ABSTRACT
This chapter demonstrates mutability in both its positive and negative forms by reciprocal relationship, as the poems from the Alastor volume discussed. Compliments aside, had Shelley been in a position to hear such comments one wonders as to character of his response; satisfaction at accuracy of his own diagnosis of Coleridge's persistent quest to 'look down upon his own mind', or frustration with elder poet's inability to perceive sort of emotional schism which could result from such inwardness. A preoccupation with nature and consequences of a loss of poetic vision is developed further in title poem of Alastor volume. Once again, Shelley locates the origin of that loss in an inability to communicate with outside world, precipitating an isolation which condemns the protagonist of 'Alastor' to poetic failure, and eventually propels him towards death. As Frederick Kirchhoff observes, the poet is unable 'to transform private vision into public utterance and thus take rank among 'the unacknowledged legislators of the world".
