Final answer:
William Wordsworth's 'Upon Westminster Bridge' celebrates the serene beauty of the city of London in the morning, a rare and fleeting moment that juxtaposes the usual Romantic period's negative view of urban landscapes with a majestic cityscape harmoniously blended with nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The poem 'Upon Westminster Bridge' by William Wordsworth is a celebration of the beauty and majesty of the city of London, illustrating the city in the tranquil light of morning. By describing the city as wearing 'the beauty of the morning' and lying 'open unto the fields, and to the sky,' Wordsworth emphasizes the harmonious blend of nature and urbanity. This is atypical for the Romantic period, which usually contrasts cities negatively with the purity of nature. However, Wordsworth finds splendor in the cityscape, an unexpected source of Romantic inspiration.
The primary benefit of city living, according to Wordsworth, is the ability to experience such unexpected beauty and majesty. Wordsworth's use of phrases such as 'silent, bare' and 'smokeless air' indicates an almost surreal peace, as cities are more commonly associated with noise and pollution. This complicates the celebration by hinting that perhaps this moment of serene beauty is as fleeting as it is rare, a diamond in the rough of urban life.
Factors that might complicate the celebration include the generally negative view of cities during the Romantic period and the recognition that the splendid scene described is a momentary experience rather than an everyday occurrence. Wordsworth's poem invites readers to reconsider their perceptions of the urban landscape, revealing the potential beauty amidst the bustle of city life.