summary

Summary

The poem «The Masque of Anarchy» by Percy Bysshe Shelley was written in response to the Peterloo Massacre in 1819, when a peaceful workers' demonstration in Manchester was brutally suppressed by the authorities. Shelley creates an allegorical scene where Anarchy, accompanied by the Pope, the King, and the Law, spreads chaos and destruction. However, towards the end of the poem, the figure of Hope emerges, urging people towards nonviolent resistance and the fight for justice. Shelley emphasizes the importance of freedom and equality, inspiring readers to take active steps against tyranny and oppression.