The Nineteenth Century gives me real insights into human and social issues that are still current in the 21st century. 

Throughout this unit, through blogging many mediums that explore into the 19^th century literature has taught me insight about the social issues that prevailed during its time. From the prominent issues that plagued the 19^th century such as the development of industrialization and political debate. Henceforth, this resulted in a number of human and societal issues. Developments of utilitarian mentalities became prevalent leading to the rejection of emotion due to the domineering societal matters. This led to a range of historical movements that involved revolutionary social change and reformation. However, this utilitarian mindset has reappeared and remains prevalent in the 21^st century. 

For my first blog, is an argumentative piece disagreeing with Dorothy Wordsworth’s criticism of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s domestic lifestyle suggesting he abandon it, in exchange for adventures witnessing nature.  In my argument, I disagreed with the extremities that Wordsworth suggests in abandoning his domestic life, arguing that the working people relate to Coleridge’s focus on the everyday would be lost. Coleridge’s poetry influences the working class through its relatability in striving for the better, in wanting revolution. I believe this relatability and self-reflection is relevant to the 21^st century in reaching the people to strive for a better future, from those that are oppressed by modern industrialisation. 

In my second blog, I explore the philosophy and teachings of the Romantics that opposed the 19^th century society by self-reflecting of “Expostulation and Reply” a poem by William Wordsworth’s. In this poem, Wordsworth suggests that a phenomenon that can only be captured through nature, which he describes as “wise passiveness”. Wordsworth argues this “wise passiveness” cannot be achieved through man-made constructions. In my blog, I personally self-reflect, phenomenon by reconnecting my spirituality with nature, appreciating its aesthetic natural beauty. By doing so, I better understand that “wise passiveness” is not something learnt, but it can only be experienced in bonding with nature, emphasising the importance of remaining connected with nature. Through this blog of self-reflection, I, someone in from the 21^st century have gained insight towards what the Romantics hoped human beings in industrialised logic driven society would realise they were missing in their dissonance with nature. 

The third blog portrays the values instilled during the enlightenment era, that the Romantics countered seen in ‘A Young Lady Holding a Pug Dog’ by Francis Boucher. I discuss the how the portrait portrays the values of the hierarchical status juxtaposed to the Romantic’s focus on the divinity of nature. This Romantic belief that humanity should connect with nature to stimulate the mind, is a notion that I believe contemporary society has been long forgotten. In this blog, I reflect upon the values of the enlightenment and refer to 21^st centuries current value in higher wealth, class and celebrity obsession, will bring happiness. As well as the natural resources that are exploited I emphasis with what the Romantics considered an issue in the 19^th century and a continuing issue in modern society, in needing to remind people that interacting with nature is a necessity for thriving society and a fulfilling life. 

My fourth and final blog is a letter to Charles Dickens’ character Louisa Gradgrind from ‘Hard Times’ where I sympathize with what has the cause and consequences of what’s happened in her life.  The novel explores how humanities obsession with factual information, and compassion and modesty have lost value with detrimental consequences. This is most prevalent with Louisa Gradgrind’s factual upbringing that has caused severe social issues with her inability to comprehend and understand the feelings of herself and others. This idea that in our modern society the media we consume is obsessed with “facts” is still enforced through the media we consume. Delving into ‘Hard Times’, a book regarding the 19^th century has made me realised the consequences that come from depriving one of their imagination and emotions. Comes with detrimental consequences that deprives humanity of their potential. 

In conclusion, the exploration of societal issues of that the Romantics opposed in the 19^th century has made me more sensitive towards the problems that remain significant in the 21^st century. We are more than ever obsessed with wealth, ‘aristocracy’ and technology adhering to a industrialised society that exploits the power nature instead of respecting. These social issues are reflected in many modern societal and human issues that can be reflected to the 19^th century.