Transgression In Romantic Literature

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To what extent is Romantic writing concerned with transgression? Discuss with reference to any two Romantic writers.

To answer this question a definition should be given as to what ?Romantic Writing?and ?transgression? are. This helps to define the parameters of the essay. The dictionary defines transgression as ?an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct; an offence.? Furthermore literary transgression is described as ??.literature in which orthodox moral, social, and artistic boundaries are challenged by the representation of unconventional behaviour and the use of experimental forms? (Oxford Dictionary) Romantic writing or Romanticism is defined as an ?artistic, literary, and intellectual movement that originated
Elements of transgression appear in a lot of Romantic literature. For example Polodori introduces the idea of the dead regenerating into a being that is not only alive but one that maintains his life by sucking the blood of people. This illustrates transgression in two ways firstly that a dead person is regenerated and secondly the transgressive idea of cannibalism by the drinking of blood. The Monk: A Romance is a Gothic novel by Matthew Gregory Lewis also displays transgressive ideas. Elements of the supernatural and allegiance with the devil illustrate the transgressive theme of this story. Aside from Romantic fiction Mary Wollstonecraft in ?A Vindication of the Rights of Woman? Wollstonecraft states that women should be educated. Although this is not a transgressive idea now it was in the eighteenth
Frankenstein is also the typical Gothic hero in being of a lonely, dark and brooding nature suggestive of a Byronic figure which impels him to his activities and prevents normal, everyday life. He aims to produce life from death but can only do so in isolation. He is divorced from ordinary human relationships. He risks too much and ultimately has to suffer the consequences for his audacity and his sin of