Wonders of nature have been known to hold a strong grasp on the human soul since the beginning of time. Wide mountain ranges, deep chasms, towering waterfalls, and stormy seas all represent the vast natural world that one longs to experience, despite the large, terrifying size of those majestic scenes. These sights possess the ability to make one forget their own troubles, commanding the viewer’s full appreciation. The very word that depicts the feeling of such a scene is “sublime.”
In the 18th century, the concept of the sublime captured the philosophical gaze of English media and became a defining characteristic of artwork during the Romantic Period. During a time of political turmoil and social change, the emphasis of natural landscapes served as a vital source of escapism for English society, and thus became the focus of creative expression. Though images of the sublime are clearly depicted in Romantic paintings, its impact on the soul, known as sublimity, is further explored through the literature of that era. The sublime is known as a surreal, dreadful scene that highlights the thrilling wonders of the infinite, while sublimity is the state of revering that vast, extraordinary form of the natural world. Sublime imagery is featured in the work of many poets, including William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, whose poetry served as a catalyst for the romantic movement.
William Wordsworth writes “Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey” with a connection between the vast landscape of the Wye Valley and his own internal reflection, saying “I have learned/To look on nature, not as in the hour/Of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes/The still sad music of humanity.” These verses display his own experience of sublimity through his personal account of the natural world near Tintern Abbey, sharing with the readers how his encounter with those extreme heights forms a blurry line between nature and the human mind. Returning to the scene for the first time in five years, Wordsworth’s reverie takes on a maturing form that provokes somber reflection of the passing of time. Though a natural scene’s vast qualities carry a weight of intimidation, one is better able to appreciate its inspirational qualities as they grow older. This is because encountering the sublime brings a reminder of mortality which immerses the viewer into a state of awe that can only increase with age.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge explores sublimity at another angle in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” using the imagery of uncharted waters to demonstrate an astonishing, dignified force. When he writes, “Water, water, everywhere/And all the boards did shrink,” the overpowering sea is portrayed as so powerful it seems to cause the ship to decrease in size. This is a reflection of how the life-and-death experience behind a wonder of nature is too vast for one’s own grasp, making their former lens of the world smaller. As the character of the Mariner recounts his scarring experience with the mysterious forces of the sea, Coleridge demonstrates the impact that sublime imagery leaves on the human soul. This highlights sublimity’s power to capture one’s attention, even amidst disaster, forming a humble reminder of one’s own smallness in the grand scheme of life.
Though the unknown depths of expansive landscapes are terrifying, there is also a beauty in their ability to create delight within the human soul. One requires the sublime in order to forget their own stress by witnessing the grandness of an extraordinary scene before them. Taking place during the French revolution, Romantic England's focus on sublime landscapes during an age of social turmoil serves as proof of the troubled soul’s desire for the intricacy of nature. Natural scenes were sought after by many civilians as an escape from the heated politics and the growing industry of the country. While many aspects of that point in history belong to the past, humanity remains the same. 18th-century English literature puts sublimity into words that capture the very encounter that enlightens the human soul through nature’s mysteries.
Written by Blyth Dunlap, Design: Spurthi Challa