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| Wednesday, 10 November 2004 |
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The poet who loved Ireland by Caryl Nugara "I was interested in lyrical moments and intellectual essences. I had not learnt what sweetness, what rhythmic movements there are in those who become the joy that is themselves." This beautiful stanza contains the fundamental belief and splendid vocabulary of William Butler Yeats, Ireland's greatest poet born in Dublin on 13 June 1865. At this time Ireland was not influenced or tinctured by any other culture and Yeats himself was full of enthusiasm for the enchanting myths and ancient legends of his country. His way of life and thoughts were expressed by allegories and poems making use of tales and characters he had heard of ever since he could remember. He used symbols like a sword, a bird, a flower or an extravagant part of a structure which he was entranced with and saw as "visions which harmonized and established links" that composed the universe. He believed that every thing in our world was united and had a purpose to fulfil. He expressed that even a blade of grass and a pellet of hailstone were responsible parts of the created world. Symbols He stated his philosophical beliefs in symbols. For example in the poem "Vision" (1925) his view of purgatory was "a place where souls are purified for reincarnation". Per Amica Silencio Lurae (1917) revealed the truth about self and the make - believe side of a person's character that conceals the real one. He called it "a mask". He stressed that if we are to have true happiness we must put on a mask from some other ideal life". Therefore in his writings he used mythological characters like 'Seanchan'. Golden bird and legendary places like "An eternal city". In his play The King's Threshold (1904), Seanchan (symbolic figure of a poet) refuses to yield to the king and the demands of the church that poets should be banished because of the hypothesis that poets have greater power than even the rulers. In the drama Countess Kathleen, the character sells her soul to the demons to rescue her people. She chooses to leave this world and live in a sphere of dreams, Yeats composed this play from a myth. His poems Byzantium and Sailing to Byzantium have several explanations. He presented Byzantium (a symbol) as "a sacred city where man attained unity of being". Immortality In Sailing to Byzantium, "an aged man in a tattered coat upon a stick" leaves his forsaken homeland and reaches a pleasant place. He entreats the wisemen there, "consume my heart away, gather me into eternity". The Golden Bird is also a symbol of immortality. "Mere miracle than bird or handiwork Planted in a star-lit golden bough." The cathedral dome in Byzantium is a symbol of purgatory - "A moon-lit dome. disdains The fury and the mire of human veins". Wanderings of Oisin contained lines such as "When Aengus dreams from sun to sun A Druid dreams of the end of days When the stars wane and the work be done." He met Oscar Wilde, G.B. Shaw, Burne Jones and W. Morris. He spent happy holidays in the country side, acquainting with peasant women who had legendary tales to tell and the island of Innisfree was closest to his heart Yeats fell in love with Maud Gonne, but he could never marry her, so he found solace in Augusta Persse a play - writer. While living with her he wrote some great works, revived drama and together established the Irish National Theatre. (1899) During this time he created the plays 'Pot of Broth", 'On Baile's Strand' and 'Diedre' which were all full of sarcasm. He was honoured with the Nobel Prize and passed away whilst living in France. He was buried in Ireland, his beloved country. The grave in a church yard has this engraving on the headstone. "Cast a cold eye on life, on death Horseman, pass by." **** Back **** |
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