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Why does England need the person Wordsworth addresses in London, 1802?

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Final answer:

England needs the person Wordsworth addresses in 'London, 1802' to restore the nation's moral and societal vigor, mirroring the virtuous traits Wordsworth saw lacking and needed in his time.

Step-by-step explanation:

England requires the person Wordsworth addresses in London, 1802 because, at the time, the country was plagued with moral and societal decay which Wordsworth believed could be remedied by the virtues and values embodied by the person he called upon. The poem is a sonnet in which Wordsworth expresses his dismay at England's deteriorating state and yearns for a return to a more virtuous time, presumably one exemplified by the poet John Milton, to whom the sonnet is often thought to be addressed. Wordsworth's plea is based on his belief that Milton's moral vision and dedication to liberty and natural beauty would help restore England's vitality.

Consideration of Wordsworth's legacy reveals that his personal life was just as tumultuous and nonconformist as his poetry, reflecting the Romantic movement's emphasis on individualism and emotional depth. Wordsworth faced the challenges of an early demise of his parents, a refusal to conform to societal expectations by eschewing a regular profession, being a part of the French Revolution, and dealing with intricate personal relationships. It is through this lens of personal adversity and sociopolitical consciousness that Wordsworth viewed England's need for moral and poetic renewal.

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