OnWordsworth’sPerformanceofChildComplex.docVIP

On Wordsworth’s Performance of Child Complex in To the Cuckoo I. Introduction William Wordsworth, who attracts the eyeballs of both the researchers and critics, is one of the leading characters of the Lake Poets. The poet like Coleridge, remarks “Wordsworth is a very great man – the only man, to whom at all times and in all modes of excellence I fell myself inferior” (Griggs, 1956: 334). Although some researchers don’t regard Wordsworth as an outstanding poet, the majorities of the critics admire Wordsworth’s products and hold a relatively objective attitude towards him. In recent years, besides the discussions of Wordsworth’s philosophy of nature, Cui Li focus on the interpretation of Wordsworth’s child complex. The idea that “the child is father of the man” and that the “soul pre-exists” are the key points of Wordsworth’s child complex. Liu Xinmin gives examples to support this point, but he makes no further exploration into this issue. He believes that Wordsworth’s love of nature makes him happy and confident so that the misfortunes in his life do not have a negative influence on him. The precious memories of his childhood accompany him to the end. Throughout Cui’s study, it can be seen that Wordsworth’s child complex is one of the ideal ways for mankind to seek the harmonious relations between man and nature. However it still has its drawbacks. It does not propose a clear definition for Wordsworth’s child complex and the causes of the formation for Wordsworth’s child complex should be more thoroughly classified. William Wordsworth is really an admirer of the child. “The child is father of the adult” is the unique child views of William Wordsworth. He supports that the child is the origin of love and happiness. He appreciates children’s purity and wisdom and he wants to go back to a simpler, more innocent state of mind. The production of William Wordsworth’s child complex is related to his childhood, religious faith and life experiences. It is a fact that som