'The Flower that Smiles Today' | Shelley's Philosophy of Life

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) was a prominent figure of Romantic period in English Literature. He has created gems of poetry. Unfortunately, he could not get fame during his life time but after his death, his poetry reached the Alpine peak. He is one of the second generation Romantic poets (Byron, Shelley and Keats). He died in a boat accident at the age of 29.

His masterpiece ‘The Flower that Smiles Today’ is a manifesto of Shelley’s philosophy of life. Despite the fact that he was an atheist, he held a strong belief that life is a boon of nature. Man, instinctively dwells only on the delightful aspects of life and tries to run away from its bitter realities. But the fact is that life and all the things associated with it are transitory and are liable to parish one day. Therefore, he cried;

“The flower that smiles to-day,

To-morrow dies.”

Shelley’s philosophy of life poses a contrast with that of his contemporary cohort 'John Keats' who held a lifelong creed that ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever’. Nevertheless, Shelley restated this statement with an addition and opined that ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever which evanesces in near future’. Flowers look beautiful and spread a variety of fragrance. Their colourful petals give a feeling of softness. They become a great source of delight but one thing is inevitable that they wither after a short time. Similarly, pleasures come like a bubble which winks and dies.

Then Shelley makes use of a rare metaphor to elaborate his point of view. He compares the shortlivedness of delight with the life span of lightning which flashes and disappears with a single blink. It brings light to the night which cannot be compared with light that a day fills. Rather, it seems to mock at the night meaning thereby that delight shines bright like the lightning amidst the gloomy period of life, represented here as night, but being too short lived, it cannot fill life with mere delight, delight and nothing but delight.

No doubt, passions like love, friendship and virtue are great sources of delight. But love ends in smoke, friends leave us in lurch whereas involuntary virtues are kicked for voluntary vices. Consequently, despair sneers at our face.

“But we, though soon they fall,

Survive their joy, and all

Which ours we call.”

Finally, Shelley wants to convey a message to humanity that man must enjoy the pleasures of life to the utmost but he must be prepared for a gloomy period well in advance because spring follows autumn and vice versa. It will endow him strength, perseverance and hope to stand with evanescence. This is how Shelley gives a final touch to his philosophy;

“While yet the calm hours creep,

Dream thou – and from thy sleep,

Then wake to weep.”

To cut the matter short, we may claim that Shelley’ philosophy of life is a valuable message for humanity. He teaches a new way of life to the desperate people. There will be no fear of contradiction if we call him a great poet of his time.

Poem: 'The flower that smiles to-day'

(Percy Bysshe Shelley)

The flower that smiles to-day

To-morrow dies;

All that we wish to stay

Tempts and then flies.

What is this world's delight?

Lightning that mocks the night,

Brief even as bright.

Virtue, how frail it is!

Friendship how rare!

Love, how it sells poor bliss

For proud despair!

But we, though soon they fall,

Survive their joy, and all

Which ours we call.

Whilst skies are blue and bright,

Whilst flowers are gay,

Whilst eyes that change ere night

Make glad the day;

Whilst yet the calm hours creep,

Dream thou—and from thy sleep

Then wake to weep.