Poem Analysis - Feelings Of A French Royalist

An Elegy for a Lost King

William Wordsworth's "Feelings Of A French Royalist" is a lament for a murdered French prince, likely Louis XVI, expressing outrage at the regicide and yearning for justice. The poem begins with a tone of hope and reverence, acknowledging the reburial of the prince's remains. It quickly shifts to anger and frustration at the perceived injustice, ultimately concluding with a sense of resigned disappointment. The poem uses strong imagery of both desecration and heavenly justice to convey the speaker's emotional turmoil.

Echoes of the French Revolution

The poem is deeply rooted in the historical context of the French Revolution. Wordsworth, though English, was initially sympathetic to the Revolution's ideals but became disillusioned by its excesses, particularly the execution of Louis XVI. This poem reflects that disillusionment, portraying the king as a "meek, loyal, pious, brave" figure unjustly murdered. The "blind worship" refers to the revolutionary fervor that led to the king's downfall, highlighting Wordsworth's belief that the revolution had gone astray.

The Weight of Justice Denied

One prominent theme in the poem is the thwarting of justice. The speaker expresses outrage that "willow bands" – symbolizing weakness and constraint – "tie the thunder-wielding hands / Of Justice." This powerful image suggests that the power to punish the revolutionaries is being deliberately suppressed. The poem highlights the tension between divine justice ("sent to earth from highest Heaven") and earthly realities, where political considerations often impede the pursuit of righteousness. The poem evokes this idea through the contrasting image of thunder, representing immense power, and willow, representing feeble binding. The idea evokes an overall message of unfairness and imbalance.

From Desecration to Reverence

The poem employs powerful imagery to contrast the initial desecration of the prince's body with its eventual reburial and the hoped-for reckoning. The phrase "pit of vilest mould" evokes a sense of disgust and horror at the disrespectful treatment of the king's remains. In contrast, the image of the remains "Uprisen--to lodge among ancestral kings" suggests a restoration of dignity and rightful status. This stark contrast emphasizes the speaker's outrage at the initial act of disrespect and the importance of restoring honor to the murdered prince.

Hope's Fading Embers

The poem also grapples with the theme of hope and disillusionment. Initially, the speaker believes that the prince's reburial might serve as a warning to those who continue to blindly worship the revolution ("yet, some shall now forsake / Their monstrous Idol if the dead e'er spake"). However, this hope is quickly tempered by the recognition that justice has been denied. The final lines, lamenting the "willow bands" that restrain justice, convey a sense of resigned disappointment. This shift from hope to disillusionment underscores the poem's overall message of frustration and regret over the unpunished crime. The initial tone shows promise, but the lack of justice brings everything crashing down in the last stanza. The emotional roller coaster adds a depth of meaning and complexity.

Final Reflections on a Royal Lament

In conclusion, "Feelings Of A French Royalist" is a powerful elegy that expresses Wordsworth's outrage over the execution of Louis XVI and the perceived failure of justice. Through vivid imagery and a shift from hope to disillusionment, the poem explores themes of justice, desecration, and the impact of historical events on individual emotions. The poem serves as a testament to the enduring power of grief and the longing for a sense of order and righteousness in a world seemingly turned upside down.