The Revolt of Islam - Percy Bysshe Shelley

Summary

"The Revolt of Islam" is a long narrative poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley, presented as a vision experienced by the narrator. It tells the epic story of Laon and Cythna, two revolutionary lovers who dedicate their lives to overthrowing tyranny and promoting freedom, equality, and love in a fictionalized Ottoman Empire. They inspire a successful popular uprising against oppressive rule, only for the revolution to be tragically suppressed by foreign despots and the machinations of priests. Despite facing torture, betrayal, plague, and eventual martyrdom by fire, their spirit of idealism and unwavering commitment to their cause transcends death. The poem explores themes of political and social revolution, the power of love and hope against oppression, the cyclical nature of tyranny and rebellion, and ultimately, the spiritual triumph of virtue.

Book Sections

Section 1

The poem begins with a lyrical and symbolic prologue where the narrator, a poet, witnesses a struggle between a benevolent Serpent and a malevolent Eagle. The Serpent, representing the Spirit of Good, is defeated and falls into the ocean. From the sea emerges a beautiful Woman, the "Spirit of Good," who gathers the Serpent and carries it in a boat with the narrator. She then recounts the story of Laon and Cythna, an allegorical tale of humanity's struggle for liberation.

The story proper begins with Laon and Cythna, cousins raised together with shared ideals of freedom and justice in an oppressive land. They develop a deep, platonic love, envisioning a world free from tyranny, superstition, and hatred. Their youthful idealism blossoms into a desire to spark a revolution. However, their revolutionary zeal is noticed by the authorities. Laon is imprisoned and tortured, while Cythna is abducted and sent to a tyrannical emir's harem.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Narrator (The Poet)	Observer, visionary, recipient of the tale.	To convey the epic struggle for freedom and truth.
The Serpent	Symbol of benevolent force, freedom, uncorrupted nature.	To combat evil (the Eagle) and inspire liberation.
The Eagle	Symbol of malevolent power, tyranny, oppression.	To suppress freedom and maintain oppressive rule.
The Woman (Spirit of Good)	Embodiment of love, hope, and compassion; guide.	To nurture the seeds of goodness and recount the struggle for freedom.
Laon	Idealistic youth, passionate revolutionary, eloquent orator, unwavering in conviction.	To liberate his people from tyranny, establish a society based on love and equality, and reunite with Cythna.
Cythna	Beautiful, intelligent, equally idealistic and revolutionary, courageous, inspiring.	To free women from oppression, dismantle tyranny, and achieve universal freedom and love alongside Laon.

Section 2

Laon endures a seven-year imprisonment in a solitary mountain cave, enduring torture and isolation. Despite his suffering, his spirit is sustained by his unwavering ideals and the memory of Cythna. He is visited by a kindly Hermit, who, recognizing Laon's noble spirit, nurses him back to health and philosophical fortitude. The Hermit reveals that the world outside has changed, hinting at revolutionary stirrings. Laon, driven by a renewed hope and a desperate desire to find Cythna, leaves the Hermit's secluded dwelling.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
The Hermit	Wise, compassionate, reclusive, knowledgeable about the world.	To aid those who seek truth and freedom, to impart wisdom, and to heal Laon.

Section 3

Laon travels through a land ravaged by war and oppression, witnessing the suffering of the people. He learns that a great revolution has indeed begun, sparked by a mysterious and eloquent woman who advocates for freedom, equality, and peace. This woman has inspired a vast army of the oppressed to rise against the Golden King (the tyrant). Laon eventually rides to the capital, "Constantinople's Throne," where he discovers that the inspiring revolutionary leader is none other than Cythna, who has escaped her captivity and become a beacon of hope for the people. Their reunion is brief but emotionally charged, as they stand on the precipice of triumph, leading the masses in a peaceful, yet powerful, overthrow of the existing regime.

Section 4

The revolution achieves a miraculous victory, not through violence, but through the sheer moral force and unity of the people inspired by Laon and Cythna. The tyrant's palace is occupied, but instead of revenge or bloodshed, Laon and Cythna advocate for forgiveness, compassion, and the establishment of a new order based on love, reason, and mutual respect. They establish a "Republic of Golden Liberty" where former oppressors are treated with kindness, and the dream of an egalitarian society seems to be realized. The people celebrate this bloodless triumph, believing a new era of peace has dawned.

Section 5

The fragile peace is shattered by external forces. Other tyrannical kings and their armies, alarmed by the successful revolution, converge upon the newly liberated city. Instigated by vengeful priests who fear the loss of their power, these foreign despots launch a brutal counter-revolution. The people, unprepared for such violence after their non-violent victory, are massacred, and the city is plunged back into chaos and despair. The ideals of freedom are crushed under the heel of foreign oppression and religious fanaticism.

Section 6

Amidst the devastation, Laon and Cythna reunite again. They try desperately to rally the remaining revolutionaries, to reignite the flame of hope, but the people are broken and demoralized. They witness unspeakable atrocities committed by the victorious tyrants and their fanatic followers. Realizing that their cause is momentarily lost and to avoid further senseless bloodshed, Laon and Cythna, along with a small band of loyal followers, retreat to a hidden stronghold, heartbroken but not entirely without hope for the future.

Section 7

A devastating plague sweeps through the land, a direct consequence of the war, famine, and general suffering inflicted by the tyrants. The plague affects both the oppressed and the oppressors indiscriminately. Laon and Cythna emerge from their retreat to bravely minister to the sick and dying, regardless of their past allegiances. They become figures of compassion and selfless service, demonstrating their ideals even in the face of widespread death and despair. Their actions highlight the purity of their love and commitment to humanity.

Section 8

The tyrannical rulers, witnessing the widespread devastation and fearing for their own lives, interpret the plague as divine retribution. Manipulated by the priests, they declare that the plague is a curse from God, brought about by the continued existence of Laon, the primary instigator of the rebellion. To appease their vengeful deity and end the plague, they demand that Laon be sacrificed. Hearing of this, and seeing an opportunity to end the suffering of his people, Laon heroically offers himself as the sacrificial lamb, willingly surrendering to the tyrants.

Section 9

As Laon is brought to the place of execution, Cythna, disguised as a peasant boy, appears. She reveals her true identity and steadfastly refuses to let Laon face his fate alone. With immense courage, she declares her unwavering love and shared commitment to their ideals, demanding to die with him. Her passionate defiance and shared responsibility shock the crowd and the tyrants, yet they uphold the condemnation. Both Laon and Cythna are sentenced to be burned alive at the stake.

Section 10

Laon and Cythna are led to their execution. Their last moments are filled with expressions of mutual love, defiance against tyranny, and unwavering faith in the ultimate triumph of their ideals, even if it is beyond their lifetime. They embrace the flames with dignity and courage, dying as martyrs for the cause of freedom and love. Their physical bodies perish, but their spirits remain unbroken, serving as an eternal symbol of resistance and hope.

Section 11

The narrative shifts to an allegorical afterlife. The spirits of Laon and Cythna, now free from their mortal forms, find themselves in a utopian realm. They are reunited with the Spirit of Good (the Woman) and the Serpent. They embark on a spiritual journey in a boat through celestial waters, past wondrous islands and benevolent spirits. This journey symbolizes the eternal progress of truth and love, demonstrating that while their earthly revolution failed, their ideals and spirits achieve ultimate triumph and peace.

Section 12

The final canto describes this transcendent realm in more detail. It is a place of perpetual spring, eternal love, and absolute freedom, where suffering and tyranny are unknown. Laon and Cythna observe other purified spirits who have found peace and harmony. Their journey concludes in a magnificent temple, where they are welcomed into a timeless communion of noble souls. The poem ends on a note of spiritual optimism, asserting that even if individual battles for freedom are lost, the overarching cosmic struggle for good eventually prevails, and the ideals of love, liberty, and justice are eternal.

Literary Genre

Romantic Epic Poem, Political Allegory, Lyrical Drama

Author Details

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) was one of the major English Romantic poets and is widely considered among the finest lyrical poets in the English language. A radical in his poetry and political and social views, Shelley advocated for atheism, vegetarianism, political radicalism, and free love. He was a close friend of Lord Byron and John Keats. His major works include "Ozymandias," "Ode to the West Wind," "To a Skylark," "The Mask of Anarchy," and the verse drama "Prometheus Unbound." Shelley drowned in a boating accident off the coast of Viareggio, Italy, at the age of 29. His work was not widely appreciated during his lifetime but gained significant recognition after his death, influencing generations of poets and thinkers.

Morale

The central morale of "The Revolt of Islam" is that while direct revolutionary struggles may face temporary defeat and individual martyrs may fall, the spirit of freedom, love, and justice is ultimately unconquerable and eternal. It advocates for non-violent resistance, emphasizing that true change comes from moral persuasion and the unity of hearts, rather than bloodshed. The poem suggests that love and compassion are more powerful forces than hatred and tyranny, and that even in the face of despair, humanity must hold onto the hope of a more just and free world.

Curiosities

• Original Title and Censorship: The poem was originally titled "Laon and Cythna; or, The Revolution of the Golden City: A Vision of the Nineteenth Century." However, Shelley's publisher, Charles Ollier, refused to publish it due to its perceived controversial themes of incest (Laon and Cythna, though cousins, were initially presented as brother and sister), atheism, and radical politics. Shelley was forced to make extensive revisions, changing the relationship to cousins and toning down some of the more overtly anti-religious passages, before it was published as "The Revolt of Islam" in 1818.
• Influence of the French Revolution: The poem is deeply influenced by the ideals and eventual disappointment of the French Revolution. Shelley uses the story of Laon and Cythna to explore the causes of revolutionary failure (such as internal betrayal and external interference) and the enduring hope for ultimate triumph.
• Feminist Themes: Cythna is a remarkably strong and independent female character for her time, actively leading a revolution and advocating for women's rights and equality. Shelley himself was a passionate advocate for women's liberation.
• Symbolism: The poem is rich in symbolism, with the Serpent representing benevolent wisdom and freedom, the Eagle representing tyranny, and the plague serving as a metaphor for the destructive consequences of oppression and human folly.
• Dedicated to Mary Shelley: The poem is preceded by a long dedication to his wife, Mary Shelley, author of "Frankenstein," praising her intellect, moral courage, and shared ideals. This dedication is a significant piece of prose in its own right.
• Allegory of Hope: Despite its tragic earthly ending, the poem's spiritual resolution provides a powerful message of hope, suggesting that ideas and ideals transcend physical death and continue to inspire progress across generations.