Tennyson’s “Ulysses”--- the Representative of Victorian Times

Tennyson’s “Ulysses”--- The Representative of Victorian Times Tennyson, (1809-1892) a great literary titan, is the representative poet of Victorian Age and mirrors the most vital problem of industrial and moral life – “religious doubts, social problems, the revolt of the cultured mind against a corrupt society, pride in a far-flung Empire, the spirit of compromise so characteristic of the Victorian period”. He was, thus, a truly national poet and from a nationalistic view-point declares; “There is no land like England Where’re light of day be: There is no hearts like English hearts, Such hearts of oak as they be”. Tennyson himself said that “Ulysses” which was written shortly after Hallam’s death, (September 1832) gave his “feeling about the need of going forward, and braving the struggle of life, perhaps more simply than anything in In Memoriam (1850)”. Ulysses is one of his massive pillars on which Tennyson’s fame mainly rests. It embodies “the modern passion for knowledge, for the exploration of its limitless field, for the annexation of new kingdom of science and thought”. [Prof Hales]

Ulysses finds the meaninglessness of life which he has been enjoying in his hilly kingdom in the company of old wife and ruling over the savage people who do not know him. He wants to “drink life to the less” as a typical Victorian would have done. A life of indolence is no more than death. It is a life in death. A life of rest from all toils and moils is not desired. He has seen much and known much but is not satisfied with what he gained; for him as to the Victorians; “All experience is an arch where through Gleams that untravelled world whose margin fades For ever and for ever when I move”.

The adventurous spirit in Ulysses