The Second Coming by W. B Yeats summary and analysis

 

The Second Coming is a poem by William Butler Yeats, written in 1919 in the aftermath of World War I and during a period of significant social and political upheaval. The poem is known for its rich symbolism, vivid imagery, and apocalyptic themes.

 

The Second Coming

By William Butler Yeats

Turning and turning in the widening gyre   

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere   

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction, while the worst   

Are full of passionate intensity.

 

Surely some revelation is at hand;

Surely the Second Coming is at hand.   

The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out   

When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi

Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert   

A shape with lion body and the head of a man,   

A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,   

Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it   

Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.   

The darkness drops again; but now I know   

That twenty centuries of stony sleep

Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,   

And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,   

Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

 

The opening line suggests a cyclical or rather spiraling motion, possibly represent the chaos of the time.  This line introduces a disconnection between the falcon and its falconer, symbolizing a breakdown in communication or control. As a result ‘things fall apart’, through this phrase speaker expresses a sense of disintegration and the loss of a stabilizing force, creating an atmosphere of chaos destruction.  Anarchy, disorder, and lack of control are unleashed globally. ‘The blood-dimmed tide is loosed’, poet states that a violent and chaotic period, where bloodshed and turmoil are widespread. Hence, the destruction of innocence and the disruption of traditional values happened.  poet paradoxically expresses the fact that, the people with good intentions lack determination, while the more destructive forces are fervent and active.  The destructive forces are characterized by strong, intense passion.

Speaker anticipates a significant revelation or event, can be connected to religion and spirituality. The mention of the Second Coming brings forth a profound thought. Spiritus Mundi refers to a collective unconscious or world spirit, and an image arises from it. The speaker envisions a troubling image in the desert, suggesting a location that might be bleak and barren. Poet describes a mysterious creature with symbolic attributes, possibly representing a force of destruction or change. the creature's unkind and relentless nature is described. The creature is described in motion, possibly approaching a destination.

The surroundings react with disturbance, as indicated by the shadows of agitated desert birds. After the vision, darkness returns, but the speaker gains understanding or insight. ‘That twenty centuries of stony sleep’ Refers to a long period of stagnation, possibly alluding to the Christian era was disturbed by a troubling force, symbolized by a rocking cradle. poet  introduces the concept of a powerful and primal entity, ready to emerge after a long wait.

The poem concludes with an unsettling image of this mysterious creature heading towards Bethlehem, evoking biblical connotations and leaving the reader to ponder its implications.

 

 

 Critical analysis

The poem was written during a tumultuous period marked by the aftermath of World War I, the Russian Revolution, and the Irish War of Independence. Yeats witnessed a world in chaos, with traditional values and structures crumbling, giving rise to uncertainty and fear.

The title, "The Second Coming," alludes to the Christian belief in the return of Jesus Christ. However, Yeats uses this religious concept metaphorically to describe a transformative event.

"Turning and turning in the widening gyre" refers to a spiral motion, suggesting a descent into chaos and disorder. "The falcon cannot hear the falconer" symbolizes the breakdown of communication and control.

The Gyre is a powerful symbol in the poem, it represents the cycles of history and the recurring patterns of rise and fall in civilizations. The widening gyre symbolizes increasing chaos and disintegration.

The Falcon Represents humanity's aspirations or ideals. The inability of the falcon to hear the falconer suggests a disconnect between people and the guiding principles that once directed them. Yeats presents a vision of a world in crisis, where anarchy and disorder intensify. The second coming is not a positive event but a descent into chaos, symbolizing a transformative moment with destructive consequences.

The vivid and violent imagery throughout the poem reflects the brutality of the times. Phrases like "blood-dimmed tide" and "mere anarchy is loosed upon the world" convey a sense of impending doom and social breakdown. "rough beast" slouching towards Bethlehem is a central image in the poem, embodying the destructive force that emerges from the chaos. The identity of the beast is open to interpretation, but it is often seen as a symbol of tyranny, totalitarianism, or a dark force that arises in times of crisis.

 

The Second Coming is often considered a quintessential modernist poem, reflecting the characteristics and themes associated with the modernist movement in literature. Modernism emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a response to the profound changes in society, technology, and culture.

Modernist works often depict a fragmented and dislocated world, mirroring the disorienting effects of technological advancements and the aftermath of World War I. In The Second Coming, the image of the "widening gyre" symbolizes a world spiraling out of control and disintegrating into chaos.

Modernist writers frequently used symbolic and mythic imagery to convey complex ideas. Yeats employs symbols such as the gyre, the falcon, and the sphinx to represent larger themes related to history, social collapse, and the cyclical nature of human experience.

Modernism often explores the loss of traditional values and the instability of contemporary life. In the poem, the breakdown of communication between the falcon and falconer symbolizes the loss of control and certainty. The "centre cannot hold" suggests a world unraveling and lacking a stable core.

Modernist works frequently draw on a wide range of sources, including mythology, history, and literature. Yeats combines Christian references with mythological elements, such as the sphinx, to create a layered and complex narrative. The poem's title itself, "The Second Coming," alludes to a biblical event but takes on a more ominous, transformative meaning in the modernist context.

Modernist literature frequently explores existential themes, including anxiety, disillusionment, and alienation. The violent and apocalyptic imagery in the poem reflects the anxiety of a world in crisis.