Legacy of Romanticism

The Romantic Period was a period characterized by dramatic changes in the views of people and their way of thinking. Nearly all the attitudes and tendencies of the eighteenth century including classicism and rationalism were redefined or changed dramatically. A great deal of values that were considered important, were replaced by new ones that nowadays “rule” over our appreciation towards certain things. However, these changes brought with them both positive and negative drawbacks and influences.

For example, Romantic values emphasized self expression. They encouraged the expression of a person’s most intimate feelings and opinions. In turn, people spoke up and expressed their opinions towards certain policies, without the fear of being accused of treachery. An example of this is Lord Byron’s Speech to Parliament. In his writings he defended the lower class of society. In addition, he criticized the way the higher class was taking advantage of the necessi...