The topic of this essay is the last line of P.B. Shelley’s famous poem, “Ode to the West Wind”. In the poem, the poet identifies himself with the West Wind, which, to him, is both the destroyer and the preserver. The line is an epitome of optimism. The poet has dead thoughts which he would like to be scattered by the West Wind like dead leaves. In place of these dead thoughts, he wants new and fresh thoughts to be born in him. As from an extinguished hearth, ashes and sparks are spread by the wind, so the poet wants his message of hope to be delivered to the frustrated mankind. As winter is sure to be followed by spring, in the same way, dark and unhappy days of life are bound to be followed by a period of happiness and joy. In his poem “Hellas,” he says, “The world’s great age brings anew.”
The key point is that, “Winter is the symbol of desolation and barrenness, whereas spring stands for joyousness and fruitfulness”.
The quotation assumes significant application to the present state of affairs. To be specific and clearer, the man today is passing through a period of miserable existence. The days of darkness and frustration constitute the life of man. But, we, the sufferers, are not ready to accept it. The world today is collapsing into a helpless state of boredom. The weariness, fret and fever of life have made man to deduce, “Where, but to think is to be full of sorrow”. We are crumbling under the mounting pressure of defeatism and self-frustration.
Even Tennyson, the representative poet of the Victorian age, says,
“Ring out the old, ring in the new.”
The same poet says,
“Old order changeth, yielding place to new.”
John Keats, another Romantic poet and a contemporary of Shelley, says,
“There is budding morrow in every midnight.”
Thus, most of the poets and thinkers agree that darkness and gloom cannot last forever. Even if one takes the system of nature, the darkest of nights has to accept defeat at the hands of the approaching light of the rising Sun as dawn shows its face in the East.
Today, various factors of life have made man morbidly tired of himself. We in our frustration are made to think that life is not entirely devoid of joy and happiness. It is wrong on our part to lose faith in the ultimate goodness of things. We must realise that in the course of life good and evil days follow in succession. Each follows the other as night follows the day.
Similarly, in life every period of sorrow and despair has to come to an end. It is followed by a period of peace, comfort and joy. We must have a firm belief in the goodness of things and have a strong self-confidence. There is no reason for dismay.
Indeed, it is human nature to welcome joys and condemn sorrows. But we must bear sufferings with patience and fortitude in the hope that as spring follows winter, joy will follow sorrow.
Most of us only concern ourselves with the present and blink at the future. Our vision is circumscribed by the difficulties and problems which confront us. The limits of the immediate cripple us. We wish, but dare not hope. We work but dare not expect. We are apologists in anticipation and defeatist in our performance. The buoyant spirit of hope and happiness is lacking in us. It is essential that we cultivate the spirit of hopefulness.
Optimism is the attitude of life which must be formed. An optimistic attitude is the healthy sign of life and struggle. Instead of being mere puppets in the hands of chance, faded notions and sordid illusions, optimism gives us indomitable will and lofty aspirations. It takes away passivity and grants pertinacity of efforts. It teaches fortitude, patience and perseverance. It is rightly said, “Practice begets facility” therefore, it is better to wear out than to rust out in inactivity.
“If hopes were dupes, fears may be liars.”
The best attitude in life is that of an optimistic stoic. Joys and sorrows should be treated in their own stride. They should be given equal treatment. Robert Browning was a highly optimistic poet. He had another way of looking at things. If he ever had to face failure in life, he consoled himself, saying that he will get his reward or success in heaven or in the next life. One famous psychologist of France taught men the art of auto-suggestion. He advised them to say unto themselves: “Every day in every way, I get better and better.” Auto-suggestion for a better and happier life is the great art in modern-day life which modern psychology has given to us. W.B. Yeats, the famous poet of early twentieth century says, “Cast a cold eye on life, on death, Horseman passes by!”
Thus, we must rest assured that our sorrows, if any, are shortlived and a period of joy awaits us.
Such thinking will always maintain our poise and peace of mind.
It is truly said that life is a mixture of joys and sorrows. Joys and sorrows are often compared to a pair of shoes. There is no escape route for us from either of the two.
Nobody has only happiness and brightness in life. It is said that Gandhiji was not quite good at studies in the school. But he had a very strong character. He was always truthful and honest. Once he refused to copy from the slate of another student the word “kettle” even when his teacher encouraged him to do so, and we all know to what unthinkable heights of greatness he reached later in his life. Thus, it does not mean that a student or child who seems dull or even stupid, may always remain so. His period of dullness may not last long or forever. He may show some new faculties undiscovered in him previously.
Like Gandhiji, Einstein and Churchill were also said to be quite dull students at school. Now, as we know, one of them became one of the greatest scientists of the world, and the other became one of the greatest statesmen of the world and the most popular Englishman. How did all this happen? It was because they had some qualities which were hidden or were not evolved in their childhood. As they grew up, their qualities developed and got revealed in the proper atmosphere. It all means that we should never give up hope. We should not entertain imaginary fears. We should stick to optimism in all circumstances. Victor Hugo rightly said, “People do not lack strength, they lack will”. This is the clear and loud message that we must always remember, “Being optimistic is like inviting happiness and prosperity in the circle of life”