The work is important because it shows the early political views and radicalism that would evolve in Shelley's later writings.Judson, Barbara. "The Politics of Medusa: Shelley's Physiognomy of Revolution." English Literary History, Johns Hopkins University, Volume 68, Number 1, Spring, 2001, pp. 135–154. In this work Shelley, in the guise of Margaret Nicholson, attacks the British monarchy as oppressive and burdensome on the people. He expresses his antiwar and antimonarchical views. He blames absolutist and monarchist governments for fomenting wars. These political views would be developed further in Queen Mab in 1812. This work is significant as the earliest expression of Shelley's political radicalism and reformist views.
