Introduction
W. B. Yeats (1865 –
1939) was first and foremost an Irish poet with a great love for his country.
He was basically a patriotic poet rather than a nationalist movement aimed at
freeing Ireland from English rule. The poet consciously revives Irish myth,
folklore, saga, and legends in his poetry to show the rich cultural heritage of
Ireland.
The
theme of Irish Nationalism
In
some of his poems, Yeats introduces the theme of Irish nationalism and the
events related to it. His sense of nationalism and patriotic fervor is evident
in “Easter 1916”. The poet here shows his veneration to the Irish nationalists
who laid out their lives for the sake of their country. On Easter morning of
1916, Irish nationalists launched a revolt against the British government. The
revolt was unsuccessful and a number of nationalists were executed. Yeats knew
some rebels personally. In this poem, he mentions their names – Conolly,
Gore-booth, Patrick Pearse, Thomas MacBride, and Major John MacBride. It may be
that those persons had led a comic and ordinary life earlier. But their
sacrifice has given meaning to their lives and as a result, a terrible beauty
is born. These people are like stone. A stone in-stream is not subject to the
change. In the same way, these people embody the eternal human quality –
sacrificing one’s life for the sake of others. Their permanent stone-like
quality can trouble the lives of other people. This why the poet says;
“Heart
with one purpose alone
Through
summer and winter seem enchanted to a stone
To
trouble the living stream.”
Such
praise to the nationalists reveals Yeats’ patriotic zeal. Yeats’ poem
“September 1913”, “To a Friend whose Work has Come to Nothing”, “To a Shade”,
and many other poems are written with patriotic fervor for his country.
Anarchy
of imperialism
Yeats’
poem “The Second Coming” deals with the idea that history and civilization move
in a cyclical course with regular ups and downs. Yeats seems to say that the
best moment of Christian civilization is coming to an end, paving the way for
disorder and chaos.
“Things
fall apart, the center cannot hold;
Mere
anarchy is loosed upon the world ….”
It
may seem that the poet is hinting at the anarchy in Ireland caused by the
imperial rule of England.
Representation
of Irish countryside
Yeats’
patriotic fervor finds expression in his attempt to highlight the countryside,
folklore, tradition, mythology, and above all the culture of Ireland. Yeats
spent his boyhood and youth in the countryside of Sligo from where he got the
knowledge of the peasants and their folklore. These folk elements abound in
Yeats’ poetry. For example, his poems “The Madness of King Goll” and “Easter
1916” rest on the Irish legend. Again, the poem “The Wild Swans at Coole”, “A
Prayer for My Daughter”, and “Lake Isle of Innisfree” combine Irish countryside
with Irish folk beliefs and legends. “The Wilde Sawn at Coole” captures the
serene beauty of nature. As the poet says:
“The
trees in the autumn beauty,
The
woodland paths are dry,
Under
the October twilight the water
Mirrors
a still sky”.
In
this way, the subject matter of Yeats’ poetry is closely woven into the natural
landscape of Ireland.
Irish
culture and tradition
Yeats
Highlights the long-cherished customs and traditions of Ireland. He possessed
deep-rooted respect for the Irish aristocracy. In “A Prayer for My Daughter”,
he wants for her daughter a husband whose family would respect traditional
custom, as the poet asks:
“How
but in custom and in ceremony
Are
innocence and beauty born?”.
Yeats
seems to say that the Irish tradition, customs, literature, and art are part of
its long-cherished culture. Yeats’ poem ceaselessly focuses on those aspects of
Irish culture and thus he helps his countrymen to imagine Ireland as a nation.
Conclusion
From
the above discussion, it is evident that Yeats feels an inherent love for his
country. In his personal life as well as in his works, he does not hesitate to
show his love for Ireland. He deals with the issue of the political
independence of Ireland. At the same time, he focuses on the Irish culture
richness, by presenting its folklore, legend, myths, and history. All these
show his emotional ties with his country. Undoubtedly, he is a patriotic poet.
