Thomas Traherne: A Neglected Isolated but Revolutionary Figure

The 17th century is one of the most tormented and complex ages in English history, were it only for the Civil War and the replacement of the monarchy with the Commonwealth (1642-1660). The political-religious violent conflicts involving Catholics, Anglicans and Puritans had an enormous impact on literature, which was profoundly involved in them. In the British literary scene of the time, there are poets who escape strictly religious and artistic classifications, including Henry Vaughan and Thomas Traherne. The importance of the latter has only recently been fully acknowledged. Traherne is an outstanding poet and profoundly religious figure, daringly and originally rowing against the political and institutional establishment of the time. He escaped classification even in T.S. Eliot’s rediscovery and celebration of Metaphysical poetry at the beginning of the 20th century. After introducing Traherne as an isolated but revolutionary figure, the essay discusses his idea of felicity as a dynamic, vital harmony between Nature, human beings and God within this world.