Essays – Page 18 – Hamandista Academy

"Ode to the West Wind" was a poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley, famous for its regeneration theme. Regeneration is the central theme of "Ode to the West Wind." Shelley was well-known for his great romantic poems and idealism. He believed that the happy future of humankind full of love, justice, and charity would prevail. Besides, a revolutionary concept in the poem reflects his belief in social changes and the moral reformation of humankind. “If winter comes can spring be far behind?” This line best reflects the main theme of regeneration in the poem "Ode to the West Wind." Here, Shelley prophecizes about mankind's golden age in the future by concluding the poem by saying, “If winter comes can spring be far behind?” In the last stanza of the poem, Shelley is very expressive about his idealism, his belief in the possible perfectibility of human nature, and the golden age of mankind. The Regeneration: Destroyer of the Old and Preserver of the New “Ode to the West Wind” is a magnificent poem that embodies some of Shelley's idealism. He reflects on man’s moral progress through the spirit of change, transitioning from the old to the new order. The west wind symbolizes destruction and preservation as it destroys the old leaves and preserves the new seeds. To Shelley's mind, it is apparent as the destroyer of the old order and the preserver of the new one. The west wind, therefore, symbolizes change, which not only depicts destruction but creation as well. Shelley also projects his personality in this poem. As a boy, Shelley grew with the same impetuous quality as the west wind mentioned in the poem. His nature was tameless, swift, uncontrollable, and free. The west wind, regarded as a symbol in the poem, resonates with Shelley's characteristics. This symbol, as Shelley believes, will bring about the golden age of humanity. The Sense of Regeneration in P. B. Shelley P. B. Shelley was a poet of revolutionary ideals who was dissatisfied with the existing order of things. He hated political tyranny, orthodox Christianity, wickedness, corruption, and evil, making human life miserable. He wanted to liberate humanity from the chain of political, religious, and intellectual slavery. This attitude of Shelley is reflected in the poem. He depicted the west wind as a symbol of those forces that will sweep away the old order of life, institutions, and beliefs. The last stage of the poem shows the west wind symbolizing the forces to become perfect while beauty and love are governing the universe. Shelley hopes that his dead thoughts will quicken a rebirth and, therefore, will establish a revolutionary change in human society; socially, politically, and religiously. P. B. Shelley as a Personification of the West Wind Shelley, being introspective, opt for personifying himself as the west wind, giving it an independent status. The poet dreams of the forceful nature to materialize and create a wondrous feeling. Shelley ponders the natural phenomena of human life in this poem. The poem may majestically depict a universal character, but it doesn't forget to leave a personal note. The fourth stanza is personal as it's autobiographical. The poet relates himself with the west wind. His appeal to the west wind shows how desperately he wills it to come and lift him like a leaf. He says, “Oh lift me as a wave, a leaf, a cloud,I fall upon the thorns of life; I bleed!A heavy weight of hours has chained and bownedOne too like thee: tameless and swift and proud.” This stanza shows the poet’s awareness of the misery and suffering of human life. He wishes that he should be lifted like a leaf to scatter his thoughts about liberty and freedom for the welfare of mankind. In the fifth stanza, the poet becomes one with the west wind, and he appeals to it to scatter his revolutionary ideas, which will bring a new period in human history. Shelley believed in the moral regeneration of humanity. Through this moral revolution, a new society's establishment is possible where a man can live in peace and happiness. Now, let's have a look at the figure below that summarizes the whole article: