Literary Analysis Of The Poem Easter 1916 By William Butler Yeats

In his writings, William Butler Yeats highlights the authorative power of literature by using it to portray the key events that shaped the country of Ireland. The poet essentially has the ability to alter the thoughts and opinions of the reader in a way that is similar to a sort of propaganda. In the final stanza of his poem ‘Easter 1916’, Yeats combines a powerful style of writing to entice the reader with his own views to create a unique representation of an otherwise brutal event.

Based on a close reading of ‘Easter 1916’ certain themes begin to take shape in the final verse and it starts to turn its attention to the more negative aspects of a struggling country in its fight for independence. Yeats’ claims that “Too long a sacrifice, Can make a stone of the heart”. The use of the word ‘stone’ in this instance is interesting because Yeats previously associated the stone with a more magical theme by calling it ‘enchanted’, however in this case he uses it in a more cynical manner. This could be because much of Ireland’s previous history has been tainted with stories of sorrow and mass execution which have inevitably led to the human heart becoming cold and emotionless like that of a stone. This particular image of the stone evokes a certain sadness because it hits the reader with a sudden realisation that even though we may have succeeded in some of these battles/ wars, the effects can have a lasting effect on those involved and it’s nearly impossible to reverse them. It can be seen as a metaphor for past events in relation to the strive for Irish freedom and like the stone, you cannot alter it and rewrite history. A similar example can be seen dating back to Greek Mythology with the portrayal of Medusa; a once beautiful woman who had been cursed and banished to the underworld and had the ability to turn men to stone. The action of turning them to stone did not immediately result in their death and their hearts continued to beat. Likewise, the reference to stone in Yeats poem could also signify that although their hearts continued to beat, they were essentially stone figures who had been burdened by the tragedies of the Rising.

As well as the symbol of the stone, the poet also mentions the colour ‘green’ which is essentially the emblem of Ireland. It is mentioned in the final lines of the poem when he speaks about those who sacrificed themselves during the Uprising of 1916 and he states that “Wherever green is worn” “A terrible beauty is born”. These two lines also show a slight rhyming scheme in ABAB form which can be seen throughout the rest of the poem as well and is a successful feature of writing in that it makes the poem easier to read.

As I have previously mentioned the colour green has long since been associated with Ireland and its strong sense of nationalism as well as a sort of symbol of something that England could never take from us. To this day it constitutes the idea of a nation that stands together. Often in literature the colour green is used to symbolize nature, but in the case of Yeats’ poem, it is linked to the names of the fallen heroes of the Rising and the freedom that they fought so hard for. For example, he mentions fellow poet ‘Thomas MacDonagh as well as Padraig Pearse’, two men who gave their lives for the freedom of Ireland.

These final words come across as a sort of praise and they evoke a patriotic feeling for the reader because it highlights the idea that the colour green will always represent Ireland and the idea of home. Yeats cleverly draws attention here to the many people who fled the country in search of a better and safer life and offers them the promise that Ireland will always be waiting with open arms for their return.

As well as his use of symbolism, Yeats brings forth a new set of themes. He introduces us to the idea of sacrifice but instead of praising the fighters, he unearths a feeling of scepticism and asks the question of whether or not it was all worth it. He seems to ask himself “Was it needless death after all?”.

While he is supportive of their passion, courage and everything that these people have done for his country, Yeats seems to question the necessity of it all and if it could’ve been prevented. There is a sense of hypocrisy in his words as he doubts the morals of his fellow Irishmen and seems to lack the type of courage that they inherit and yet he is content to remain safely behind the scenes and write about his own opinions on the matter.

Continuing with this theme, the poet seems to ask himself whether the outcome would have been different if Ireland had not gone through with the Rising due to England being preoccupied with World War I. He seems to place a lot of trust in England’s promise to grant independence to Ireland and wonders would there have been as much death and violence if it had not happened? He writes “For England may keep faith, for all that is done and said.” (68-69). These final words can almost be read as a lament for the dead to whom he is directing the final desperate question.

Based on my close reading of this text I think it is clear that W.B. Yeats’ ability to utilise many key aspects of poetry such as symbolism gives his writing a much more riveting effect on the reader and also helps to paint an extremely vivid picture of a time in Ireland which was very difficult to interpret. He adds elements of his own views and opinions to further enhance his points and add a personal touch to ensure that he is expressing what he thinks rather than what should be said. He highlights many different themes throughout the poem ‘Easter 1916’, however in the final verse he tends to focus his attention solely on the themes of sacrifice and patriotism.

Works Cited:

• Yeats, W. B., and Clement King Shorter. Easter, 1916. Privately Printed by Clement Shorter, 1916.
• 'Easter, 1916 By William Butler Yeats'. Poetry Foundation, 2019, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43289/easter-1916.