“Nought may endure but Mutability.”
Just as winter becomes spring and the young get old; humanity is accustomed to the world and our own liability to change. We are so susceptible to our fears of becoming irrelevant and forgotten with time, we become consumed by our image. The poem, Mutability, written by Percy Shelley in 1816 is a first person, poetic persona, which explores the concepts of change being unabating as well as human fragility and narcissism. It delves into the transitory products and nature of human life. Mutability causes readers to reflect deeply on the ephemeral qualities of mankind through it’s vivid imagery, and use of poetic devices such as simile’s, rhyming and repetition. The poem appeals to everyone as it explores ideas …show more content…
Shelley considers mutability inevitable and also the only thing able to withstand the effects of time, yet proclaims change to be the same. He sums up his notions of mutability, people and the passage of time by explaining that while the human experience is limited there are many inconsistencies that alter how we encounter life in the future. Our preconceptions and ideals are evanescent; life changes everyday and we are incapable of interfering. It concludes with all emotions ultimately amounting to nothing, regardless of how awful the day before was the next is already on its way. This tone derives from the realisation that mankind is unable to affect the vicious cycle of metamorphosis. This mutability will always consistently transpire and incapacitate us. The poem searches for an answer to humanity 's struggle to combat it, only to reveal our only option is to embrace those inevitabilities so we may take advantage of each day on account of it all amounting to nothing. No matter how we try to immortalise ourselves through perfect selfies, the number of likes or altering our bodies we are still disposed to change. The last line brings the poem to a full circle by making reference to the title in saying, “Nought may endure but Mutability.” Even the language used is testament to the thematics. It’s still comprehensible and the message remains relevant, but the words are outdated despite being considered ‘modern’ in Shelley’s own
Just as winter becomes spring and the young get old; humanity is accustomed to the world and our own liability to change. We are so susceptible to our fears of becoming irrelevant and forgotten with time, we become consumed by our image. The poem, Mutability, written by Percy Shelley in 1816 is a first person, poetic persona, which explores the concepts of change being unabating as well as human fragility and narcissism. It delves into the transitory products and nature of human life. Mutability causes readers to reflect deeply on the ephemeral qualities of mankind through it’s vivid imagery, and use of poetic devices such as simile’s, rhyming and repetition. The poem appeals to everyone as it explores ideas …show more content…
Shelley considers mutability inevitable and also the only thing able to withstand the effects of time, yet proclaims change to be the same. He sums up his notions of mutability, people and the passage of time by explaining that while the human experience is limited there are many inconsistencies that alter how we encounter life in the future. Our preconceptions and ideals are evanescent; life changes everyday and we are incapable of interfering. It concludes with all emotions ultimately amounting to nothing, regardless of how awful the day before was the next is already on its way. This tone derives from the realisation that mankind is unable to affect the vicious cycle of metamorphosis. This mutability will always consistently transpire and incapacitate us. The poem searches for an answer to humanity 's struggle to combat it, only to reveal our only option is to embrace those inevitabilities so we may take advantage of each day on account of it all amounting to nothing. No matter how we try to immortalise ourselves through perfect selfies, the number of likes or altering our bodies we are still disposed to change. The last line brings the poem to a full circle by making reference to the title in saying, “Nought may endure but Mutability.” Even the language used is testament to the thematics. It’s still comprehensible and the message remains relevant, but the words are outdated despite being considered ‘modern’ in Shelley’s own