The Devil's Walk by Percy Bysshe Shelley
The Devil walks through London disguised as a dandy, observing that religious figures, kings, and lawyers thrive on human suffering and corruption. He reveals his true form to a statesman who serves as an unchanging lover of evil, surrounded by demons of war and famine. The poem concludes by asserting that reason will eventually expose the tyrant's cowardice and bloodless soul.
By Percy Bysshe Shelley · Genre: Satirical Poetry, Political Satire, Romantic Poetry · 1,505 words
First lines
Once, early in the morning, Beelzebub arose, / With care his sweet person adorning, / He put on his Sunday clothes.
He drew on a boot to hide his hoof, / He drew on a glove to hide his claw, / His horns were concealed by a Bras Chapeau, / And the Devil went forth as natty a Beau / As Bond-street ever saw.
Genres
- Satirical Poetry — The poem uses a satirical narrative of the Devil inspecting London to critique the moral corruption of religious, political, and legal institutions.
- Political Satire — It targets specific figures like Castlereagh and statesmen, exposing how power and law thrive on human suffering and bloodshed.
- Romantic Poetry — The ballad pits a grotesque, energetic imagination against throne, church and law—a 'brainless King', a bloated Prince, Castlereagh—and ends with 'the sons of Reason' foreseeing the false Tyrant's fall, a rebellious stance cast in popular verse.
Tags
satire · political-critique · devil · romanticism · social-commentary · poetry · british-literature
What this Textopian page supports
The Devil's Walk is listed on Textopian as a poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Percy Bysshe Shelley
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Satirical Poetry, Political Satire, Romantic Poetry
- Length: 1,505 words
- Structure: 1 section, 30 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Devil's Walk by Percy Bysshe Shelley
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