilemmas through internal dialogue, Blunt’s poems often highlight the tensions between the individual and the state or society. His work reflects a worldview shaped by personal dissatisfaction and a rejection of societal norms, rather than the psychological exploration found in Browning’s works.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti
Dante Gabriel Rossetti, a founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, shared with Blunt an interest in breaking away from the constraints of conventional poetry. Rossetti’s work often focused on themes of love, beauty, and idealization, as seen in his famous collection The House of Life. Blunt’s treatment of love, while similarly intense, was often more cynical, reflecting his skepticism toward the romantic ideals of the period. Rossetti’s poetry was more about the aesthetic exploration of love, while Blunt’s was deeply tied to a sense of personal and political struggle.
Despite these differences, both poets engaged with symbolic and visual elements in their writing, with Rossetti often relying on vivid imagery drawn from the natural world and Blunt using rich, exotic landscapes to frame his poems.
The Love for the East and the Rejection of British Imperialism
One of Blunt’s most distinctive features as a 19th-century British poet was his deep affection for the East, particularly for Arab culture. This fascination, however, was not based on the romanticized portrayals of the East commonly found in British literature at the time. Instead, Blunt’s admiration for the East was connected to his critique of British imperialism.
Blunt’s travels to Egypt, where he became acquainted with the political realities of British occupation, played a major role in shaping his worldview. Unlike many of his contemporaries who saw the East as a place to be dominated and civilised, Blunt saw it as a land rich in history and culture that had been subjugated by colonial powers.
This admiration for the East is evident in his poetic works, particularly in The Secret History of the Arabians, where Blunt celebrates the rich cultural and political heritage of the Arab world, contrasting it with the moral decay he perceived in British society. His works present a complex, nuanced view of the Arab world, which stands in stark contrast to the simplistic, often patronizing depictions of the East found in the poetry of other Victorian authors.
Conclusion
Wilfrid Scawen Blunt may not have achieved the same level of fame as some of his more prominent contemporaries, but his contributions to 19th-century British poetry were nonetheless significant. His political views, passionate poetic style, and critique of British imperialism make him a unique figure in Victorian literature.
Blunt’s works offer a powerful counter-narrative to the dominant ideologies of the period, making him an important figure in the study of British poetry and colonial literature. His poetry, though sometimes controversial, remains a testament to the complexities of the human experience and the turbulence of the 19th century.
In comparing Blunt to poets such as Alfred Lord Tennyson, Robert Browning, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, it becomes clear that his poetry was marked by a distinct rebellious energy, challenging the conventions of his time. Whether through his political activism, his criticism of imperialism, or his intense exploration of love and conflict, Blunt’s poetry continues to offer valuable insights into the world of 19th-century British literature.
Blunt, in his own way, stands as a key figure in the evolution of British poetry, contributing a voice that was both introspective and outwardly defiant. His legacy, though perhaps not as widely recognized as that of his peers, is one that offers a deeper understanding of the British literary tradition and its engagement with the world beyond its borders.
