Victorian Period

R.J Thompson

British Literature

Ms. Wilson

15 May 2013

To an Athlete Dying Young

           

            The Victorian Period was a time much different from the Neoclassical Era and Romantic Period in the sense that it did not revolve around feelings of optimism but feelings of pessimism. It was often categorized by a period of loss in faith, despair, and isolation. It was more of a dark period than the other two and people had a much more harsh outlook on life. The confidence, happiness, and imagination of the Romantic Period were starting to fade. Moral and religious criticisms were popular thoughts and many writers turned to writing about oppression, loss, and the cruelties of the changing world. It has also been thought that the Victorian period looked fondly upon heroes, mostly because they hoped that times of hope and glory would come again.

            Even some of the most inspirational and famous pieces from the Victorian Period were written with a pessimistic view on life in one way or another. It was a time of many changes, similar to the Romantic Period and had a much stronger focus on reality. It was a time where more emphasis was placed on social classes and being successful was praised.

            One example of a poem written in the Victorian Period is To An Athlete Dying Young by A.E. Housman. Contrary to the title, the poem is not a poem written in memory of an athlete who was lost at a young age. It instead has a much darker and pessimistic meaning to it, very characteristic of the pieces of the Victorian Period. The true message of the poem can be summed up briefly by the thought that people should die while in their glory days before their lives get worse. Housman says, “Smart lad, to slip betimes away, From fields where glory does not stay”. By this he is saying that it would be smart to leave this world where glory is only short lived. He backs up this idea of fading glory by then proceeding to say, “And early though the laurel grows, It withers quicker than the rose”. Younger days can be thought of as glory days where all the glory and happiness and fame grows very quickly. However, Housman points out that this glory fades very quickly. Before you know it, it is gone and you are left with only the harsh reality of life.

            Another point that Housman makes is that dying while you are young will allow you to be remembered for all of these glories. He says, “Runners whom renown outran. And the name died before the man” implying that a person’s name will die before they get the chance to. Not only will you be left without your glory, but you will be of no importance to anyone anymore and will become forgotten. All good things must come to an end and it is best to get out while you can. By dying in your prime you can be sure that your life will be celebrated and your legend will live on in people’s memories forever. “Now you will not swell the rout     

Of lads that wore their honours out” is Housman once again telling the athlete who died young that he is lucky. He will never have to go down a path of disappointment and face the horrible world.

            All of the above quotes tie this piece to the Victorian Period. As mentioned before, it was a time of pessimistic thoughts, such as dying young being the best way to go. Although Housman most likely does not mean this literally, the message itself is full of sorrow and is a depressing outlook on life. This poem also indirectly touches on the struggles of life after young glory days. Struggle and strife were also defining characteristics of the Victorian Period, which are similar to the idea of the cruel world and its oppression. The theme of isolation can also be picked up on subtly in this poem through the feeling that after glory there was nothing but alienation and separation from the world. You were forever alone to be remembered by no one, almost betrayed in a way. This thought or fear of isolation and alienation was very common amongst the people of the Victorian Period. It could also show that Housman was in a period of isolation. He could have been feeling alienated and forgotten by the world so he was almost jealous of the athlete who died young because he got a chance to go before he experienced this feeling. The darkness of the Victorian Period never got a chance to take its toll on the young athlete and all of his glory.

            All together, the Victorian Period stands apart from both the Romantic Period and the Neoclassical Era. Its dark times are very different from the hopefully emotions and imaginations of previous periods. It was a time of a lot of change that brought about a great change in writing styles as well. Through the pessimistic views of the people came great poems like To An Athlete Dying Young that will serve as examples of the thoughts, struggles, and beliefs of the writers of the Victorian Period.