Wordsworth advocated for using the language of ordinary people in poetry for several key reasons:
Authenticity and Emotional Power – He believed that the language of common people, especially those living in rural areas, was more direct, sincere, and emotionally powerful. Since they lived closer to nature, their speech was free from the artificiality and affectation of the educated elite.
Reaction Against Poetic Diction – 18th-century poetry was often characterized by elaborate and ornamental language. Wordsworth rejected this artificial poetic diction, arguing that it created a barrier between poetry and genuine human experience. He wanted poetry to reflect real human emotions and experiences in a natural way.
Democratization of Poetry – By using the ordinary language of common people, Wordsworth sought to make poetry more accessible to a wider audience, rather than restricting it to the aristocratic and highly educated classes. He believed poetry should appeal to universal human emotions rather than rely on complex or grandiose language.
Philosophy of Nature and the Human Mind – Wordsworth saw a deep connection between nature and human emotions. He believed that rural life was more in harmony with nature, leading to purer and more profound feelings. The language of common people, shaped by this natural setting, was thus more suited to expressing deep and universal truths.
Poetry as "The Spontaneous Overflow of Powerful Feelings" – Wordsworth argued that poetry originates from deep emotion, recollected in tranquility. He felt that ordinary language, when used with artistic sensitivity, could capture these emotions more effectively than the artificial diction of the past.
