Mutability (First published in 1815) by William Wordsworth (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis)

 

Mutability (First published in 1815)

by William Wordsworth

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis) 

Mutability

From low to high doth dissolution climb,

And sink from high to low, along a scale

Of awful notes, whose concord shall not fail;

A musical but melancholy chime,

Which they can hear who meddle not with crime,

Nor avarice, nor over-anxious care.

Truth fails not; but her outward forms that bear

The longest date do melt like frosty rime,

That in the morning whitened hill and plain

And is no more; drop like the tower sublime

Of yesterday, which royally did wear

His crown of weeds, but could not even sustain

Some casual shout that broke the silent air,

Or the unimaginable touch of Time.

 

Summary

In the sonnet Mutability, William Wordsworth meditates on the ever-changing nature of all things in the world. The poem begins by describing how everything, regardless of its position or strength, is subject to decay and dissolution. This process of decline is not limited to lower or insignificant things but also affects what is elevated or majestic. Wordsworth captures this movement from low to high and back again, describing it as a continuous and inevitable descent or shift across a “scale of awful notes.” This metaphor suggests a musical sequence, where the harmony created is not cheerful but “melancholy,” marked by sadness. The sound of this melancholic music is perceptible to those who lead morally simple lives, free from crime, greed, or obsessive worry.

The poet then shifts his focus to the concept of Truth. He clarifies that Truth itself remains constant; it does not fail. However, the external forms and expressions of Truth—those that appear stable and long-lasting—do not endure forever. They dissolve or vanish, much like “frosty rime,” the thin layer of frost that appears white and beautiful on hills and fields in the early morning but disappears quickly with the rising sun. Through this simile, Wordsworth highlights how temporary even the most seemingly enduring appearances can be.

To reinforce this point, the poet presents another image: that of a lofty tower, which once stood in grandeur and wore its “crown of weeds” like a king. This tower, though royal and strong in appearance, could not withstand even a “casual shout” or the faint “touch of Time.” These phrases suggest that even something that seems permanent and powerful can crumble from the smallest disturbance or merely through the passing of time.

Throughout the poem, Wordsworth emphasizes that mutability—change, decay, and dissolution—is a force that governs all things. Nothing remains the same, and even the most steadfast structures or appearances eventually yield to time’s inevitable and invisible influence.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

From low to high doth dissolution climb,

→ Decay and destruction rise from the lowest things to the highest.

 

And sink from high to low, along a scale

→ And they also fall from great heights to the lowest depths, like notes on a scale,

 

Of awful notes, whose concord shall not fail;

→ Forming a powerful, solemn harmony that never ceases.

 

A musical but melancholy chime,

→ It’s like music, but filled with sadness.

 

Which they can hear who meddle not with crime,

→ This sorrowful tune is heard by those who live pure lives,

 

Nor avarice, nor over-anxious care.

→ Who are not greedy or overly worried.

 

Truth fails not; but her outward forms that bear

→ Truth itself doesn’t change, but the physical or visible forms that express it

 

The longest date do melt like frosty rime,

→ Even those that seem to last long melt away like morning frost.

 

That in the morning whitened hill and plain

→ The frost that made hills and fields white at dawn,

 

And is no more; drop like the tower sublime

→ Disappears quickly; just like a grand tower might suddenly fall

 

Of yesterday, which royally did wear

→ A tower that yesterday looked majestic,

 

His crown of weeds, but could not even sustain

→ Wearing wild plants like a crown, but unable to survive

 

Some casual shout that broke the silent air,

→ Even a random loud noise that broke the stillness,

 

Or the unimaginable touch of Time.

→ Or the quiet, unseen but unstoppable power of Time itself.

 

Analysis in Detail

William Wordsworth’s sonnet Mutability, published in 1815, is a profound meditation on the transitory nature of all earthly things. The poem reveals the poet’s deep philosophical concern with impermanence and change, a recurring theme in his poetry. Through vivid imagery and a solemn tone, Wordsworth reflects on the inevitable decay that touches all aspects of life, from natural beauty to human creations and even abstract truths.

The title, Mutability, meaning “the quality of being changeable,” sets the stage for a reflection on the universal and unavoidable process of change. In the opening lines, Wordsworth describes this process as something that moves both upward and downward—“from low to high” and “from high to low.” He envisions change, or "dissolution," climbing like a force up the social or natural hierarchy and then descending, emphasizing that nothing is immune to its touch. This motion is described using a musical metaphor: a “scale of awful notes,” creating a “musical but melancholy chime.” The use of musical terminology such as “scale,” “notes,” “concord,” and “chime” suggests that while the process of change is natural and even harmonious, it is also filled with sorrow and loss.

The melancholy music of mutability is heard not by everyone but specifically by those who live morally upright and simple lives—those untouched by crime, greed (avarice), or anxious striving. This qualification introduces a moral dimension: only the pure-hearted are spiritually attuned enough to recognize and contemplate the deep truth of change. There is an implicit suggestion that noise and corruption in the soul dull one’s ability to perceive the delicate, sad harmony of the world’s passing nature.

Wordsworth then turns to the idea of truth. He makes a clear distinction between Truth itself and the outward forms that represent it. While Truth is eternal and unfailing, its earthly expressions are subject to change and decay. This is illustrated through a striking simile: these enduring forms “melt like frosty rime.” “Rime” refers to the thin layer of frost that appears white and beautiful in the early morning but quickly disappears with the sun’s warmth. In this way, Wordsworth underscores how even what seems solid and timeless in the physical world is ultimately fleeting.

The poet deepens this thought with another image—that of a towering structure, once majestic and covered in weeds like a “crown.” This tower, once noble and perhaps ancient, cannot even withstand something as small as a sudden shout or the gentle but relentless “touch of Time.” Time here is personified as an invisible but all-powerful force, capable of erasing even the grandest symbols of human permanence. The “unimaginable touch of Time” suggests that change often happens subtly, quietly, and gradually—but with devastating effect.

Structurally, Mutability follows the form of a Petrarchan sonnet, with an octave (eight lines) presenting the main idea—the constancy of change—and a sestet (six lines) expanding on that idea through metaphor and imagery. The tight structure reinforces the poem’s philosophical clarity. The tone is solemn and reflective, appropriate to the heavy theme. Wordsworth’s diction is formal and elevated, employing abstract nouns like “dissolution,” “truth,” and “care,” as well as poetic devices like metaphor, simile, personification, and alliteration.

Overall, Mutability is a deeply contemplative poem that echoes Wordsworth’s Romantic belief in the profound connection between nature, time, and human experience. He does not offer comfort or resistance to change but rather presents it as a natural, universal law. The poem invites the reader to reflect on the impermanence of all that seems stable and to live in awareness of time’s silent but certain influence.