Lehigh

Preserve Institutional Repository

A critical analysis of W.B. Yeat's In the Seven

Woods
Burket, Lynn E.
1972

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 '
Th is th es is ·is a de ta ile d
.

'

' . . . . ' : . ; . . . ·. ·. . ... _--_ .·

' · .·· . . .,

· bi og ·ra ph ica l ·do cu me nt be c·a us e it re fle ct s

an d em oti o1 1.s

an d as a po eto .
yo .un g ma n,· who·

a:r :ra irs

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~ /
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af 'f' air ,
1
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lo ve an d be au ty, an d ca s.t s ·.hi m

.
.

as .. th e. tra ns ito ry ···· th in gs ,

;

ar t ··the
 \ - ....
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of! Yea ts's prla ctic e

···.'l yric s$} ·

. .

prim aril y bec aus e the poa t

'

I the se few mod est poe ms

1

who lea

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. . . , I • , .• . , , . • , •

.is acce pted .and

requ irem ents for
 Int rod uct ion
! •

Bio gra phi cal

.
.

III . ·An aly sis of . In ·the . Sev en \Vo ods ·

. .Ao The . lVIa jor ·sy mb olic tfo ti:f s o
. .

Spe ake r .~s! Ro ma ntic Yo1 1th :.

Sev en ·VVo odls 91'
. . , .

Spe ake r as: Co urt ly Lov er

''Th e Arro\1\11 11 . ·o . o G. o @

.1 'Th e Fol ly\ of· Be ing

11 01d JJ.[emory 11 . o e o .. o . .Q . · o
···!'N ev.e r . Giv :e A11 · .· He art ''
l •

No tes ·

A Se lec ted

I
'. .

f .
 . - - - ~
- ~ --- - - - - - -- -- -- --

In th e :fi rs t pl ac e, I ha ve

----~--=----....,......,.--
V{oo,ds is an · imp o1. -... tan t ·

re :t' lec ts th e tho ug hts ·

an d em oti on s :o:r th e .p oe t du rin g-- -a· cr uc ia l pe~ rio d~ of hi
s
The·•- vo lum e -is an inn e-r hi sto ry o:r th e po et 's li: re
. .
· fro m 18 99 to 19 04 j .- ye ar s in Wh ich Ye ats ma tur ed as
a
.

an d as a po eto Th e po ern s. tra ce th e· de ve lop me nt of a ·

~
.

. ··:........

__ yo un g .man£) . wh o -in ma ny wa ys is the · yo un g iN o .-.Be.· Ye

ats ,
.

:rroma
.

pe rio d of ro ma nti cis m an d wi thd raw al

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by th e re pe tit io n sy mb oli c
sy mb oli c s·t ru ctu re of In th e Se ve n \rlo od s
Su n (re ali t~ t) an d moon (ro ma nt ici sm ). ar· e th e tv10
'·
' ..
sy mb ols in th e bo ok ·, an d· in th e co nc lu di ng po em
.
.

s
pr ov id es . th e .sy nt he sis e· By as so ci at in g ot he r pa irs ·· o:r. •
i
I
I

~n tit he tic al

<p rim ari ly b< :3c aus e .th e po et

- . '
. . i11.· m~ ldi ng
mo de st po em s - in to - one · un i:f ied , . 'in teg r.a te d

I
'I

I
I
 re la tio ns hi ps wi th
- '

ex pl or ed c _ Th e pr in ci pl e is

ha s be co me on e of th e ba sic
. ·no na ld · Ao S· tau ffe r wa s pr ob ab ly
in si st ' th at ~~ oe m by
. . ~ \ .

an d th at ev en , a mi no r

'
t.he '_-p oem s

the -
and _ Jo. hn Un ter ec ~e r' s _bo ok =b y-b oo k an al ys is
• ;I
' '

Co lle cte d Po em s is ea ch· ·.

-- b:o ok is -u ni fie d in

Th is stu dy att em pt s to an aly ze -th e un ity

- '

1iv hat
 ·. . I ·. .. . . . . ·.. . .
sh or t, ot,her11trise un re lat ed ,_ wo rks in to
. . . . .. 1
. . . . .

.· -- :..
. . . I .. .. . .
·: .·
-.
. . .

o 0 < e tr4 f In th e ·co ur se o:r ·_ th is ·.p ap er, I ·

. . . .· ! . . . . . ..
de mo ns tra te th e bi og ra ph ic al im po. rta nc e or th es e
~o em s o .· · Bu t·. m~ ma jor Pu rp Os e . wh ole ,
~ .l
. 1•
iin the -·_ sev en :Vioods· is· · ae sth et ic va lue ·· no t·
. .I . .· ._· ·. - ; .' - . - .' . . .. .. . . . .:." -. .·· .. ·. - - - .: . -. -.. - - . .' !_ ." -. .
. .

·. :p rim ar ily be c.i lus e o:r th e in tri ns ic va lu e o:r th e ·in

. • .

,. . • ,
di vi d- · ·
- I
: : r
.
. ·- .' ' '· • •
•

· · •·. Ua l · ly ric s rl hu t . be ca us e· by 19 08 , · When •th e · bo Ok too

.
.
..-
: ~

. .
. .
,
k ' ·. . ' - . - . ' ·: , . . -

· tri na l sh ap e,5 · Ye ats hc1d· su cc ee de d in \m old ing th. ese

. ) . . . .
.

po em s /in to on e un i t'i ed 5> · int eg :P ate d .· wh ole 0

is tru e, as El lm an n ar. gu es , th at th e vrs ta tu re o:r

ov er-
· . comes . la rg el y fro m th is
pa rt · to, for m a wh ole ;n 6 . the n.,
 --=-= - --- .- --- - - . - - - ~- -- - - . - --
~
-- - ~~~~ -

Bi og rap hic al

stu dy -of Ye ats reg _u ire s

- - -

Mo st 'of' the boe l'Ils

!

-- '
. ·. ' . . .·
-
-
. . . . .

hap py ye ars _ f>o r -Ye ats ,

dem on str a~ -

-ex pe rie
.
nc e - -

. ' -.

ex ha us tio n and wi th a ke en di sta ate f'o r the pr ac tic al

. : . . . . •. . .

- sid e _-of po lit ics e-_ Fro m 18 97 to.> 19 00 Ye ats als o

de al of tirne· and ef fo rt pla nn ing Etn Iri sh I
- -

gio us
- my stic :Ls m,- - and - Gh ris tia nit ye --
- - - -___ -_ -_' . __ .-_ .. - - ._- 2
_:rr .us tra tio n and .t'a ilu reo -
:fr us tra tio ns

. ,·· ' ' .

 of

inv olv em en t wa s
he wi sh ed
po lit ic s- , an d
ei1 te: J?i ng ~tt he . ,iv,orld_

in te re st . he r i11 his · Ge lit ic

fo r th at

. By 18914. i t . vv-as , cle ar

. . .

. be co mi ng hi s, an d
- .

fre e hi ms elf . fro rn

11.ave

ti'
1.·.,
.. t· ·.
Q Sh e
itm ys tic al
 .. -'-
1 L, cam e

.a·.

·ha nd ed
11v rot e ,.

ma rri ed ivi ajo r ·Jo hn

·. cu lt. to
·. th at Ye ats · . mu st
I
1·,

ha ve be en

Th at
. . . .

du e la rg el y to
·m oth erl y
. .

an d :Er om
 . I

;·
· · i : as · a· poe t (l)
. ',

.hi s po etr y

1·.
i
'i
;

\'
i .

· aga nt,

mat 't·e r

..
I

Ell ma nn
 .
.

pr ac tic al
. .mano· .

of th ei r re la tio ns hi p~
mo re a man of th e re al
too mu ch , bu t re ga ~d les s
. . . .

ch an ge 9 · ·th e . :ra c t · rem ain s , th at

. .

;
op me nt ·. in Ye ats 9 s lif e du rin g
. I
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. '
\
j
a r1ew ·re so lve · to. · sh un
l
I .
\, of re al ity in a ma nly
.
·~
'

re :fl ec tio n o:f th.is· ne w,' . . . .

In th e Se ve n
an d, ·• jud gin g .:fr om ot he r

bl y co mp let e

..

· me nt in lo ve 9'
. Wo od s e ·

· th e pee.ms.· co ns tit ut e.·

: th is· tra ns fo rm ati on a .

:p oe t-s pe ak er :fr om a

I
:1-;
,

ilo ve an d
 I

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I
.
.) '

ar t th e

wa s

it s fi na l

ter ms o
pe rio d_

·er ra bl e
'

, th e sp ea ke r ·
~

wa s no t
1

El lm an n

·m os t
a reflection

not
icant$
,·

ly ze d· an d .

. nu rn be r o:r

pr es en t

, I
 in

,.1·· .

'

symbols,

the
· table or

Silver
Ifight.
Sleeping·
· Youth
Summer ·
Female
The world
Celtic_··
lioblene$s
The woods
V1la ter .
 Au gu st, •. 19 02 .,

w ri tte n du rin g
)

Pa rk (th e si te
th e· pe rio d
th e po em ·0

ne ss /T ha t

of

. th e

rro m

,n pl ac es
· ey es I'" 7
· ki ng s
 vvas

. ttT he

su bj ec te d

tr ea t ca nn ot be

th e w ar ni ng s or
Si ty o.
' --;\

he r w ild he ar t'r - is 9.
·c at io n o:r ·n io ny s ia c ·.
be hi nd
o: r th e

(
I

'. fro m ·
; "p la yr ul tf
j .

Ap ol lo or

ca bb al ·is tic ·

be tw ee n irr n

it ,
th e

''I n
. .

sy mb _o lic -

b·o ok an d

th e
an d
th e

. '

th ro ne it ) o
 iI1 th e.
sy n1 bo liS IIl e

In hi s
fri en a_
m en ta l
.h is li fe

· "'b ec au se

hi m to

'' In th e
sp ea lce r

th at th es e.

wo od s vv ill
th e · sc al es .·
·in du lg in g
pr ob le m so

.·su_n
im ag e of
in Y ea ts fs
Al ch em ica ,., ·

in

in
 - )

es ta l

th e

I
he r
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mo on in th e
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em a l .e. ei
 hi m se lf '

· Vv oo ds t'r· .

. dr ea m a"·
at i'O no · As

ar ro w 0.

sp ea ke r e.

sp ea ke r
pa th o:r de li be ra te
un io n o:t' su n· · an d

an ot he r
· i in · '''T he
C

re la te d in
le ar n th at
 be co me s n1ore

th ou gh t'' . of
is ·a sy m bo l

.
ul t~ m at el yJ re su lt s
' ...
' . _. ·. .·. . ·. ' , . . .
' . . ..
. . . . .
,_ '

.
'
.

. o:r hi s to ta l in fa tu at io n- w it h. hi s
' '

w il l ev ~n tu al ly be co m e
. . .

bi tt er ab ou ·t vvoman :and
''T he Ar ro w• 1· al so
bo lis m es ta bl :il sh ed in

de sc ri be an
th e sp ea ke r
de r o: r th e

._ tim eo · .T he

·m ak es .·

'
'I

an .a pp le tr ee

wo m an 's yo ut h

th e
ha s
he r, . no ma no ,,.

.· . ,rroman wa s
 as ap pl e
· lif e ·m en·

,.
'
~-

/
...
I
I

ph ys ic al ly se .pa ra tes , th e.

man som e of th e
poe m,- -, the vvoma11.

bo ne o

ac qu ire d.

Th e

wh ich gro vv .fr om

. he re '

vie . :fo r co nt ro l
1
 ' '

· iS' · st ro ng er
;·
' i

it s pr 'es .en ce knovvn~- th e

sp ea ke r is st il l a ro m an tic 0
Be ca us e ··h e is ·

·k in de r''
si no er e in he r
'
sp ea ke r

in :a si rn il· ar ly ir on ic
' -
so m et hi ng vv hic h
:!
I

in :ra ct is no to .

,,
.'\.
Th is .re ad in g
! .
. .

gra Jn ted f;. bu t bi og ra ph ic al

pr e: ta tio n co mp let ely 0· c"·.·

. ·. • ..· ! '

• • I • •

o:r po em ·

II ..
I •

th ei! r·
i'
'

11.ous ,·. lik e

fa ll sj an d.).· .
;:
' '

'g re at he ap

I,·

5irst ~ ti n g , a•ncl
. tw el. ve ye ar s. la te r.
 . • J
·.

'f
~
!

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--,----,-~~-,----~--......-------------
'

. i,

sim ila r to . '

i
I

·.. 1 891 Yea ts

I

and as .on e who nee ded I

!
•

I
I

190:1 she ·ha d··· rej ect ed

he cou ld
I\1o reo ver , · as

Ye ~ts 9 s pro pos als on i . .

;
'

· she:. ass ure d him ,.· for Jp.is

'
! .. .
r11aud giv es the rol lov vin g .
•
in

.
.

als o oio gra ph ica lly .ac cur ate o

-

his ·. tho ugh ts

,,

. Pa ris :
I saw
ren e,Jv ed. aga ine .
·. ·pu ttin g •my han d . in
 -
\
..·. ma do .
\\
.'' Th e r'e\ 9 s
. ~.
. \
\

a .··d eep ly· pe rso na l

... ho rro ro

II1 :ar ria ge to

.ra ng in g th e po em s

.I I

"'!T he Fo lly o:r Be ing .

·--....
\ I

Wo od s, i~ ,al so on e
ou t··

· a tra di tio r1 al

be au ty: , in wh ich
 Ch arv at: po et' s
re all y mo re be au t.i: ful novv tha t
,.

-
· 'su gg est ed in the · fi1 1.a l ·
rea din g is po int ed
dis tr~ ss is cau sed
tha t is ev er kin d'

by po int ing 1

. ·\IV ill · rem ed y

I •
I

she
old

the
·be aut ,;rt,I
'

de sir e

fin al
he art

the

-- - ~ - --- - - - - - -
 In the

the t\1V"O

· spe ake r su: r:re ra bec aus e

• • •

·at
- • • • ' • •• • i

. sam e,ti me 9 ··· he lam ent s ·the ·

. ir ,the poe m has
'

. vVe VvO Uld exp ect thi s to be

in the poe m·i s und oub ted ly·

Ye ats 's adm ira tio n for her

. .

he wo uld de sir e·i ts des tru cti on , eve n

, .
,

,"
·1e ase · .:frc>m su_ :r:fe ri:n g :ror him sel f®
Ji·

'·

· it· :ror .· gra nte d

wit h age c Bti. t

... ·~ ..
·'

ver y

esc ·a.p ed
l

·. Bu t. the mos.t
rea din g.a ris es in
. spe a;~ r·
I
I
I
I
I
!

, I .
 the he art ,vo.11ld

Th ese lin es are

·w hic h ha s
SOr.t of . · .· COIClfort.o
Se ng

Th e f iri al ve rsi on . of.

is: the pro du ct

pro ble ms can be sol ve d· by re fe rri ng to •. tr1e
ve rsi on o He re ,·I th in k 9 ~he
un do ub ted ly the pro pe r on e:

Th e ·Fo lly .of .B ein g

On e tha t ls ev er kin d· sa id ye ste rda J': ·
,'"Y our we ll be lov ed ' s · ha ir ha s thr ea ds o:f
·An d _l itt le sha dov vs cor ne ab ou t he r ._e yes ;
Tim e can . bu_t ma ke it ea sie r to be wi se
T:t iou gh no11v it is ha rd, t i l l tro ub le is at an end ;
. An d so .be p.a tie nt, . be wi se· and pa tie nt, ·· fri en de tf' .·-·
Bu t hea 1.-a t, the re is no co mr ort , no t a gra ino ·
· Tim e ca11 but·-··· .·ma ke he r be au ty. ov er ag ain ·. ·
Be cau se. · o:r tha t gre at_ ·no ble ne ss o:r her f3; · _ ..· .· ...
Th e · :ri re tha t sti rs abo ut. · he rj wh en she sti rs ·
Bu rns · bu t· mo re· cle arl y; O she had . no t the s-e ;:,r1ays ·
Vth en. al l the wi ld sun 1m er vr1as · in he r gaz eo,
. 0 he ar t, 0 he ar t, .if' Sh e'd ,bu t tur n 11.er ~~a(l., . ···.
Yo u'd knovv the · . :fo lly o~ . be ing . co m: ror ted .· . ·. ·
In th is ve rsi on , · the

I
I·
 re je ct ed .th e co mf o~ t

in cl in ed .to be co m: ror ted e

.-. .:- . .
ma ry .· o:r the .
.- ' '','

.pr
- .ev iou s :11 n.e so
' . •, •' .

• ,. • I

. th e sp ea ke r in to he ar t an d
1

th e he ar t alm os t·
. •, .
.

•. vv rit te- n as a .wa pn ing

i . ' .

··-~is . co mf or tin g
..
?Ji aix ne r 9 s . an d

I .

:E rie nd ·do es att em pt

th at th e wo ma n w ill

·is · th is cor r1: t'or t ·. wh icl 1 hi s.

Bu t th e he ar t is no t on ly
it -is ev en n1or.e
. th at th is no ble

J?r oce .ss

·re lea se
 .·. c~ mr ort wh ich the
·;
... :
i

r.e rer r:i. ng to in the .

w<huld tu1 ~n ..h·e r hea d· and

1, .

of gre y 1r and the ·. ttl itt le . sha dow s

',
e ..

. . .

be ut ter ly . de str oy ed o·.

I •

iro nic ; the in tel lec t imp lq_ es tha t·· the he art vv ill ·
•
• •

i
. iI

· g~ t the co mf ort it de cla ~e s

I .

'I
i
' .

I I . ·.
i
/

b~ au ty as the mo st
'

Th is rev isi on
I
I
; '
·. Ye ats 's int en tio ns ·
. '

i .

thle··
'
'I
;·,
~ . ' :,

' I
'
'

''
 - .
. '

in . ''T he Ar ro ,v' ' v1l1-o u1~gea_ tJ1 e sp ea ke r

I

. . . i
'
. . . .

hi s ch ild is h ,-r om an tic ism a11.d lo ok at th ei r

re al is ti ca ll y. In .''ThJ, Fo lly of Be in g Co mf 'or t$d t' .·. th e

rr ie nd ·

. is · no t

.
' .

at le as t·· ·to th e .sp ea ke r's .h el ar to ·

'
. se as on al sy mb ol ism . is . al so c on tin ue do · 1

el ev en an d tw el ve · th e v,o ma n' s pr es en .t, . fo rb id di '

·n g· .be a"U .ty . . · .·

is on ce ag ai n co nt ra st ed vv ith he r yo ut hr ul be
au ty :
ha d no t th es e ways/V1lhen al l th e 1Jvild ~urnmer ,va s
J ',

ga ze o'' ' 1\nl ild su mm er' r i1 nm ed iat ely . rer r1 ind s

' ·1

an ot he r la m eh t fo r th e .

.o r
. .

yo ut h: t'u l be au ty o
.

re ca lls t.h e w ild.... he ar te d v.vQ:uiet''*

sy m bo lic o:E ·th e ·s pe ak er 's. ro m an tic yq ut h in irr
n
. Se ve n· VVoods o tr
be co me s
 .
. . . . .' . '. . . .

I
Vi fat er, the . mo st ap pr op ria te · an tit he s is
!
I .

-fi re , -is by -· fa r · th e dor ni1 1.a nt mo rta l ele me nt

. I . 0
I
I
I ,

· · ..-_ syn 1b ol o:r ch an ge · ari d de ca y, ;. it

I. -
·- · · . ilb.I mo st of tll e po em s a
· - In ''T he Fo lly o:r _· Be ing

_ti µ.e .pr esu me d im mo rta lit y o:r

I . - . . -_ ._. . .
·s ~e ci fic al ly ,h er ph ys ic al be au ty ; it
!
l
I ~

.s-"'ijirs ab ou t
. ·\
wh en sh e. st ir s
l-
,fq r be au ty ,·
, I .
I
I ,
';'

f · _ salme tim e i·t su gg es ts

i':
·;
:1
.· I I I ' .. ·.,_ .· . .. . . . . ·. ' . ·._ •...
:·1 I , . 1. ·· ·.· · . • ·

·beJ au ti has .· ca us ed ·_ th. e _

. _ -
I

Ii .

',
1·; i .
I•
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i
. - _- I . -_ . - ·_
- juc lgi ng ±1rom ·li ne s ni1 1.e · -th ro ug h
I . ,
I
I ..

ag ~n t : tl1 rou gh vvh ic·h

'i .
woman' s
. .

-
. '

ta ~i ie d; the ref 'or ej) · it ca n be eq _u at ed wi th th e be au

.i . . . ty
l .

I .
·th ~ sp ir it wh ich ma ni fe sts
' . th e fle sh -- th at
i .
' .

'i
·1d ba 1 be au ty wh ich Ye ats do es homage to in nThe
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1
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l
l
lI
fol lov \fi ng po em s
I
1it1
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co -ri tin ue sy mb oli ze · ·th e·
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be au tir u1 ,rr
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mo re · th an ho ur s sp en t. at ·. th e
.

.t

on ly . loo lt
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tif ul ; · sh e mu st be au tif ul ly ·.
. . - .
Ho we ve r 9 it is· irn po rta nt to no ·te
.

th e
fem ini ne · id ea l is mo re ta in te d by th e fle sh th an hi
s
rh et or ic su gg es tso Al tho ug h·h e ta lk s
re al co nc er· n in trTl1e Fo lly o:r Be ing Co m: t'o rte d't is no
t
sp i:, :it ua l be au ty bu t th e.d ec ay in g ph ys ic al be au ty or hi s
!· .
lo ve r 0 . No do ub t he ·te lls h,i ms elf ' · tl1 at he lo ng s · fo r th e
· co nt in ua nc e of ou te r be au ty be ca us e it :,p
i
rov ide s a·. vi si=
bl e sy mb ol· o:r . in1 ~e r ·. be a:u ty, bu t in lin es . ej_ gh t
. . .

· ele ve 11 th e re ad er ca n se e th at ph ys ic al be au ty
.
.

pr im e im po rta n~ e to him , an d. sp iri tu al be au ty is· .

ta nt on ly as an ag en t wh ich w ill ren ew

.
. .
, . . .· .. ' .--.. . .. ·.. . .:

qu ~l ity o.:r mi nd · is se en in< trT he Arrov1r, u. in ·vvhicl1.

i
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·. yo lit. h:f ul v1oman is . de scr ibe q_ · as

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.w hic h cl ea rly im pl ies th at th e
by th e be au ty . o:r th e bo dy · .th an

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sp iri tu al

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be au ty ··to.
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 ·th e

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al. ly. · as so ci at ed ·
al so re al ly ha pp y in [t he
of co ur tly lo ve r) , an d' .. o .. a.t lo ng la st he br ok e
of.' ito H3 4 In "T he Fo lly of ' Be in g Co mf 'or ted tt
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st ro ng h:1-nts th at th e cr is is 'is at ha nd an d irl th

9 e
·th e sp ea ke r is 'id ea l w ill be s.o to ta lly
on ly th e :rr ag me nt s · o:f co ur tly - lo ve -vv ill

po em in . th e .·v olu me o te n rn on ths

.a:rter 11 au d' s · m ar ~i ag e to ·
 . .

of :.B ein g
\ .i . po sit ion
'
'

de~ ·ac hm ent · he .··s urv eys the ru ins of.·

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de c'i de s tha t one mu st acc ep" 'c .th e fic kle ne ss ot'
as, 011.e · ~c ce pts the nau _g hti nes s· o:E cl1 ild ren , ·.
. .
1

tab !:le pa rt. o:E ,th e na tur e . o:r . thi ng se Th e ro les '

tic and re al ist hav e un der go ne a sud de n rev ers al;

I

thi pk s·o :f. him sel :r as a dis pa ssi on ate , ra tio na l

:

· his ! lov er as an i1~ ra- tio nal ch ild o Bu: t t'o r al l

sQp;tJ.ic de tac hm en t, the co ncl t1d ing lin e~ co nta in a ch ill -
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ing co nd esc en sio n vvh ich ··su gg est s- tl1. at his em oti on al·
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.. wo und s are . no t . co mp let ely he ale de

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·. ·. . . .· .·. i ' . . ··.... . ' . .·. . ..... .

tri¢ a_ sen din g Ille ssa ges . .

· · At · a·. :fix ed ho ur
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·re la tio ns hi p
th at is
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ta in ly .be lon gs , to . Ma ud .·
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· sio n: ·1e ctu re d

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.
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gr ea t :st re ng th an d ma ke s

th at th e · woman:' s
pa rti al ly the cr ea tio n of , th e· sp ea -ke r an d Ye at· s
9

·att em pt . to

.sh e sh ou ld Th e as so ci at io n
no bi lit y an d 0J 1t ic
· im ag ine d lo ng ag o'' )

'Gonne0
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in he r be au ty th at < .

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an d po em s, fo r sh e

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an ci en t di vi lis at io n
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fo ot no teo

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 no ble ·ne ss s. qu ee ns o:r the . pr es en t poe n1 sy mb oli ze
:fe mi 11. ine id ea l o Bu t t'O ld ldemor~1 1t ma ke s an ad di tio na l
- :. .
. . . -_ . . ·. . . _. . ·. , . . .

as so c ia tio :p. be tvv ee n th e qu ee ns 9 no bi lit y an d the · -vvoman' s ·

'~s tre ng thi ~· 'Vvl1.ich 9 as a re su lt, be co me s· th e po em 's do
mi -
na nt- sy mb ol :fo r th e id ea l a. IT atu ra lly j i t is de sc rib ed
or .e le va te d an d i t is rio t

re ve re nc e·: ro r

th e pr ev io us po ern s e.

re fe r·
I .

povv-er the woman ha s . e:,cercised··. ov er the ·.

Tu1en;ior·y 111 · im pli es sh e be ca me th e' pr ed om ina nt. ·

· en ce in hi s li: Ee no t on ly be ca us e sh e· vra s

~b ut al so be ca us e
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··.· say s, he r.· str en gt h. is on ly· ha l:E he rs. ,

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.w ou ld
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·· . 1rf1sl\i he roj _c er.a.e · Id ea l be au ty · wo uld ha ve be en
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be ge tte r of .a n id ea l world® Bu t as ·a
t
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1 es 1s ne ss, no t ·. on l y ·h.
1

. er na t ur a l . be au t y
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th e id ea l cr ea te d :Erom . th at be au ty (''m or e. th an it. a.l

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l't ), ·
itco me to· · na ug hto '" He r· in fid el ity di sq ua lif ie s hel
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·:rr om th e ro le of in iti at or
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sp ea ke r~ -s di sil lu sio nm en t ex ten ds

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·si gh ifi ca nt ly ,
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im ag ina ry• · er a o
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, De cem ber $)· · 19 05 9 · re ac tio n . to. ·

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·po em wh ich pr ~s en ts _worn.en

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co ldc :=b loo de d cr ea tu re s· vvho me rel y pr ete nd lo ve , th us

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vi ct im iz in g an y ma n :fo oli sl1 . en ou gh to ap pr oa ch lo ve _. .

·
Th e po em 's me -ta ph or :fo r th is pr et en se is
pl ay ; a·· se rie s-· o:f ac tio ns . wh ich · see m to . be · ge nu
ine and ··.
. . ..

wh ic. h ·ar e ac tu al ly . ra tio na l, .. ' . .

ca lc u-
 ~

tha t . or 11 01 d

an
lo gi ca lly va lid a·

dis co ve rin g· tha t

can no t sur viv eo Be cau se
to his ex pe cta tio ns , the .·
. .,

.ch ild who ha sm isb eh av ed s

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rea cti on to his for ~e r

inh um an cre atu res o
:fro m the
: . pe de sta l, . and
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bi· tte r 9 dis ill us ion ed ma ns

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·T he ·pr ota go nis t co nti nu es

.

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· ,ivi ser ma n vr1ho ha s lo st

oth ers ab ou t the

the .he art ,,,· doe ,s
 th e .ir on y··

ov er lo ok ed ; th e. sp ea ke r

. . . .

d~ st in ct iv el y ne g~ tiv e
b-u t· de ce i te
em ot io na l in vo lv em en t.o nl yb ec au .se .

ar e· un m is ta ka bl eo
tio n o:r an yt hi ng .,

'· sp ea ke r 9 S

fol lo1 11 1in g po em o

dr e~ m, th en he w ill
to le ra bl e' re al ity o , '

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Al th ou gh no t

th e se ve n·
re al ··i tie s

m is tre ss

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 - - - -- - - - - - - - - -- " . ' - - - -

ab le· •. In ste ad of co nfr on tin g

.

_-_ re tre ats :fro m the m, th is · tim e

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· mo re. ina cc es sib le reg ion , the

T "ke
J....Jl the rom an tic aba nd on of tfI. n the Se ven

at lea st tem po rar y esc ap e

·Th e clo se co nn ec tio n be tw een dre am
is sup po rt~ d by the -im ag ery e
.scr ibe d. in lan gu ag e

rom an tic . att itu de · tow ard li:r e~

la st sta nz a or·
·-.t he key mo tif s as so cia ted
· to the isp ea ke r's dre am s0

Wanderings>--
"

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the dre a~ wo rld 0

· in _''N eve r Gi ve
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and bli nd

as

''.T he VVi the rin g

the t'm err y an d·
 mo ont t •

. v,o rld o:r dre am e

dre am lo se s
. wa ke up e

Ce lti c ot he rw or ld s

.
. . .

''R ed Ha nr ah an tJ s 'Song ab ou t
Moon'' make ex pl ic it us e of
. of the ·· sy mb oli c mo tif s

. im po rta nt ro l·e s in · th e
I .

th e sp ea ke r, fa iry la nd
lie d by th e
·-
1

re sp ec t th e sp ea ke r is . Ye ats
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In 18 93 Yea·,,ts wr ot e· th at th e.
i•

me lle d ha te . ana_

the ms elv es wi th
·w ith th is ·so rr y
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im po rta nt ly ,· the . oth erw or ld· ·
. -
em ot io n. ar e et er na le E)

no r . ca n
fe et o f~.4 2

Bu t
th e sam e
try sid e
 di ff er en ce '

. tu tio 'na l.
la nd s to

su bs tit ut e•

V~ ate r

po em s o As ·

ch an ge an d

...\ i ts el :f ( in ,iT he .

dr ea ms

wo rld · (v vh ich
la nd ) (;)
 . .

-· o tl1 erv iro rld s · as

sp ea ~e r · ha s·
be au ty 9 an d
th e se tti ng
:fo r

:S to rie s

te rs

de p tl1 s · o :r

in ' 1 Un de r

no t alw ay s

''s ev en
 is
!

sp in ni ng

ex pl ai n th e

ai d th e ;;/ ou ng

pr ob ab le th at ·

ho pe s ·to

D an aa n

w itc he s ma y
~

sd nt to lu re th e
Th ei r ''c ro w ns o:r
,·

pe ar l.. ..a pa le Ni am hf r

an d
 go us
Is la nd of
qu ee n ·:who
·.. A ill in n, .

ap pe ar ed

th e

so rt

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bi ]k ed e ,v 52
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t'h e·

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ha ~p in e~ s~ .

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ThJ en ti re
di rh ne ss o:r
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sp ~a ke rg s re tr ea t
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trc 1, de d m is '.e ry
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an q. :h ap pi ne ss
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sa 1i s ,: '-' 'n ei th er ·
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th e I
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re l~ te d to
· Co m ~o rte dt "
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ac c~ pt an ce ··
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ad vi ce is
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co m es th e
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! In . :ra.c t ,
dr eam wi th th at
1

di sc on te nt

wh j.c h ca us es
Fu rth er mo re ,

dre am wo rld

·in to

.Th e re fr ai n
an d de ath o
I
bo ug hs is · fou nd .

wr ite s
wh en ,v: an y·. o

·in Fa ery . o .· o o

11
a wa r be tw ee n
th e pr es en t
t
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ac t.
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the ·

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:re it
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 di m re gi on s

awayo

V1i th
th e re al w or ld at
bi og ra ph i.c al

co nv er sa tio n. ·
K at hl ee n Pi lc he r
ha s be en

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·th at th e

·w ith hi s

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II

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Cu rs e'i
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In · th e

th e di vi s. io n

No lo ng er .in ·

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hi s la rto '
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.· pr ob le m s o

st ee rs th e
je ct w hi ch

·lo ve

tim e
th in ly ve il ed
'h as gi ve n wa y-

he
to th e: do ct ri ne
in

or hi s'r om an ce '?
pl et el y to
ni is er ab ly o
 la st
·u nr ew ar de de

hi gh vJay o: r

· po rt ra ye d

th e he ar t

.
ev en
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·w il l
··'· ti· ne

in g of
he ha s la bo re d
to li tt le more
re ve re nc e

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th e. pr ev io us
 · _··ti ons hip bas ed

. fai lur e c

· . a cou rtly lov .~r o

. His

at- ti tud e · tow ard tho se

bel iev e lov e sho uld

and apt

in ''trever
em oti ona l
I
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act ion o.

tow ard rat ion al beh avi or~

rea son as. an ''id le

to him .ra tio na lity

mu st be a :for m·. o:r

Alt hou gh the

mentss>. it is sig ni: t'ic ant
. .

0 it one sum mer vs end en6 2

is
he

.nam e of

unh app y lov e

bet we en moo n
 co nn ot at io n. of

it is ·w ash ed by .th e·
now se en to be ju st
an y pa rt o:r
'

. Si gn i:t 'ic an tly ,. !lO etr y is.

'

: ho llo w· mo on bu t \1l fith th e ha rd

Ro ma nti c lo ve an d ph ys ic al
.· do es th e po em su gg es t

if th e ar tis t ac ce pt s
I .

go al , he w ill be ab le·

th e :w ate rs of' t.im e o

in ''N ev er
em o;t i,o na l

les s··· · em pha tic· ·G)

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. li1 ~e · of' ·. th e

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see ms ou t
 VJoods 0 ·

vo lum e, an d it is
ma py sp ea ke r

on is t- o:r th e

sy mb oli c

is· rel ate d._ to·

-The po em
-m ort al-
In th e- Se ve n

human
t'u se d

t-h e
Bu t
g_uie t, _in1 mo .rta l . fla rne
-

de str uc tio n de sc ~i be d

Th e _ po em al so

vr1 ith id ea lis mo

W ith er in g or th e
po et 9 s id ea liz ed

no ble wo me n

..-si on ed .in--·

·the ·- -Iri sJ1 ,.

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la ck in g ih th e mo de rn
.!

or
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pa tte rn m yt ho lo gi ca l

di s·c ov er th at su cB .. gr ea t

tim es ~ Th e m yt ho lo gi ca l
, .

-a lso . st re ss th e
, .

ol d· he ro ic id ea lo · .·
' .

is th e su pp os ed bu ri al si te
\. -

wi nd th ro ws '' th e t'h un de r on

t'o r al l · th at l\[ aev e ca n s?I;;;:r o ''

pr e. se nt
na --B are

he r·· im m or ta l ex is te nc e
·.. ·. · -· ·.. . 68
of · .IJ ou gh Ia o . ·

sa id to be a

ro un di ng it ,

-r ea lit y an d an id ea l wo rld
y
, I
I a. nd w ith in th e

on ce wa s
co ul d be on ce ,
th e- he ar ts o:r
 ·1n clu sio n an d
· 'lJo o ds ar e
th e ·dr ea m

.li: t'e at the tur n.

as pe cts ·. of co nte mp or ary

co ur ag e,· the an ge r,· ·th e

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· bu t at th e .sa me tim e·. he
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ge ou s Ire lan do Si st er
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th e v,h ole ,· th e
'

th e co ur ag e o:r

an d, th er ef or e, is· ·

.ch ar ac te r its el f$

· :t'-lame

Ot he r cr iti cs

I-I ou lih an , th is po em ·. str es se s. th e

. : . . . .

·. ·o:r
'
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po lit ic al fa cti ou sn es s., tt7 °

.

se es th e poem as a cr iti ci sm
'

.o tis m .o: r.p ea sa nt

·an d th e bl oo d
,· i

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 no isy re ud s,
., em ot io na l
h~ ve pl ag ue d th e in he rit ed
I •
Fu _rt he rm ore , th e spe al~ e1. ._' s

Ca th lee n is ba se d
:c ha ra ~t er ist i6 of

to a·
re :re re nc es in th e vo lum e~
. ' . -

·e ~s en tia lly ne ga tiv e, th e

wa y, · the t'n o isy .

,.-Adam 9 s Cu rse o ir

· Ye :at s 9 s na tu ra l

Th ey ar e al so an
. be 'ca us e in la rg e
si bl e 1~or tll e sp ea ke r's

pobm im pl ies ·~ rev e!l ?en ce

th e. :re st·

re fle ct s a co rre sp on di ng

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·h ar dl y av oid ed -

ve ile d lo ve

Ca th lee n ni Ho uli ha no
·:r or he r an d
th e ti~ l~ ro leo 7 2

an d ]\1 aud in -th is

-

rn arr iag e in to --•a bi tte r_ na tio .na l str ug gl e

- -

tb. rou g.h f0 Re d 1Ia nra ha nv s. So ng ab ou t

- '

sp ea ke r's de ter mi na tio n_

- mi na tio n _to be ar_ th e bu 1~ den

-
-
-

fo' r Tulaud; and. th e --·s pe ake r is -

ovvn -d ev oti on
--G onn eo -

"fT he Ol d-

ba se d
-~\ an d --the. vv orl d

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.pa rad o1 ric al; _

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·:r a.u lty _v isi on

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.s± on by fa ,ir lie s, as\ de sc rib ed by

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Iia nr ah an ©. u
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tt 9 .r am -b ea ut ifu
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he di sc ov er s tha t-V {in ny 9 s

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su dd en ly _ tra ris :ro rni ed _--into

.· . . . . .: . . .

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am on e of th e la st in g :pe dp le o ., . e

dw el lin g· in the _ an d
lo st th ei r Vtri ts _vV-73

Li ke VV inn y, th e ol d me n or
be·_· ·po ss es se d _by

.\

of
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i

be au ty
th e ha rsh :ra c ts o:E th e ma ter ial --_ un iv ers e~
., • C

;th e ol d men ar e po ss es se d, to
-v oic e in th is po em 9 th ey .most·.
men®

su gg es ts th at~ th e

t11" e de cay _

Al l th is
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who. ha s·a lso
Li ke th e ol d
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:rro m the dec c1y

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· . th at, . vie we d
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· : ac ce pti ng the

.re ali ze -th at

the la st two
the y qan ,no t

all ye · Vvh en

po sit ion _
Fo lly 0£

the ·
who

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Th ey are .
I

_.th ey are

bed om e .pa in: Cu lly · ob vio us o ·

Th rou gh ou t·th is poe m

see s the iro ny of the se old ·•

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as :so me thi ng th at
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f

tl1 .ese old .men0

Of' the fou rte en poi em s

:
. ly ric ··is pro ba bly the mo st.
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sym bo lic and · the ma tic co nte xt o .·.·.

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· · gri ffi nes s in its im age ry, U7 4.

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s ign if. ica nc e

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too · ha rsh to en du re, . as lee p
dre am o

l3y ith e
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on- : th e ve rg e . or lea vi ng .

' Tuioon,vt th en 9 re pr es en ts
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. .· . ·:. .-- . :. . _, . .. ·- . . '.
•, .. .

·_· Th ese . co ns id er at io ns qu al ify ·

·. · Th e sp ea ke r rem ain s un de r

,ve ari ng
''b etw ee n ni gh t.
be tw ee n th e da y an d
·.·· .·th e. mo on 's as ce nd an ce is at ha nd ~
' . . . . . .
.

. :la st :ro re ve r, ··so th e po, ive r o:r . dre am s ·ca nn ot· laf >t
'

. . .. .,

The;_ co mi ng o:r the · tim e . wh en

· - or re al ity

ha nd o. I

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Tu1os t o:E tt:U nd er

bu t.·. Ye ats

Th e ·.d eta ils ··.· are . ·ca re fu lly

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.·. . ' ;: _· ·.. · .. .' .· .-_-1,f)·. _ .. ·. ·_ ., . ' . __._" .' ·_ --

fo res ha d6 w th e en d of th e
.- ... ·
 _. re al ity ~ IJ an ce lo t
.

·a t Jo yo us .
.

· a w hi le , t, bu t ev en tu al ly he ha d to re .tu rn to th
e re al --
wo rld of kn ig ht ly du ty ~ Si m ila rly ,

es ca pe Co nc ho ba r te m po ra ril y,

we re co m pe lle d by so me

· an d su :r: re r the ··· co ns eq ue nc es ·· o:r th ei r· ro m an tic

:fl ig ht o ·
. . .
. .

In '~The V\ fit lle rin g .o: f th e Bb ug hs ''

· ha ng s ov er the ·· Is la nd of Da nc in g, an d
. . .

pl ac es al lo ws . th e ·S pe ak er to es ca pe · re al ity o .

·
vv or lds on ly tt.seem to o
· In th e ea rl ie r ,pp.em, i '. I" . :j • ,I ~ ' ·

un de rw at er la nd to

• I . • \
•

.·:for:. he re is
. . .

fi rs t me n.t io n of an im al li~ e
..
bo lri c co nt ex t o · · An in 1a ls, pu re ly ph ys ic al be in gs , ar e··
.. . .
.

as so ci at ed vv ith li fe an d an d ar e th e an tit he si s
\
' .

no bl e men an d vvomen; sy m bo lic of th e sp ea ke r' 9 s id ea

~

ls o . .

th e V'l oo d-= o:f ~V fon de rs ·on e . ca n ,rk ill an .O}L · at da wn 9

' in ·
a· de sp er at e at te m pt to ki ll li: fe ·an d re al it y at
th e
·m om en t wh en th e so ve re ig nt y o:r dr ea m is co mi ng
to ·a n
. re ig n· or·· dre an ~. sh ou ld 1

.c ol or ed lik e th e. su n,

.
li .tt le · ta le ha s ne ve r .b ee n .
 .
' . . . . . .
.' .' .
' . .'

an d· Av alo ·n! ; vrh ere Ar th ur 1uivas ta ke n

.... to· th e ·s to ry o:r Ba ile · an d A ill in .n ,

de st ru ct iv e fo rc eo
W on de rs ar e
. . .

· ·sp ea ke .r or ig in al ly >r et re at ed in to dr ea m
i.t se em ed , ro m an tic lo ve co ul d su rv iv eo · 1

fin ds th ~t th e. re al it ie s of 'lo ve int r1. .1d e

ev en in dr ea ms
.·.The qu ee ns in the ··

ea rl ie r
wo ma nj bu t in
th e bo di es .o f
be ·as t ill us tr at es ·

~. ..
'
. . ;
. ' . . . . .

liv e up to · hi s ex pe cta tio ns >o , ·

. ' .

po em , he re je ct s
T,he di sm is sa l of tt: be au ty a o · 0 fo ld ed ·
bu rd en ··n ot ... to bo rn e't .
. .· . .

co ur tly lo ve rs

co nc lu de s
 ·Ju dg ing fro m. po em as a. wh ol e, ·th at me ssa ge is sim ply
'
'

th e sp ea ke r's re al iz at io n th at; dre am s ar e to o lim

. I . .
ite d
'
\
· tim e an d i ~ e r to pr ov id. e an e:f fec -ci ve es ca pe . :rr om

' '

se lf ha s b.e en a hu nt er , bu t. in hi s . se ar ch ::fo r
' ' ' '
'
'
'

he ha s wa nd ere d fro m the 'pa th in to ro ma nti c

hi s se ns e·o :r di re ct io nc

\
•,
Ee· Th e Sp ea ke r
...'_-...../

,rT he R.a gg ed vvood''

Th e tw o sh or t,l ov e wh ich
Tuloonrr re pr es en t.· the sp .ea ke r' s.
' '

· eJc ten de d
tit le of
 de sti na tio n., .· b.u t · onIJ-r a tem po rar y

· ''T he Ra gg ed ~Vood\H

to ta lly .· di: C: rer en t fro m th e .de cid ed ly .p es sim ist ic

po em s wh ich pr ec ed e it® .Th e po em tak es pl ac e
'

·Su n moon ar e·p er :re ct ly .b al an ce d. on op po -

si te ·si de s of . so th at t.h e· .su n ne ut ra liz es
t·he·.·· ex ce ss iv e in flu en ce wh ich ·ov er th e.
As a re sr ilt , th e po em . is- w,.h.o l es..
!. ·•
I
om e, ·
l

:v: tgo ro us j· an d. op tim ist ico

l

''T he Ra gg e~ Wooqr!; re pr es 7n ts .
. I .
th e re a·l is. t' s · ma tu re , . ha rm on iou s vie w or· lo ve ''
o

.· be lo ve d s11 .dd enl y ha s ye llo vv ha ir.

.
1 • •

··In . th e po em is a di at rib e ag ai ns t ro ma nti c

o:r th e pr ev io us po em so Fo r th e th e
. ·, . .. . .

ma kes ·. a cl ea r _.d ivi sio n be tw ee n ph ys 1ic al.

.. .· . • . . i .. ..

vv oo d= of' -
re pr e-
se nt ed by an im als 9 he re As ·.m ere
:
. . I

fle sh ·, th ey sig h wher1 th ey se e t.h em sel ve s I

ih th e wa ter
.

ii"
-

· · be ca us e wa ter sho ws the m cl ea rly . th at th ey ~i ll di

. . . . e, .

· an d as th ey ex
.
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pre 1rs a na tu ra l
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je al ou sy 'of . .
w ill .co
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1

Th e·· ·st a.n za str es se s '

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 ma nen ce of .an y rel ati on sh ip
Th e sec on d sta nz a,. con cer ned .- 1Jvi th.
'
' . . . : . : . . .- ,' . . .-· . . ..
asp ec t o:r -ro. ma nti c lov e, is< ap pro pri .at ely ba sed up on ·
- '

. .

some·- ob scu rit y· in the sta nz a G

and moon ape lov ers , and acc ord irt g

~ . '
. ' . . ' .

. . .

and woman on the as tra l pla ne 0 Ye ats did

- . . '
.

·o:r go lde n.s ian an d sil ve r moon int erl oc ke d

' ' . :

' .

the ~ a .~t ra l un ion o:r him sel f6 and }.1aude 8 0 -

!

sun and._ mo on do no t em bra ce; in fa ct,

mu st· sli de · from· the sky ~ -

l
·' ', .. · . '
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! ra l pro gre ssi on of nig ht
1 ·)

'.

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I.

al l the se lov ers -

 he is de cla rin g· his a_ iss ati st' ac tio n 1J11ith
·ph ys fca l and the sp iri tu al asp ec ts of rom an tic lov eo
~ .·
'·,
fir st 1-s · rep hem era l; the s.e con d .· see ms
'!
. . . . . ·.

· ba sed up on rea lis m ap pe ars · to·• be. th~

. :

Th ere ;or e 9
' '
.· lov ed bu t he and his

:. .
.

·• op tim ism an d ·sho'\Jv tha t . .

I
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b ''
sp ea ke r '-·s ' as
d:e als him
!
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On ce ag ain he is rej ec ted , and on ce· agc 1in

'. !
. as the sad de1 ~ bu t · wi ser co un sel o.r of
1

h~ ha s cha ng~ do In the

· giv es is qu ite dif :Ee ren t fro m the · ad vic e
''Ne vel 7 .. Gi ve Al l the ' Hear.,Getf

.ab an do nin g. lov e .al tog eth er, .

 co nte mp t of .

He art tt are gon eo Hi s re jec -

lov e is no\v sin ce re and com ple ·te o He rea liz es
.
'
.
.

tha. . t the so lut ion to his pro ble m is. no t· to be :ro und b~r
.

· de ny ing the re ali tie s of .lo ve no r by ac ce pti ng the m, b-q t

. in som eth ing alt og eth er ou tsi de o:r lov e ana _, . fo r tha t

som eth ing alt og eth er ou tsi de of li£ ee

Sp eak er as 4- rti st

Pla ye rs As k :ro r a Bl ess ing on Ps alt eri es ·

and . on ·Th em sel ves ''
.. _Ii
,,

poen1s the . spe alc er dis co ve rs

pro ble ~s wh ich ha~ ~ pla gu ed

the beg i.n nin g vol um eo Th e pr ota go nis t
do es no t spe ak in ,rT he Pla ye rs As k
Ps alt er ies and on .Th em sel ve s,n 81

Tov 1nl and ,wir the poe m rep r:e sen ts

·,

..·thi ng s , .· the y are

th eir han ds ·

•··f rom
' .
 an exar nple

Pet er All t ··Ob ject s· to·

reli gio us sy.m bols
- - -

·pre sen t one Yea ts

ctf hea ven wit hou t

terp re ta tion _ 0 ·

·me nts 0 84 -
towr i doe s hav e per son al
/~.

-· hea ven is a per son al·

_. -· per fec tion... -re fle cts
!
I

. i t mu st sho vv .· co nc ern :eo r the mo rta l

do es no t de·.stroy-_ the •' '.

tra di tio n a~d his pe rso na l 0 vis ion

· vio len ce
Ar t and ·li re- are
t\P/0 poems,,o !

tha t ar t is
· · wo rld \1Vhich

ebb aw ayo · On ly if me n
.
mo rta l · ho urs ,,,.. onl y_
.

-o:C Ad am 's cu rse , can

· rrT he Ha ppy

. Th e :fi na l

poe m in the vo lum e:

or·· common· lif 'e
blo1Jvri awa y_ the · av ve str ick en ·:hu sh and
. . . ·. 8
of ga iet y 0,, · 7

the sta nz as de scr ibe the pa rad ise re: rer red

. .

. ·. tio ns hip .to .

 Fi gh tin g 0~I\1en: ·
It ·is th e co un try mo st de lig ht fu l . ·. of .a ll th at
ar e un de r th e su n; · th e tr ee s ar. e st oo pi ng ·
do wn vv ith fr ui t an d ,iv ith le av es : an d. w ith .
. bl os so m a . Ho ne y an d ,vi ne ar e pl en tif ul ·th er e,
an d ev er yt hi ng th e ey e ha s .ev er se en ; ., no 11vast-·· .
in g w ill co me on yo u \v ith . th e wa sti ng . a-vvay ·o~ ·
tim e; yo u vv i11 · ne ve r se e de at h or le ss en ih gG ·.··
.
Yo u w ill ge t f)e at s, pl ay in g, ·an d dr in ki ng ; yoL
l<
·:;~1sr1;e;w,:~J ;di~c a~~ :::ysJ~!;[::e~o~.wi:ll •· ·. .·
ni sc en t of C el tic

wh en ev en if yo u we re
. he ar t, · so me bo dy v"t rou ld
to uc h df a ro d.

, . . .
. .
. .. ;, '
.
' . . . . . .

ot he r .:f air yl an ds v1 rh icb . ··a pp ea r·

. '
.

...
'

p. as si vi ty , an d m or bi di ty ha v.e •

i .

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.o n a se co nd
r.
I •
sy m bo lic
1·
 la te r di sc ov er ~n
th e cl os e re l~ tio ns hi p be. Jcw een

As k fo r a Bl es sin g on th e Ps al- ter ies _an d

ar e su :ff ic ie nt to ·ju sti fy
an · im po rta nt bi t· of . ex te rn al · ev id en ce
•fi

cl ar ify th e po em e ,

T.he .co un try of th e .Yo un g (19 02 )()

lo st . un til 1.953 vvhen .H aza rcl Adams

,,

o:r th e

rio us str an ge r ch as es · a bl ac k·
:
I
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, na tio n its el f o tt- .
Th e str an ge r ap pe ar s to
'

te lls th e ch ild of a ce l~ st ia l tow nla nd ,

ttt he Ci ty or Im ag in ati on o'' - To ge th er th ey

vv hic h th e

.h or se ,
. '
pl ac e 1~ on th e flo or ou t ·o: f -st ic ks

ma ke .be lie ve ·th at· . th ey a1.. e·.

·a ve rs io n

_Ac ,co rdi ng

-,.,.
··d ise ·is no t som e.

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 · .se en in th is
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As ir1
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b:u_t a v1 orl d

wi th po et ic
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vji o-µ s po em s re ap pe ar s

pp we ro f.
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in dre am

riv er s

rn·· th is

be au ty ;

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tfo st of' ·th es e

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o:r
the ~Jloon't an d

o:r ar t ot' :fe rs

de ca y \V hic h ·

dreamo The ha pp y.
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as an im ag in ati ve
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· co ul d

is
dra'\tvn :fro m

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tvv0

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of Poetry
f,_ £ &t :ri

Yorlt: ·. The

Press ,
'
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York 0
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4uri.t.e

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i·9 E: llm an n., ···. Th e. ·I de nt it y .• c'):C. Y ea ts , Pe · 99

9
· th is de sc ri pt io n as an·. in di ca ti on OL. Yea.ts '.s
m at ur at io n; . it is J~I,nore. m us cu la r 1' _· a:q d se em .P o~ tic . i ........ ·.

· tto :r· le ss pr ec io us . ca re 0' '· ... Ho we ve r,. Br ad fo s th e pr :0 9- uc t;

· .·. po in ts . ou t th at th es e ·li ne s d: id no t <t .ak rd .,< P~ :> 45 3, '.
e th ei r pr es en t
:ro 1~ m ·u nt il No .ve mb er ,· 19 09 0 .··The or i.g in al -·i
co ns id er ab -l y ,;more. pr ec io us : .. · 91 Bl os so m pa leiri es .:· w e- re ··· ·
do wn th e pa le bl os so m /A t th e m ot h ho ur an . sh e p1 1l lec l
d r.t id · it ·. in .
he r. bo so me '"

· 22
'

.. .· .. · .·
~

. . . . .
·.
· · .·.· .··. ·· .·..·.
'

~J e: C: fa re s, i~~an an d Po et ,
.. A. Co rn m ~n ta rx , p .B7 e< > ·. $ · ..··... ··.·.··•·· ·.

23Je ff ar es ~ Man
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30Je:r:rares,
points 9ut that
3 1 From
' .• ._. ·. . .
. . . . . : ·.- ' .

2
_3 Ellmann, The Identity
,
33
. 1.n·.
Boughs, tt
11 o 2~ 3,.

, 35Bradf'Qrd, .. Po
· •· 3 6 MacBride,

.37MacBr:ide$

·. 40Jef.fares, --=A-·~............--=~~
41 unterecker,
· 42 M.7tho,l<?,gies
77, 79
. . ~
(1J ·
.
• .• ·
.
..

4 6 Gregory, ·. see
47Irish Fairy and Folk
IJiveright, InCo ,· .. 1942)' Pe
. . .

·. 4 8The variorum Ed.iti()·n ..of\ .the

ed., RuSsell K.. Alspach and Catha!'.ine
York: ·. The Tuiacmillan Co® , 1966), pp . . ' . .· .·. ' '
0
.

4 9 1·rish
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· ·61 · . · .
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62 No ted

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(N·ew Yo rk : Do dd , r~e"""""a~....
d- --- -~ --~. . . . . . .~~~~"=~~~-=....
7 51 .:f nte rec ke r,
76 Je: rf' a:r
es, •--=- =~- """ '== -=a -==
7 7F ac ts .. in
· q,o mm en tar x, PP 0 95 ~9 8s . .. .. .
v1o od -wo ma n~ vvh ose . lo ve r wa s <;! han ged
. hav vk , 11 '·· is· un id en tit 'ie do ··The··· pr ob ab le so ur ce o:f i tµe
to
.· _ ·
de ta il is .V 'lil lia m .rJ ior r.is ts_. pr os ~ ro ma nc es , _ _.•. es p.e cia lll
y .· · ··. .
·. Th e .·v lat er ot·· th e vv on dro us . ·. Is le s ·an d ·Th e .'\Jlle·ll - at th e
. ,rv -or ld' s . E=ndo · Al tho ug h ne ith er sto •ry in clu de s a loj
·. tra ns :ro rm ed in to a ha wk , bo th ar e. :eu ll of wood=vvom~ r ·
ve
. wh o ar e o:r ten se du cti ve cr ea tu re s· wi th my ste rio us n·
I- .· ...· ..... _
..
·po we rs" .. Th e. en tir e. atm os ph ere of' th es e. rQ mt ;ln ces . jw
9
th ei r n1 ag ica l . isl an ds . (in cl ud in g. an Isle·.•- o:r -•.• Q17eens\)-,_- ith ·•··.
en c.h an -te d _:ro .re sts ,··· an a_ jou rn ey s ov er- -th e•· wa ve ·s, , is\ . . , · -
q_ui te sim ila r to th at o:r It-U nd er th e Moon0 fl Ye a.t s . • -.-.·. '
wa s ·,
.•
:fa mi lia r wi th th es e rom an ce s a . . . __ In hi s. es. say ' 11'The_ IIa.
pi es t of th e Po ets '" he re :re rs ·to .th e wo od =w orn an o:f\.. p-_ · ·..
Th e
yva
p O
ter . o:r th e 1rv9ndrous Is le s (Es. sa ys . an d In tro du .ct ip ns ,
58 ) 0
1

..-::,.,, . . . . . . . . . .... ! .

7S Th e or ig in al ti tl e, u.The Ho llo w V\fOodn

Wo. Bo Ye ats 9 Se lfa ma Cr itic ., :po 97 ),
. '!;>'
su gg es ts- · the · dre am _ \nr orl d wh ich . _i.s
tr- ho llo w ._moon''·. of v:,Adam 9 s Cu rse 0 " " ·
. . . .

79 Th is ph ra: se ··is .
qu ot es !in Th e Ce lti c
sh ar e ;O f . th e. wo r:I d · e O . e

·.•. 80 . · . . ·.· · .···· ...· ·.. ·•

I

' . \ Br ad fo rd , p.

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86. ·. ." .· . . . ·. ,.' · ·...·
Sa ul , PP o. 81 -82 e
8 7:s toc k, pp .. 88
'
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8 ~T or ch ian a,

. 8 9G re go ry , p .. . 33 3 o
90 Tv 1y tho log ieS 9 Po
Ico no gra .ph y ·.· (L on do n:·
in si st s th at Va lh all a·
I , . . . .

ha pp y: tow nla nd '' wh ich . ~.1 art in en vi sio ns in Th e Un

. . . . .. . : . • .· .. . .. ·· .· . . . ·. · . .· .. •·'. . . • . . .· . ' .·· . . . . · . .··· ' ·. . . .

ico rn .
:fr om th e St ar s~ 91 th ei r da ys we re a da nc e b re d o:r .th e 1

se cr et :rr en zy o:r · t.h eir he ar ts, .• or a .b at tle wh ere th

svvo1,,d ma de a so un d th at wa s.· lik e· lau gh ter '" (T he
e .·
. ya rio ru m ~d iti on <o:r th e P,! ay s, p e 68 8) Q ·. ·.·· .
. .

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L.

I '., re ad in g . . (p o 1 01 ) o
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.. . · ~'Y ea· ts s Co un try

9
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