Queen Mab: A Philosophical Poem

This section details Shelley’s philosophical views on the ideal society. The poem defies the common conception of humans as the center of the universe, depicting this as a close-minded and egocentric perspective. Because they are ruled by emotion and impulse, the structures they create will necessarily feature the temptations of greed, lust, power, and wealth. Instead, Shelley advocates for the destruction of the institution controlling morality in his day: the church. Arguing that it has misconstrued the nature of the universe, Queen Mab predicts that it will soon become obsolete. In its place, will arise a completely inhuman power—what Shelley calls the spirit of Nature. Because this force lacks any human psychological or emotional features, it will ignore prayers, bribes, and promises—unlike the Christian God, Nature will not play favorites. Instead, this impersonal energy only cares about fulfilling the philosophical concept of “Necessity” (Line 6.198), an idea championed by Mary Shelley’s father William Godwin. For Shelley, Nature’s necessity (or, its immutable and continuous action) is the constant renewal of life.

The poem contrasts this image of an emotionless controlling force and the empathy that humans feel for one another. In this section, Ianthe’s spirit speaks to Queen Mab for the second time, mourning the suffering of so many humans. Ianthe’s compassion symbolizes the positive side of human psychology, but it also offers an example of why humanity cannot guide itself or invent its own moral codes—while the evil twist morality to suit their selfishness, the good do not have the strength to do what must be done to bring about change.