If winter comes can spring be far behind?
In this last line of his mighty ‘Ode to the West Wind’, Shelley not only states a universal truth but also gives us a message of hope. Winter here stands for ‘miseries and misfortunes’, and spring for prosperity and happiness’. Just as the cold, cheerless and comfortless days of winter are replaced by the greenery and bloom of spring, in the same way the bitter and biting days of misfortune are replaced by fair and smiling days of happiness. No misery is endless, no misfortune everlasting. Sooner or later they will come to an end. The dark clouds will pass away and fortune will smile upon those who are groaning under the burden of misfortunes. Just as there is a cycle of seasons in which the grim and lifeless days of winter are followed by the blooming days of spring full of life, in the same way there is a cycle of fortune also in which misery is followed by happiness. No misery is permanent; it must eventually give way to happiness. The same idea is expressed by another poet in the following line: the darkest cloud. Wait till tomorrow, will have passed away. Misery is just like winter or a dark cloud’ which will ultimately pass away. We should therefore, bide our time patiently till better days return. The implied meaning of Shelley’s question is that we should not lose heart in the face of adversities, but face them courageously and bear them with fortitude.
