Secular Right on Lovecraft the Conservative

An interesting discussion has been held at the politically conservative blog "Secular Right" this past week. It involves the ever intriguing political transition of H.P. Lovecraft, and one commentator very effectively shoots for an understanding of HPL's views on government, culture, and art. Examining these components seems to be the most efficient means for arriving at any conclusions about Lovecraft's political beliefs. A more general difficulty haunting Lovecraft scholars has been the shifting nature of Lovecraft's political affinities, ambling across the modern spectrum from monarchism, to American conservatism, to fascism, and Rooseveltian socialism.

"Secular Right" is an eye raising production in that it espouses views close to Lovecraft's own for much of his life, so their commentary is an unexpected, but welcome contribution. One commentator even successfully digs into the transparent root of Lovecraft's alternating, but somewhat similar ideological views: "...Lovecraft was a pessimist and a conservative of a certain sort."

This is an important distinction that was true throughout Lovecraft's entire life. As the same commentator notes, Lovecraft's admiration of fascism nearly coincided with his support of enlightened socialism, as the Providence author dreamed of an idealistic hybrid between the two
ideas. What does this mean when one links it back to his earlier liking of monarchism, aristocracy, and the early days of the American Republic? It seemingly expresses a yearning by Lovecraft for a sense of order, stability, and even predictability in the world. This appears to be the thrust of much of Lovecraft's political thought and activity.

As a firm materialist and lover of science, as well as traditional art forms whose beauty lay in their ordered styles, Lovecraft was naturally bent toward different types of conservatism that prided themselves on bringing order to a chaotic world. The backward glances to colonial America and old Europe provided one model for Lovecraft. Once he realized how permanently extinguished the old hierarchies of Western society had become, he naturally latched onto certain promises by Mussolini and Marx that sought to bring back stability in a time of economic upheaval.

The positives and benefits for the inner mind and persona of Lovecraft, as well as Lovecraft the social entity, can be gauged by focusing on some of the prejudices and unrealistic expectations the writer harbored throughout his life. Here, "Secular Right" has done a thorough job too. It's refreshing to see a discussion of Lovecraft--and a political one, no less--thoughtfully carried on without the usual intrusions of modern political/cultural bias. Definitely read their full posting if you're looking for a unique take on H.P. Lovecraft as political creature.

-Grim Blogger