AnalysisofPercyShelley’s“OdetotheWestWind”
In'OdetotheWestWind,'PercyByssheShelleytriestoshowhisdesirefortranscendence,byexplainingthathisthoughtsandideas,likethe'wingedseeds'aretrapped.TheWestWindactsasaforceforchangeandforwardmovementinthehumanandnaturalworld.
Shelleyseeswinternotjustasthelastseasonofvegetationbutasthelastphaseoflife.Shelleyobservesthechangingoftheweatherfromautumntowinteranditseffectsontheenvironment.Shelleyistryingtoshowthataman’sideascanspreadandliveonbeyondhislifetimebyhavingthewindcarryhis'deadthoughts'whichthroughdestruction,willleadtoarebirthintheimagination,andinthenaturalworld.Shelleybeginshispoembyaddressingthe'WildWestWind'.Hethenintroducesthethemeofdeathandcomparesthedeadleavesto'ghosts'.Theimageryof'Pestilence-strickenmultitudes'makesthereaderawarethatShelleyisaddressingmorethanapileofleaves.Hisclaustrophobicmoodisshownwhenhetalksaboutthe'wintrybed'and'Thewingedseeds,wheretheyliecoldandlow/Eachlikeacorpsewithinitsgrave,until/ThineazuresisteroftheSpringshallblow'.Inthefirstline,Shelleyusedthephrase'wingedseeds'whichpresentsi
...
The'closingnight'isusedalsotomeanthefinalnight.The'pumice'showsdestructionandcreationbecausewhenthevolcanoeruptsitdestroys.Thisactsasanintroductionandaforeshadowofwhatistocomelater.'alsohelpsthereaderpreparefortheclimaxwhichShelleyintended.Itseemsthatitisonlyinhisdeaththatthe'WildSpirit'couldbelifted'asawave,aleaf,acloud'toblowfreeinthe'WildWestWind'.The'pumice'isprobablyShelley'sbestexampleofrebirth.Astherisingactioncontinues,Shelleytalksaboutthe'Mediterranean'andits'summerdreams'.Again,heusessoftsoundingwordstocalmthereaderintothesamedream-likestateoftheMediterranean.Hethenwriteslikeamourningsong'Ofthedyingyear,towhichthisclosingnight/Willbethedomeofavastsepulchre/Vaultedwithalltheycongregatedmight'.Percyseeshis‘dome’asavolcanoandwhenthe'dome'does'burst,'itwillactasa'DestroyerandPreserver'andcreator.In'OdetotheWestWind,'Shelleyusesthewindtorepresentdrivingchangeandacarrierforhisideas.