What is prophetic?

After reading the works of Shelly, Blake, and Barbauld, my interpretation of Romantic prophecy is based on how each of these authors used real events to inspire fantastical ideas about the world. Shelly speaks of the West Wind, which is a real occurrence, and writes how he would like to be moved by the West Wind. The West Wind is associated with happiness and summer breezes, and Shelly’s poem focuses on the new possibilities the West Wind can bring. He writes, “Drive my dead thoughts over the universe / Like withered leaves to quicken a new birth,” asking for the wind to grant him new thoughts (Shelly lines 63-64). Shelly is being prophetic because he uses the natural occurrence of the wind to help guide his thoughts toward new ideas.

In the same way, Blake writes a poem about the Revolutionary War to warn America and Britain of the consequences of their actions. The poem is a recount of the war, but uses mythological and biblical references as the characters. Blake is being prophetic because he uses the references to explain that the war between both countries affects other countries around them. Blake warns America and Britain that once their conflict is over, they must check their relationships with other countries.

With Barbauld, she addresses Britain as it strains to mend its relationship with France. She warns Britain, “If prayers may not avert, if ‘tis thy fate / To rank amongst the names that once were great,” meaning if they want to remain a top power in the world, they must fix their relationships with their allies and enforce their power in an intelligent manner (Barbauld lines 71-72). The prophetic nature of her writing is revealed in her attempts to help Britain right the wrongs of its past.