THE FUGITIVES. by Percy Bysshe Shelley: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
Two lovers run away together into the night, fueled by danger and united by their devotion.
The poem
TO —. ‘MUSIC, WHEN SOFT VOICES DIE’. SONG: ‘RARELY, RARELY, COMEST THOU’.
Two lovers run away together into the night, fueled by danger and united by their devotion. Shelley conveys the intense urgency of their escape while also highlighting the tenderness found in their shared risk. The poem serves as a powerful celebration of love, portraying it as both a safe haven and a source of bravery.
Line-by-line
The waters are flashing, / The white hail is dashing,
The lightning is glancing, / The hoar-frost is dancing,
Away, away, away! / Some are gone, and some remain,
The hoar-frost is sleeping, / The river is creeping,
Away, away, away! / Thy lover awaits thee,
The last clouds are fleeing, / The last rays are seeing,
Away, away, away! / This is noon — night is gone —
The golden rivulet / Laughs in the sunlight,
Away, away, away! / We are happy, and free,
Tone & mood
The tone follows a distinct progression: it starts frantic and stormy, shifts to tender and intimate in the middle, and ends on a joyful note. Shelley uses straightforward, song-like language — this is a lyric to be felt deeply, not analyzed. The urgency stays clear of panic because the lovers' connection maintains warmth throughout, even in the poem's most perilous moments.
Symbols & metaphors
- The storm — The hail, lightning, and frost aren't merely weather; they symbolize the harsh forces—whether social, political, or personal—that are pushing the lovers away. Shelley experienced exile and persecution firsthand, and the storm vividly reflects that pressure.
- The repeated cry 'Away, away, away!' — This refrain is the heartbeat of the poem. It acts as both a call to action and a prayer — the lovers motivating each other, determined not to halt. Its repetition echoes the rhythm of pounding feet or a racing heart.
- The laughing rivulet and sunlight — The shift from storm to sunshine represents a hard-won liberation. The stream that 'laughs' reflects the lovers' emotions: they've navigated through darkness and found a place that's bright and free.
- Night and dawn — The shift from night to noon mirrors the lovers' transition from danger to safety. Night represents pursuit and fear, while daylight signifies freedom. Shelley employs this classic symbolic contrast with clear and straightforward confidence.
- The fleeing clouds — When the clouds are called 'fleeing,' they reflect the lovers' own experience. The natural world and human emotions move together, implying that this flight aligns with nature instead of opposing it.
Historical context
Shelley penned this poem in the early 1820s, towards the end of his brief life, while he was living in Italy. He was, in a way, a fugitive from English society, having faced scandal, debt, and the fallout from his radical views, which made life back home impossible. The poem's theme of two lovers escaping together likely references his own elopement with Mary Godwin in 1814, when they fled to Europe against her father, the philosopher William Godwin’s wishes. Shelley was always drawn to the idea of the outcast or exile who discovers freedom outside the constraints of conventional society. The poem features a song-like structure—short lines, repetitive refrains, and straightforward language—that reflects his belief in lyric poetry being closely aligned with music. This musical quality is also present in two companion poems often linked to this one: "Music, When Soft Voices Die" and "Rarely, Rarely, Comest Thou."
FAQ
Shelley doesn't specify who they are, but it's evident that they are two lovers escaping from an unknown danger. Many readers link them to Shelley and Mary Godwin's actual elopement in 1814, yet the poem stands strong as a universal tale of two individuals prioritizing their love above all else.
The poem intentionally remains vague. The threat could stem from political persecution, family opposition, social condemnation, or a combination of these factors. Shelley’s life provided ample inspiration for each possibility. This vagueness is a strength, not a weakness — it lends the poem a universal quality.
It acts like a refrain in music — anchoring the poem and providing a driving rhythm. At the same time, it captures the breathless urgency of real flight. Each time it comes back, the emotional context shifts a bit, giving it new weight: first fear, then longing, and finally triumph.
It features short, quick lines that create a strong rhythm—much like a galloping horse. The stanzas revolve around the repeated refrain, "Away, away, away!" This song-like format is a hallmark of Shelley's lyrical style from this time.
The poem begins with a fierce storm—hail, lightning, frost—and concludes in the warmth of sunlight with a cheerful stream. This transition from darkness and cold to light and warmth reflects the lovers' journey from peril to liberation. Shelley employs the natural world as an emotional guide.
It carries deep autobiographical resonance. Shelley ran away with Mary Godwin in 1814, and he lived much of his adult life in a self-imposed exile from England. However, he transforms those experiences into something more universal — a tale of love and freedom that transcends any individual life.
It represents the poem's emotional destination. The entire journey has led to this moment of arrival. Happiness and freedom are intertwined—you can't truly experience one without the other. For Shelley, love that endures persecution becomes a form of freedom in its own right.
It captures the song-like simplicity of 'Music, When Soft Voices Die' and the restless energy of 'Ode to the West Wind.' Shelley frequently revisits themes of flight, freedom, and love's ability to support people in the face of adversity. This poem serves as a concise and approachable representation of those larger themes.