Shelly chose to write an ode to the wind because she believes that the West Wind has a great impact on society both positively and negatively. For example, she says, “Wild Spirit, which art moving everywhere; Destroyer and preserver.” The West Wind can do things such as blow away the autumn leaves and welcome in thunderstorms. However, there is a larger concept to the wind when the speaker want it to affect him in the same way. I think it represents a medium for which the speaker can make himself known as well as sharing his ideas. The speaker wishes that the wind can have the same affect on him as it does blowing the autumn leaves around.
2 thoughts on “Why do you think Shelley chose to write an ode to the wind? Does the wind represent some larger concept?”
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I like how you go into depth on the speaker’s mindset in comparison to the autumn leaves blown around when the wind is calm. When speaking about the wind itself, do you think it may have religious connotations to it? If so, how do you think this would alter the speaker’s message and/or sense of self?
Referencing to what you say about the wind being a force that affects society, I do not think that it is something that directly does. The metaphor of the wind, being something that destroys and creates, doesn’t do any of these things directly. Shelley seems like she is asking for the wind to do something that may have an effect into some area of society.