Romanticism

Romanticism

Thesis statement: romanticism is essential in the provision of intellectual ability and strength and extent of expression of feelings in human nature. Romanticism is useful for political, social, and cultural transformation of personal human life and his or her legacy.

Romanticism is an artistic and intellectual era that dates way back to the 1800s. This era experienced a peak between 1800 and 1850. Romanticism emphasizes the expression of emotions and independence. It was a response to the ideas of the industrial revolution, political norms, and rationalization of nature. The meaning of romanticism has, however, changed through the centuries. In the 17^th century, romanticism was taken to mean imagination and fiction, born from the coming of novels. Then came the 18^th century, when romanticism was viewed from the realms of science and reason. By the 19^th century, romanticism implies intimacy and sentimental expression of emotions. Romanticism is described as a real work that originated towards the end of the 18^th century. Therefore, it gained power approximately in the 19^th century was it focuses on the emotions of individuals who are seen to forget about the past and focus on the ideas and criteria of the industrial revolution and the scientific rationalization of nature. Romanticism has been changing in the meaning from time to time up to the 19^th century was it mainly focuses on reforming human beings’ culture and behavior to help them improve their political and social life, for example, the development of the education sector, which is highly useful to human beings and industries. Romanticism helps assist human beings in fighting some weaknesses in their life, for example, oppression and prejudices; these significantly contributed human beings in the 19^th century to reform. Romanticism used to express human beings’ feel in nature. Therefore, it highly worked with humanitarianism, which promoted feelings that affected people’s minds. Hence, romanticism was used to encourage compassion to human beings nature, especially those who were miserable and unhappy. Romanticism was highly tied to the industry as many people justified their ability to work in different fields in the industrial world; thus, people spread their personnel to the development of industries, which came as a result of the expression of feelings of people, thereby promoting compassion to work in industries.

Due to the realism of romanticism in the industrial revolution such as farming, manufacturing, transportation as well as transformation and development of mechanical technologies, many changes were observed in the 19^th century. The economy underwent social, economic, and cultural differences, which were reflected by the development of road networks, development of railways, construction of metal tools, and sophisticated machines, which facilitated the growth of manufacturing industries leading to an increase in production. As the industries grew due to romanticism, human needs were simplified, and the living standards improved were it gave rise to classes of capitalism and communism in the economy.

Following the emotions expressed through romanticism in industries, the economy was divided into categories where the capitalist class used to manufacture goods and products which were useful for some individuals in the marketplace, therefore, creating a sense of individualism in modern culture and the rise of the capitalist who invested for individual consumption. The communist class used to produce goods and products particularly for all the people in the economy and, therefore, romantic reaction to communism set to increase the role communist in the marketplace, which offer products to the people at lower prices. Through romanticism, many problems undermining economic growth were highly addressed. In ancient France, romanticism was a representation of revolutionary art in the form of paintings, literature, and probably theatre. It profoundly impacted and changed the perception of art. It became the beginning of modern ideas. Concepts of contemporary like modern independence, which incorporates treating art as an isolated work. It was also discovered that in ancient France, romanticism had several effects in the French revolution was romanticism searched for direct communication with nature and romanticism treated human beings as a unique to clear rules were it assisted in social transformation through political independence. The role of painting was a poetic expression which explained the philosophical ideas of using color and movement of colors in different figures. Romanticism in ancient France usually featured mysterious lighting, symbols, mythological figures, and theatrical effects, which formed essential themes in capturing the most dramatic fashion through painting. The idea of art in France was used to paint the pictures of great heroes in the country; this idea was mainly enhanced by the power of French romanticism, which gave painters their ability to express their views of painting since their intellectual skills were considered in French reputation. Romanticism also focused on achieving political independence of ancient France when people were given the freedom to express their ideas on foreign affairs, and therefore exotic settings facilitated the political struggle for independence of the people in French. Romanticism led to the rise of the romantic era, which highly supported political, social, and cultural transformation, which marked changes in the French revolution, for example, change in romantic literature, changes in politics, and equality in democracy.

In Joan of Arc, the movie talks about the life of Joan from her birth in 1412 to her death, 1431. Born in the village of Domremy in France, she is surrounded by the horrors of war while growing. At age 11, she starts experiencing divine voices. She develops into a religious woman and, at one point, receives a vision of a sword. Joan takes it upon herself to help rid the France of the English. At age 13, Joan returns home and finds the English raiding her home. That is when she decides to see Charles, the Dauphin. Out of desperate military help, Charles accepts Joan’s offer to help and gives her the benefit of the doubt. They have a successful liberation, and Charles is crowned as the Cathedral of Reims and realizes he does not need Joan anymore. He frames her, and she is prosecuted as a witch and sentenced to death. Joan of the arc faces her death by being burnt alive, and in the Rouen marketplace, at age 19. Joan arc is a romanticist who was determined and radically different from other people since he used to sing and publish songs to identify the poor with their social status by underlying their background, which made Joan of arc to give her life for the idea of romanticism. Joan is said to have acquired inspired artistic and cultural works in romanticism for some centuries recorded to be six. Joan of arc tried to counter the existing long-running war between England and France as a romantic were northern France was a lawless frontier. Therefore Joan played  A crucial role in establishing stability and existing peaceful resolution between the two dynasties. Joan of arc regardless of being a peasant she believed that God had chosen her to lead France for the victory of the long term war against England, with Joan being untrained military she convinced the crown prince Charles of Valois to allow her to lead French army where France achieved victory over the English. She believed in deep love for church and its teachings, and therefore she called for peace treaties where the treaties, however, disinherited the French crown prince Charles of Valois and accusations of his illegitimacy hence this created enmity for Joan for her victory and campaign for peace and collaboration with the French enemies, this took a vow of chastity to Joan, and therefore she was disliked in the society.

The explorer, Christopher Columbus, has a thirst for sailing to India from Europe. His brother searches for funding of the adventure while Columbus goes to Spain. His expedition is funded by Queen Isabella, for the purpose of spreading Christianity. He embarks on a rebellious journey and meets a shocking discovery along the way. Christopher Columbus was also a navigator and had strong romantic feelings were he sailed along the Atlantic ocean from Spain hoping to find a sea route to India, and therefore, he made four voyages were some were burned and due to feelings of romantic Columbus had to swim to Portuguese shores for rest. After anticipating several other expeditions as a navigator to Africa, Columbus gained knowledge of the Atlantic currents flowing east and west from the Canary Islands. Through this work of Columbus, it was the intellectual ability which he had acquired from his romantic feelings, and therefore Columbus was to achieve his work duty of expenditions.columbus achievements were disagreed by many people. He went to queen Isabella to focus on the war with the Muslims and nautical experts. Still, they initially rejected him were Columbus continued to sympathize with the royal court, and after that, the monarchs agreed to finance his expedition. Finally, Columbus proceeds with his journey and his men visiting and discovering so many areas of human being settlement, Columbus used his ships for navigation and exploration. During his return, he gave a well-drafted report, and the court warmly received him due to his romantic sense of view.

Joan of the arc is an epitome of courage and idealism. At such a young age, merely 19, she faces death and a hostile one at that. In the movie, her philosophy seems more of a fiction than a real human being. The romanticists of that time defiled the idealism of medieval times and presented a whole new form of art. Her mystery and outstanding achievements leave many in awe. It is intriguing how a mere farmer’s daughter, who is uneducated and brought up in a remote village during the middle ages, interfere with the course of history. Some thought it to be a miraculous intervention, while others looked at it as a creative psychopath. Her visions and convictions make her join the rest of creative religious thinkers and changed the fate of western civilization. Her ideas were so real, and she saw saints who were commanding her to serve the French nation in driving out the English power and gave French victory through her romantic principle saying, “everything I have said or done is in the hands of God. I commit myself to him. “Through the confidence from her strong faith in God, Joan made achievements which were in favor of French, which again paved the way for the coronation of the dauphin. Due to her ideas and creativity in romanticism, Joan was with dauphin Charles when she was hailed as a heroine in France for the courage and bravery that she displayed in the battle fight, and her family was granted noble status. Joan later following her trial, which she faced bravely, was found guilty and condemned to death were she was executed by burning at stake, and her execution was witnessed by thousands of people. After sometime Joan was declared a martyr and became a symbol of the catholic league and therefore she was considered to be the epitome of bravery since her death she has been the subject of several works of literature, arts, and other cultural practices and become one of the nine secondary patron saints of France. This is achieved following her spirit of intellectual ability from romantic.

In Christopher Columbus, the discovery, elements of romantic spirit are incorporated in the film. This includes principles such as idealism, independence, rebellion, desire, loss, and sublimity. The foundation of American Romanticism is desire and loss. In essence, passion is the drive behind the romance. Without it, romanticism cannot be achieved. Hope and loss dominate the works of Christopher Columbus, the Pre-Romantic Writer. After being granted permission and funds for his expedition, Columbus goes on a journey, and he discovers a new world. The desire to have this newly discovered world immediately engulfs him. He is fascinated by the discovery and writes a letter to Luis de Santangel. In this letter, he tells him about the first voyage. In Columbus’ letter, desire presents itself when he shows how much he longs to conquer this new world. His words show that Columbus has an undying urge to conquer and name these new islands that he found. At the end of the quote, he even proclaims not having any resistance as an acclamation to his greatness. In addition to these islands, Columbus has a desire for more land tugs. This prompts him to send more of his men towards the inland, to go check if there were leaders and big cities. When the men return with no such news, the desire to conquer more land starts leering in his head again. The available ones are no longer enough for him, and he wishes to have more. Columbus decides to head eastwards along the coastline, and along the way, he makes another discovery. He discovers an island, and he names it Espanola, with so much hunger and thirst for it. The new world that Columbus discovered offered him a variety of sights, which were quite different from what he was used to back in his homeland. This new world captured nature in all its beauty and magnificence. This idealism makes the reader imagine and yearn for that kind of burning desire that Columbus had on this expedition. All this is made possible by the poetic language of art, where the expression of emotions is captured, and in this particular case, the desires of Christopher Columbus. The description of things in this film, especially nature, helps encapsulate idealism, one of the principles of the concept of romanticism. At some point, the trees are described as ones that “seem to touch the sky,” and palms are said to be “a wonder to behold.” Columbus developed a high interest in Espanola, with all its fertility, mines, and various fruits. To him, this was beyond perfect fulfillment.

The two films offer similar aspects of romanticism. Just like Christopher Columbus, the discovery, Joan was also full of desire to save her country from the English. Columbus was also filled with a constant desire to conquer the new world that he had discovered. It is this desire that fuels the romanticism in these films. Romanticism in these films, however, defers a little. For Christopher Columbus, what drives him is more of greed for more land, while Joan of Arc is pure love for her France. Joan’s desire is passionate and is driven by the visions she claims to be receiving. She decided to act on these visions and made it her duty to go help fight against the English. Romanticism in this film is compassionate and driven by selfless movies, compared to that of Columbus, which is propagated by selfish desires.

From the two films, the use of romanticism teaches us various things in life. From the keys of romanticism, we can draw moral lessons. First of all, we learn the importance of imagination. In this context, creativity is a vital tool when watching films. The films can take the watcher from a world of fiction to that of realness. The description and illustration of things in the movie also give one the curiosity of what it would feel like to be there. It somewhat offers a more in-depth understanding as to why characters in the film do what they do.

Secondly, we learn the strength and extent of expression of emotions and feelings. The idea behind romanticism is an expression of emotions and breaking free from medievalism. It is only through speech that we can communicate with the outside world. The filmmakers of these two films have demonstrated the critical points in these films through the expression of emotions. For instance, Christopher Columbus expressed his innermost and burning desire to take over the many new lands he came across. His interpretation of these desires makes it possible to achieve romanticism in the film. Joan of Arc, on the other hand, also expressed her love and affection for her country and people, hence deciding to go liberate them. Joan of Arc is full of emotions, and they are well expressed. The girl is depicted to be o full of love that she faces death fearlessly and with good courage. Also, appreciation of individual is well illustrated in the films. In Christopher Columbus, the discovery, Columbus makes a discovery that earns him the gratitude and respect of people. Jon of Arc is, however, not as appreciated a Columbus. Even after helping in achieving a successful liberation of France from the English, Charles Dauphin set her up, and she is accused of witchcraft. Her visions are turned against her, and they nail her right on the cross. He meets an early death, at 19, simply because Charles fails to appreciate her. She is burnt alive in the marketplace and feels her body melt away.

Conclusively we are able to realize that romanticism is essential and plays a critically important role in personal human life and his or her legacy. Romanticism can assist in social, political, and cultural transformation for a given society. For example, through romanticism, Joan of the arc is seen to use her intellectual ability and helps to set many people free from a long-running war between the France and England were Joan assist France to win the victory. Romanticism also satisfies the power of imagination through the work of Christopher Columbus, were he discovered voyages and new places through his vision of power through romanticism. Romanticism provides strength in expressing feelings and views, for example, Joan of arc is seen to convince the prince to be given positioned to lead the French army in the battle, Joan is not a military trainee, but due to her romantic feeling towards the love of the nation she leads the army, and it acquires a great victory. Moreover, it is found that through romanticism, people are able to evaluate their ideas, and therefore, they are able to overcome challenges and achieve their goals, this can be illustrated when Columbus is initially rejected, but after his Robby, to the court, the monarchy finances his expedition.

Work cited

“Characteristics Of Romanticism” eNotes Editorial, 15 Dec. 2010,   https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-least-6-main-characteristics-romantic-            229437. Accessed 10 Mar. 2020.

Eaves, Morris, and Michael R. Fischer, eds. Romanticism and contemporary criticism. Cornell      University Press, 2019. https://archive.org/details/romanticismconte00eave