Revolutionary Vision and Human Fragility in Percy Bysshe Shelley’s Sonnets

Abstract

Percy Bysshe Shelley is remembered as one of the major poets of the Romantic period. Although he wrote fewer sonnets than some of his contemporaries, his sonnets remain important because they combine political criticism, philosophical reflection, emotional intensity, and artistic experimentation. This article examines several of Shelley’s best-known sonnets, especially Ozymandias and England in 1819, in order to explore how Shelley represented power, political corruption, mortality, and social injustice. The article also discusses the connection between Shelley’s personal beliefs and his poetic style. Unlike many traditional sonnet writers, Shelley used the sonnet form not only for love poetry but also for revolutionary and intellectual ideas. His poems often feel emotional, restless, and deeply personal. That quality continues to attract readers today.