How does Chatterton reflect the Romantic idea of a misunderstood poet?

In his 1835 play Chatterton, Alfred de Vigny reflects the Romantic archetype of the misunderstood poet by presenting the life and suicide of Thomas Chatterton as a symbolic representation of poetic idealism in conflict with a materialistic society.12

Vigny portrays the poet as a figure of "perpetual ostracism," whose noble genius is rejected by a pitiless world. By focusing on the final moments of Chatterton’s life, the play highlights the suffering of a visionary who is unable to reconcile his artistic integrity with the egoism and indifference of those in power. This narrative serves as a poignant critique of how political and social regimes fail to value the artist, ultimately driving the misunderstood genius to despair and death.2

Through this work, Vigny reinforces the Romantic belief that the poet occupies a central, often tragic, role as a seer whose sensitivity and moral scruples leave him vulnerable to the cruelties of a society that prioritizes expedience over beauty and truth.234