Persy Bysshe Shelley English Romantic English 11 AP

P.B. Shelley – Early Life Shelley (1792 – 1822) was a gentleman in the literal sense of the word – ie, he didn’t work. He was (ahem) educated at Oxford, but never went to class and was generally despised. He got booted out for a pamphlet he wrote called “The Necessity of Athiesm”, but it’s unclear whether the powers that be found his religious beliefs or his vegetarianism more blasphemous.

Marriages, Relationships, etc Shelley got married at the age of 19, a few months after getting booted out of college. His choice of bride was strange – a 16 year old school girl named Harriet Westbrook. Always a believer in “Free Love”, he invited his friend Thomas Jefferson Hogg to join them. Harriet was not amused. Shelley got turned off by her “conventional” views of marriage.

Relationships, Continued Three years into his marriage, he left his wife and child to study and travel. He met and fell in love with Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, the daughter of the intellectual William Godwin and the original feminist, Mary Wollstonecraft. Shelley abandoned his wife and took off to the continent with Mary and her stepsister Clair Clairmont, both of whom, it is noted, were more into his “Free Love” policy than his wife.

Next… Clair Clairmont was also having an affair with Lord Byron – surprise! 1816 – Mary’s half-sister Fanny kills herself Shelley’s abandoned wife Harriet kills herself 1816 – Shelley marries Mary, in an attempt to get custody of his kids. The attempt fails, largely due to his atheism (and one can assume his vegetarianism.) They were given to a foster family instead.

Next… Claire Clairmont had a baby by Byron – Allegra Mary had two children with Shelley, but they both died in infancy, in Italy Shelley found a “foundling” to raise – this little girl was very likely his own child with Clair Clairmont – Mary very likely knew this. Shelley believed that raising this little girl would get Mary’s mind off her own two children who died. Men!

Next… By the time Mary finally managed to have a baby that lived, Shelley had taken up with another woman, named Sophia Stacey. In 1821, Shelley was devastated by the death of Keats, and became depressed. Cure for depression – party with Byron some more!

Death Went out boating with a buddy while partying at Byron’s place Boat capsized – Shelley drowned Body cremated, except for the heart, which Mary kept Shelley had a book of Keats’ poems on him when he died.

LOL! A London paper took great delight in announcing Shelley’s death, writing: "Shelley, the writer of some infidel poetry, has been drowned, now he knows whether there is a God or not.“

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