William Wordsworth and the Mind of Man

by John O. Hayden

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0942104048
• ISBN13: 9780942104042
• Release Date: March 1993
• Publisher: Bibli O'Phile Pub. Co.
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.7" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

An Outstanding Study: A Must Have for a Wordsworth Shelf

John Hayden's book argues that Wordsworth, while being an emotional poet as many scholars recognize, was very much an intellectual poet as well. In particular, Hayden shows the extent to which Wordsworth was actively involved in pondering eighteenth century psychology and philosophy. While he admits that some critics have explored certain passages in order to show Wordsworth's interest in psychology, Hayden's task is to create a full-length study of the subject. However, it is important to note that he does not, in fact, attempt to show Wordsworth's connection to the modern practice of psychology or even to the practice of psychology in the eighteenth century. Rather, he aims to explore Wordsworth's thoughts about the "mind of man" in the eighteenth century (3). There are a few chapters of particular note. Chapter two, "Wordsworth and Eighteenth-Century Psychology," takes up Wordsworth's acceptance of associationism, as expressed by John Locke and, more importantly, David Hartley. Although in this chapter Hayden strives to reject the Hartley-Wordsworth connection that scholars have advanced, the chapter also deals generally with Wordsworth's particular views concerning the activity (and passivity) of the mind, arguing that Wordsworth held a hybrid viewpoint that the mind was both active and passive. Finally, in chapter six, "Wordsworth's Psychology of Vision: Joy, Calm, and Insight," Hayden argues that Wordsworth should not be understood as a "nature" poet-at least not according to the traditional definition-because Wordsworth is constantly looking past nature towards a unified, transcendental whole. This chapter will be particularly useful to anyone seeking to understand Wordsworth's treatment and representation of the human mind. It is noteworthy, however, that Hayden's book will also be useful to those exploring the psychological interests of other poets of the Romantic Era-especially Samuel Taylor Coleridge-due to the sheer amount of eighteenth century psychology Hayden surveys and includes in the book.