Introduction
William Butler Yeats is one of the important poets at the beginning of the twentieth century. He ranks along with Thomas Stearns Eliot and Ezra Pound through his poetic genius. There are three main themes in his poems which are love, mysticism and Irish nationalism. But the strain of modernism is also vividly present in his works of verses. It is said that Yeats is the seed of modernism while Eliot is a tree of it.
Similarity of Modernism between Eliot and Yeats
WB Yeats and Eliot have many similarities in their poetry when it comes to the themes of modernity. Much like Eliot, Yeats has used classical mythology, colloquial diction, symbolism and juxtaposition to display the anxiety of modernity. People suffered both physically and mentally as a result of the First World War. Yeats has utilized different scenes and landscapes to portray the spiritual and psychological condition of the modern man.
Modern Political Agenda
Like many other modernists, a shift in political thought is obvious in his works, especially in No Second Troy. Yeats favoured the idea of independence of Ireland. But on the other hand, Maud Goone suggested violence to achieve freedom. As is obvious from the title of the poem, Yeats considered it wrong and rather, he favoured the colonialism of the UK than utter lawlessness. The fear of lawlessness might have sprung from the grim exposure of World War First, which stands in line with the spirit of modernism.
Nature's Indifference with War
Sometimes, we see Romanticism mixed up with modernism in the poetry of Yeats. Wild Swans at Coole is one example of it. In this poem, the poet gives the idea that Nature remains indifferent with the war.
I have looked upon those brilliant creatures,
And now my heart is sore.
All’s changed since I, hearing at twilight,
The romantic notion of the continuation of Nature is contrasted with the modern pessimism of the post-war generation.
Pessimism
Modernist Poetry abounds in a pessimistic outlook of life because of witnessing the horrors of the war. Yeats'poetry is marked with pessimism. Yeats himself saw many pessimistic rejections in his life. His proposal of love was rejected many times by Maud Gonne. That is why, Yeats is seen warning her about the coming of old age when she shall be left alone, remembering of her good old days,
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
Another strike of pessimism in Yeats'poetry can be traced to the general downfall of humanity after the war. Such a pessimistic outlook is easily traceable in his poem, The Second Coming,
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 poem stands on the apex of pessimism and it looks justifiable. As mentioned many times before, the First World War left a terrifying effect on everyone. The set standards of religious morality were shattered. People's expectations were broken. That is why, Yeats painted a grim and pessimistic picture of his modern society.
Conclusion
William Butler Yeats is truly a modern poet for he displays the social anxiety of the post-war generation along with his sincere concern for the downfall.
