*Poetry of an introspective nature was reactionary or, at least, a stoical
response to social failures of the time" (clark 143).  Importantly, though,
Shelley saw the poet as a revolutionary as well as introspective.  "The
contemporary state of manners and opinions was, in Shelley's understanding, one
of crises and latent revolution." (Clark 157).  

One must look extensively at the Prface of Prometheus unbound.  Here, Shelley is stating that he sees revolution as a latent subconsciousness in his society: "The cloud of mind is discharging its colledted lightning, and the equilibrium between instituions and opinions is now restoring, or is about to be restored" ().  He has, though, seen the results of the French revolution, and does not want such a violent recurence.

"Shelley understood the general feeling resulting from the revolution as the matricx for the literature of his time" (Clark 158).

After the aftermath of the revolution, many lost hope in it as a way of change.  "look at preface to the revolt of islam"  Shelley wanted to show in his poetry an ideal in terms of the state of mind of the 'collective unconscious'.  He did this in many of his poems.

ALASTOR