Week 8 Analysis: Literary Analysis of "Stanzas Written in Dejection, December 1818, near Naples"

Within the wide array of any writers literary tool belt lies various instruments to accomplish your goals. These tools range from various styles of writing, point of view and literary devices to resonate with the reader. In poetry, using nature as a metaphor, simile or place of setting can be used to artistically portray emotion, situations and lifestyles. Using nature filled imagery not only allows for the creation of beautiful mental images, but allows for rich messages and storytelling. In traversing my own history of reading poetry, I often think of the poets who use nature as a a direct correlation to explore their own feelings or experiences. For example Emily Dickinson's poem "1593" uses the terror of a destructive storm to evoke strong emotion; directly relating the chaos of a storm to the emotions of those who endure the event. Aside from direct parallel's to nature another example of using nature in poetry is creating juxtaposition between the subject of the poem and the nature that surrounds them. In "Stanzas Written in Dejection, December 1818, near Naples" written by Percy Bysshe Shelley, he uses the peaceful nature surrounding his narrator, to create the juxtaposition of how this individual actually feels within.

Shelley uses the juxtaposition of the calmness of nature to contrast with the depression that's felt inside; projecting utter despair into surroundings that are the antithesis of how he feels. The beginning of the poem details the peaceful beauty that surrounds the narrator: "The Sun is warm, the sky is clear,/The waves are dancing fast and bright," (1-2, 398). These lines along with the following two stanzas display the beautiful surroundings (the beach, sun, soft waves of the ocean), creating enticing imagery for the reader that takes a turn once exploring the inner-workings of the narrator. When describing the happy go-lucky nature of those that appreciate the beauty, Shelley switches focus; delving into the mind of someone who can't resonate: "Others I see whom these surround,/Smiling they live and call life pleasure:/To me that cup has been dealt in another measure" (25-27, 398). All of the beauty nature can represent to an individual (IE the beauty, peace, tranquility), doesn't resonate to this person. This makes me think of the saying "you never know what someone else is going through", can never assume of accurately understand the pain someone may be going through (not physical). This poem 100% evokes the importance of mental health. I can only hope poetry like this, and other art produced can continue to promote open discussions, allowing us to express emotions and resonate with others who are struggling from mental health issues. Considering this poem has a date in it's title, December 1818; we can infer the struggles suffered during this point of Shelley's life stem from the loss of his two children as described in the following, "The Shelley;s married with Godwin's consent, but their two living children died within nine months of each other in 1818 and 1819" (396). This fact provides context for why this poems themes. The juxtaposition between beauty nature provides and mental disposition of an individual viewing this environment is key for this poem. This contrasting imagery to emotion by Shelley is key to the themes and message.