William Cowper (1731-1800)

Of Himself

Social Anxiety Portrait

Cowper describes extreme social bashfulness, using humor to explore social awkwardness.

William was once a bashful youth,
His modesty was such,
That one might say (to say the truth)
He rather had too much.
Some said that it was want of sense,
And others, want of spirit,
(So blest a thing is impudence,)

Impudence as Social Skill

Satirical observation that social confidence ('impudence') is often mistaken for intelligence.

While others could not bear it.
But some a different notion had,
And at each other winking,
Observ'd, that though he little said,
He paid it off with thinking.
Howe'er, it happen'd, by degrees,

Self-Transformation Narrative

Tracks gradual social transformation through small behavioral changes: dress, conversation, confidence.

He mended and grew perter,
In company was more at ease,
And dress'd a little smarter:
Nay, now and then would look quite gay,
As other people do;
And sometimes said, or tried to say,
A witty thing or so.
He eyed the women, and made free

Performative Masculinity

Notes how men perform social masculinity by commenting on women's appearances.

To comment on their shapes,
So that there was, or seem'd to be,
No fear of a relapse.
The women said, who thought him rough,
But now no longer foolish,
The creature may do well enough,
But wants a deal of polish.
At length, improv'd from head to heel,
'Twere scarce too much to say,
No dancing bear was so genteel,
Or half so dégagé.
Now, that a miracle so strange
May not in vain be shown,
Let the dear maid who wrought the change
E'er claim him for her own.
Source Wikipedia Poetry Foundation

Reading Notes

Social Performance and Self-Mockery

Cowper uses self-deprecating humor to explore social anxiety and transformation. The poem tracks a bashful man's journey from extreme social awkwardness to performative confidence.

The narrative arc is deliberately comic: from a youth so shy he's almost paralyzed to someone deliberately mimicking social behaviors. By comparing himself to a 'dancing bear', Cowper suggests social performance is often artificial and learned.

18th Century Social Expectations

[CONTEXT: Georgian era social norms demanded performative masculinity and wit]. The poem reveals how social capital was constructed through appearance, conversation, and confident demeanor.

Notice how external judgment drives the protagonist's transformation: women's critiques, peers' observations, and social pressure all contribute to his 'improvement'. The final stanza's romantic twist suggests personal transformation is ultimately about attracting romantic attention.