Essay Sample on Ode to the West Wind: Expressing a Revolutionary Vibe

Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ode to the West Wind" is all a revolutionary vibe. It expresses a desire to experience the regeneration of European politics. It also focuses on the deep longing to experience the restoration of human society with all its old traditions and customs. There is a longing for a free, happy world in which human relations are based on justice and love, and that is devoid of corrupt practices. The revolutionary air in "Ode to the West Wind" is evident in how it revolts against all the facades of conventionalism and dogmas, and all the laws that clipped freedoms from the citizenry to exploit them. Literary devices help to address social issues in a subtle creatively, yet incisive way. In this poem, Shelley uses several literary devices to express the gravity of the challenge discussed and the possible reaction that could be given. It is noteworthy that, whereas the poem uses terminologies that refer to nature, such as leaves, Wind, and the ocean, it speaks to the issues faced by humans. There is the aspect of provocation by a force that assigns itself an overbearing presence. The power becomes indifferent to the destruction it engineers. An iterative destructive environment results, which awakens the victims. Shelley interacts with nature using literary devices to illustrate his hopes for social renewal in the world.

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The first literary device used to express the hope for the social revolution is personification. Personification refers to the assignment of human qualities to inanimate objects. The poem employs multiple expressions of embodiment. When the unruly West Wind, has caused destruction and all nature is withered, the poet states that the Spring wind comes in to signal a regeneration. The blue Spring wind is assigned a feminine personality. The use of female reference in "Thine azure sister of the Spring shall blow," and "Her clarion o'er the dreaming earth" signifies revolutionary rebirth. The poet also refers to the Wild Spirit as a "Destroyer and preserver." The personification is crafted about the nature of the corrupt status quo. Here, again, there is an instance of personification. At the start of the second stanza, the Wild Wind is given the power of possession "Thou whose stream...," denoting responsibility. In stanza three, the poet refers to the destroyer as, "thou who didst waken from his summer dreams." The human trait of wakeness is used to indicate the status quo's indifference to the plight of its subjects. Also, the spirit of preservation of the status quo is addressed. Further, personification is used to demonstrate the awakening of the tranquil elements that are capable of revolting in "... the blue Mediterranean, where he lay, lull'd by the coil of his crystalline streams."

Shelly also used alliteration to characterize rebirth and revolution. Alliteration denotes the repetition of a consonant sound in the same line. Alliteration is used from the very beginning of the poem "O wild West Wind" to denote the gravity of destruction in the present situation, which signals the need for a change. The second instance of alliteration is used to present the destruction in a way that is relatable. Hence, in saying, "...the leaves dead are driven," the poet seeks to express how the weakened subjects suffer in despair, are phased out, and forgotten. The poet also refers to oppressive wild Wind as "Thou dirge/of the dying year," which yet another assignment of the responsibility of destruction on the normal rhythmic conduct of the insensitive oppressive wild Wind. There is also the use of alliteration when referring to the awakening of the oppressed. The blue Mediterranean is referenced to be lying in "Baiae's bay," where old palaces and quivering towers face the intense powers of the waves. When the revolution finally arrives, the oppressor is subdued. Hence, the wild Wind "suddenly grow gray with fear." The character also refers to the awakening that comes with thinking, which has made it overcome the oppressor's "skiey speed."

The poem also uses metaphors to reinforce the social revolution message. A metaphor refers to a figure of speech, which makes an implied, implicit, or hidden comparison between two unrelated things that share some commonalities. Shelley compares the West Wind to a "breath of Autumn's being," which is used to express the intensity and over the presence of the oppressor. The gravity of the destruction is further revealed as intense damage that affects all in, "shook from the tangled boughs of Heaven and Ocean." Shelley used nature as a metaphor for revolution. The power of the Mediterranean that lies lull but comes out full when provoked represents the people. There is also the contradiction that lies in the expression "angels of rain and lightning." The peak of the oppression presents both a challenge and an opportunity that allows for a reaction. Another instance of metaphor is found in the line, "the locks of the approaching storm." It signifies the clampdown that is expected with the increased intensity of oppression by the status quo. About the tipping point, the poet notes that the "closing night will be the dome of a vast sepulcher." In anticipation of the victory of a revolution, there is likely to be a "trumpet of a prophecy."

Shelley successfully uses literary devices to capture the subject of social renewal in the world. He personifies the elements of nature and uses them to paint the picture of the status quo and to denote the dynamics that could potentially lead to a revolution. The use of feminine denotation expresses a rebirth that will likely occur from the revolution. The oppressive Wind is referred to as a destroyer. However, there is hope as the personified nature acts back to initiate a revolution. The use of alliteration also helps to understand the social rejuvenation. The poet uses metaphors to paint the picture of destruction, indifference, and neglect of the status quo. It also captures the awakening of the subjects and their response back. The oppressor wind is denoted as being wild, which captures the gravity of the situation to be addressed. The impact of the oppression is also achieved through the response of the oppressed. Hence, the leaves wither, are driven and phase out. The oppressor orchestrates a dirge of death that is rhythmic. The use of metaphors further helps to visualize the use of nature to capture the situation and hope for a better future. Autumn is presented in a human sense and the wild Wind as an agent of destruction. However, the peak of the oppression offers bleakness, and an opportunity for the oppressed to marshal up their forces to fight back.