Mutability
I.
We are as clouds that veil the midnight moon;
How restlessly they speed and gleam and quiver,
Streaking the darkness radiantly! yet soon
Night closes round, and they are lost for ever:—II.
Or like forgotten lyres whose dissonant strings
Give various response to each varying blast,
To whose frail frame no second motion brings
One mood or modulation like the last.III.
We rest—a dream has power to poison sleep;
We rise—one wandering thought pollutes the day;
We feel, conceive or reason, laugh or weep,
Embrace fond woe, or cast our cares away:—IV.
It is the same!—For, be it joy or sorrow,
The path of its departure still is free;
Man’s yesterday may ne’er be like his morrow;
Nought may endure but Mutability.
Summary of Mutability
- Popularity of “Mutability”: Although Percy Bysshe Shelley started writing this poem in 1815, he published the last two stanzas in March 1816, winning further popularity for the poem. Since then, it has appeared in various collections, anthologies, and textbooks. The major point of the poem is the transformation and adaptability of human beings to circumstances as well as situations. The popularity of the poem lies in this feature of human beings.
- This Way Again” As a Representative of Adaptability: In the first person plural, the poet clarifies that we, human beings, are like clouds that come at midnight and disappear in the morning. At night, they seem as if they have dominated the sky and the earth, but they disappear as soon as the sun appears. Or human beings are like the old songs, which are sung in various different ways, and still they seem fresh and still bring something new. The poet states that we feel, rest, rise and embrace everything and there is a reason behind every change, adaptability, and resilience. It means that man will never face the same time again, and it depends on the mutability of what attitude they are going to adopt.
- Major Themes in “Mutability”: Human resilience, vagaries of moods, and adaptability are major themes of “Mutability.” Although the poem talks metaphorically about human beings in first person plural, he comes to the point of human resilience, saying that “It is the same” whether it is sorrow or happiness, as man has the power to endure everything. In fact, these vagaries of moods of human beings change, like the seasons or the clouds or the impacts of the ancient lyres. A man adapts to his situation very quickly during the day, and it continues throughout our life as we rise, rest, and feel whatever comes our way. Yet we have the power to show flexibility, resilience, and adaptability to this mutability.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in Mutability
Percy Bysshe Shelley’s use and expertise of literary devices are matchless. He has shown this artistic skill in this poem. Some of the major literary devices he has used are as follows.
- Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /a/ in “Give various response to each varying blast” and the sound of /o/ in “Or like forgotten lyres whose dissonant strings.”
- Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line in quick succession, such as the sound of /f/ in “frail frame” or /m/ in “midnight moon.”
- Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /m/ and /l/ in “One mood or modulation like the last” and the sound of /r/ in “The path of its departure still is free.”
- Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. Percy Bysshe Shelley used imagery in this poem, such as “Or like forgotten lyres whose dissonant strings”, “We rise—one wandering thought pollutes the day” and “Embrace fond woe, or cast our cares away.”
- Metaphor: It is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between objects that are different in nature. The poet used different metaphors comparing human beings to clouds and lyres for different features.
- Personifications: It means to attribute human traits to inanimate objects and ideas. The poem shows the use of personifications such as clouds and lyres or even sorrow having life and emotions.
- Symbolism: Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from the literal meanings. The poem shows symbols, such as the moon, lyres, night, and strings, to show human resilience.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Mutability
Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is an analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.
- Diction: It means the type of language. The poem shows very good use of formal and poetic diction.
- End Rhyme: End rhyme is used to make the stanza melodious. Percy Bysshe Shelley has used end rhyme in this poem, such as moon/soon and quiver/ever.
- Quatrain: It is a Persian stanza having four verses. The poem has four quatrains.
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows ABAB, and this continues until the end of the poem.
- Stanza: A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. There are four stanzas in this poem, with each comprising four verses.
- Tone: It means the voice of the text. The poem shows an interesting, exciting, and intellectual tone.
Quotes to be Used
The following lines are useful to quote when teaching about human mutability or resilience.
It is the same!—For, be it joy or sorrow,
The path of its departure still is free;
Man’s yesterday may ne’er be like his morrow;
Nought may endure but Mutability.