Sucking the Life out of England: Problem with Authority, in Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “England in 1819”

Very often in poetry, the assumptions and opinions of the poet show through. In the case of “England in 1819” Shelley’s opinions are seen throughout. Percy, who was against authority in more ways than one, has written a poem expressing those views in isolated incidents.

           

 [4] Rulers who neither see, nor feel, nor know,

[5] But leech-like cling to their fainting country cling,

[6] Till they drop, blind in blood, without a blow –

In these first few lines of Shelley’s poem, he expresses the lack of caring by the ruler’s of the time period. Those “who neither see, nor feel, nor know” expresses that the authority does not understand or see how their actions are affecting the people. England, which was under the rule of King George III at the time, was in a dark state.

In this poem, especially these few lines, the reader can envision a country that is falling apart. There is no unity and England is a “fainting country”. The antagonistic views of authority, the rebellious nature of the people against their government in the rest of the poem suggests that Shelley’s voice is being written down and expressed wholeheartedly.

He leaves very little room, for improvement in the authority of England. Calling the rulers “leech-like” suggests that these rulers are sucking the blood and life out of their country.  The rulers, or leeches of society rely on others to maintain their rule for them. Leeches were very common during this time, used to help pull out bacteria and illnesses through the leeches’ sucking of blood. However, the overuse of the insects was known to cause death and even more illness. Instead of maintaining a healthy limit on what happened and what was done in society, the rulers clung to society and “sucked” out the resources, the supply and the hope. This is shown to be very crippling on society, as England is seen as “fainting” from a metaphorical loss of blood and life.

In line six of this poem, Shelley exposes the role the ruler truly has. He expresses that the leech is then full of blood, and then merely drops off, no longer able to hold on, due to reaching its capacity. However the last part of that line suggests the “without a blow” the leeches release their prey. Shelley suggests that no one is swatting these predators away. No one is successfully rising against the authorities that have been “sucking” everything out of society. These leeches receive many attempts to stop their domination over the society however, as Shelley explains later in the poem, the armies that are under the thumbs of the rulers/leeches put down the rebellious society. 

Through this comparison of the rulers to the leeches, Shelley tries to explain how terrible the authorities are, and how difficult society is during this time. Shelley shows the reader that leeches will come and go, and they will take what they want or need and then come back whenever there is a need for more. This pulling of resources, and suppression of society’s strength will soon show to be England’s downfall, and that the amount of power that the monarch or ruler is too large. Due to this fact, the people of England have very little success going against the government of their country.

Shelley gives the reader a very matter-of-fact view of the government. It sounds at some points in the poem that he is speaking in an informative way, giving facts and explanations. However, the poem also suggests Shelley’s frustration with authority. As touched upon earlier, Shelley had many problems with authority and control during his life. He was never without radical views. This poem however shows that his views had logical basis and that there was cruelty and despair in England, and that the rulers of the country were the ones causing the destruction, of the country around them.