Mutability

Shelley’s “Mutability” Change is inevitable. Change is inevitable. Human kind is weak and whether men accept it or not, change occurs. Change is the only element of mankind that will never change. A person will not react the same way when given the same situation twice; nothing, not thoughts nor feelings will last--only change. “Mutability” by Percy Bysshe Shelley exudes the fact that people never stop changing because of the everyday circumstances they must go through in life. When a fragile human is thrown the same situation twice, even if it’s a natural, everyday one, that human will doubted react the same way or think the same thoughts. Shelley says meaningfully, “We rest.—A dream has power to poison sleep.” Every night we, as humans, go to sleep. However, a nightmarish reoccurring dream, for example, could make sleep an awful experience every single night and change you by creating a fear of resting. Then, when we wake, we start to consciously think. People could be cheery all day thinking about how wonderful life is, although they could also wonder what kinds of bacteria were on the door he or she just opened, what pollutants they are breathing in with every inhale, the kinds of natural disasters that could become them and destroy their life in an instant. These thoughts create a fear to live, to be venturous; this changes a person. Shelley says metaphorically, “We rise.—One wandering thought pollutes the day.” This goes to show that a person will not react the same way when given the same situation twice. Nothing in this world will last except change. We will all die sooner or later so our lives, bodies, worldly possessions will not last; people move around, meet new people, find new friends, so friends will not last; humans are always changing their minds, so thoughts, feelings, emotions; none of it will last. The only element of a person that will last is their ability to change. In one stanza, Shelley compares men to lyres, musical instruments much