Romanticism rose in the late 18th and early 19th centuries in the West. This era of history saw a transformation in human perception. The way people understood reality changed and the roles that individuals played within it became a focus. As a reader of history and philosophy of this time, I am intrigued by the shifts in collective thought. For the first time in history we see inner life playing out in the external world.
During a time of high artistic and literary expression, Romanticism embraced the concept of individuality. This new societal focus on the individual created an alternate perception of reality. This was the time period when the hero vs. villain narrative was, if not born, reared. Collective reality began to perceive that subjective motivations were tied to actions. And emotion, that difficult human experience of feeling, became an area of study. Armed with new insight into what drives behavior, the dichotomy of hero vs. villain evolved. Inspired, individuals used the concepts of Romanticism to judge their own motivations as heroic or villainous.
Romanticism was an after-effect of the Enlightenment era. Enlightenment thinkers spoke of rationalism and conformity; Romantics, flipped the script, and spoke of uniqueness and the power of emotion. This transition from focus on logic to focus on emotion made changes in many areas of society. Philosophers of this time period emphasize the importance of personal experience and self expression. Every individual, with their own consciousness, applies various good vs. bad aspects to the collective consciousness of society.
A new kind of character was introduced by Romantic artists; A multi-dimensional role that strove to embrace both virtue and vice. Heroes were written, not as infallible, but as individuals with inner struggles and doubts. Villains were sketched as having greater depth, their motivations and backgrounds explored. Both of these tactics of character development swayed humanity toward empathy. At an individual level there are many aspects to the hero vs. villain character–namely their motivation and their common human emotion. This complexity of character more closely aligned with the multifaceted nature of reality, where people are not simply good or bad, but a mixture of both.
The climate of artistic expression in the West during the period of Romanticism encouraged individuals to explore their own emotions and inner worlds. Celebration of humanity highlights the internal conflicts that each individual faces, acknowledging that heroic moments and moments of darkness exist in us all. The time dedicated to introspection paved the way for a refreshed narrative around the reality of perception; where a hero’s journey is not only fictional (external) but internal, as well. We are all the hero. We are all the villain. Romanticism allowed for the black/white dichotomy of good vs. evil to fade into countless grays.
Another beautiful and integral part of Romanticism is the embracing of nature as a source of inspiration and reflection. The depictions of awe-inspiring beauty in nature allows for individual connection to the present moment. Nature has been cast as the setting of humanity’s unfolding story. Billions of sub-stories are occurring within that same setting.
Nature can also be cast into a hero vs. villain role. It can both create and destroy; but it seemingly lacks intention. Therefore, this setting becomes a living part of every human’s story, representing the cyclical nature of life, where triumphs and setbacks are an expected part of the journey.
Why am I a hopeful Romantic? Because Romanticism is a beautiful part of society. Narrative reality shapes our perception of the world and our environment. Embracing the concept of individuality and actively exploring the depths of emotion has evolved into an essential skill. Our world is filled with contrasting perspectives and polarizing forces; the Romantic notion of embracing both virtue and vice within ourselves, as well as other, can nurture collective society and allow for continued growth of humanity.
In the story of the hero vs. the villain, which are you? And why?