In the early 19th’s century, the whole Europe was still enveloped in the dark of feudalism. “Ode to the West Wind” was not only the song of autumn, but also the sound of era.

In this poem, destruction, protection and liberty are three subjects. Shelly wrote that “west wind” was “thou breath of Autumn's being”. It is the storm of nature, what’s more, “west wind” is also the symbol of revolution storm.

There are 5 parts in the poem. In the first part, Shelly wrote “west wind” and “the leaves dead”. “The leaves dead” is compared to the decayed rulers. “West wind” is the “Wild Spirit”, destroyer and preserver. It will destory the decayed rule and create a new world. In the second and third parts, it emphasises the “destroyer” that the “west wind”acts as. “Angels of rain and lightning” are shouting for the storm. “Black rain, fire , and hail” are symbol of the destruction of the “west wind”. “The blue Mediterranean” is compared to the rulers, they sleep in the palaces which “overgrow with azure moss and flowers”, but the old palaces are quivering intense. The “west wind” will destory them and the rulers voice will “suddenly grow gray with fear” and “tremble”. In the fourth part, Shelly blends himself into the west wind, “lift me as a wave , a leaf, a cloud” shows he want to struggle with the dacayed rulers, though he bleeds. This part is the longing for bright future. The last part is the peak of the poem. It focuses on the power of “preserver” the west wind acting as. “Make me thy lyre” indecates that Shelly wants to be a lyre to spread the thought of revolution, “what if my leavers are falling like its own”. The most famous sentense of the poem is the last one, “If Winter comes , can Spring be far behind?” It implies that the dark is passing by, and the bright is in the near futhue.

The whole poem revolves around the “west wind”. It never uses any political term and revolution slogan. But after reading, we can still know it extols revolution more than nature storm.