"To Wordsworth" by Shelley is both a tribute and a complaint. Shelley pays tribute to Wordsworth's greatness as a poet. But he complaints that Wordsworth has sold his freedom and dignity by accepting a Government job. Shelley wrote this poem in 1813, the year when Wordsworth was appointed the distributor of stamps for Westmorland.
Shelley calls Wordsworth the poet of Nature. A poet of Nature means a poet who derives more inspiration from the world of Nature than from the world of men. There is one loss which Shelley alone realized and mourned. That is the loss of Wordsworth's dignity after accepting the Government job.
Shelley compares Wordsworth to a beautiful bright lonely star:
This bright lonely star used to guide unlucky weak way-missing boats in dark wintry nights. He was like a strong stone-built shelter to protect others from the storms of life. He was poor but honourable and self-respecting in his poverty. After becoming a Government servant, he had no doubt, become rich, but he had lost his dignity strength and liberty. Shelley says that he is mourning Wordsworth's loss of dignity and freedom. Now Wordsworth will never be what he was in the past. This is the loss of which Wordsworth himself is not conscious.
Shelley calls Wordsworth the poet of Nature. A poet of Nature means a poet who derives more inspiration from the world of Nature than from the world of men. There is one loss which Shelley alone realized and mourned. That is the loss of Wordsworth's dignity after accepting the Government job.
Shelley compares Wordsworth to a beautiful bright lonely star:
This bright lonely star used to guide unlucky weak way-missing boats in dark wintry nights. He was like a strong stone-built shelter to protect others from the storms of life. He was poor but honourable and self-respecting in his poverty. After becoming a Government servant, he had no doubt, become rich, but he had lost his dignity strength and liberty. Shelley says that he is mourning Wordsworth's loss of dignity and freedom. Now Wordsworth will never be what he was in the past. This is the loss of which Wordsworth himself is not conscious.
